ZALE and Marie Céleste Named the 2026 Recipients of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Breakthrough Songwriter Award Presented by TikTok

Emerging songwriters will be honoured at the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Massey Hall alongside this year’s inductees, bridging Canada’s songwriting legacy with its next generation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: TORONTO, ON, July 7, 2026: The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) today named ZALE (@zalezy) and Marie Céleste (@mariecelestelegroupe) recipients of the 2026 Breakthrough Songwriter Award presented by TikTok, recognizing emerging songwriters whose work reflects the strength, diversity and future of Canadian songwriting. The award winners will be recognized at the 2026 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony presented by Amazon Music at Massey Hall on September 26, alongside this year’s inductees, The Tragically Hip, Mike Reno and Paul Dean of Loverboy, Leslie Feist and Roch Voisine. 

The Non-French Language winner is ZALE. Grammy-nominated and JUNO Award-winning songwriter and producer ZALE has built a career as one of the creative forces behind contemporary music, contributing to songs recorded by artists including Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Childish Gambino and PARTYNEXTDOOR. Mentored by Boi-1da and Stephen Kozmeniuk, he has established himself as a songwriter whose work transcends genre, blending pop, hip hop, R&B and alternative influences while helping define the sound of a new generation. His recent songwriting credits include releases by The Beaches, Johnny Orlando, Goldie Boutilier, Nelly Furtado and Jessie Reyez, reflecting a career built on collaboration, innovation and an unwavering commitment to craft. 

Collectively, songs written or produced by ZALE have generated hundreds of millions of streams globally, reflecting the extraordinary reach of his work across multiple genres and some of today’s biggest recording artists.

“I’m incredibly honoured to be recognized by the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame,” said ZALE. “Music found me early, and songwriting has been the one constant through every chapter of my life. No matter how much the world or the industry changes, it’s still the place that makes the most sense to me. I’m grateful to every artist, writer, and collaborator who’s trusted me enough to walk into a room and make something from nothing together.” 

The French Language winner is Marie Céleste. Formed in Alma and now based in Montréal, the five member collective has emerged as one of Québec’s most compelling new musical acts. Blending folk, indie pop, art rock, electro and world music influences, Marie Céleste has earned acclaim for lyrics that are both expansive and deeply human, rooted in friendship, collaboration, community and emotional honesty. Their latest album, Tout ce qui brille, explores themes of love, healing, celebration and belonging, demonstrating a distinctive creative vision and an approach to their craft that feels both contemporary and timeless.

Since the release of Tout ce qui brille, which has surpassed one million Spotify streams, Marie Céleste has continued to build a devoted audience across Québec and beyond. The band’s catalogue now includes more than 2.6 million Spotify streams across its debut album and first EP. This momentum has translated to the stage with sold out headline performances in Montréal, Québec City and Alma, as well as a main stage performance at this year’s Francos de Montréal, cementing the band’s place among Québec’s most exciting emerging musical success stories.

“It is an immense honour to win the Breakthrough Songwriter Award presented by the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame,” said Marie Céleste. “Being recognized on a national scale with songs in French fills us with immense pride. We are committed to promoting Québec culture across Canada, and this award is a huge pat on the back from the entire industry. We are infinitely grateful to the selection jury and the public for your support and your love.” 

Established in 2017, the Breakthrough Songwriter Award has previously recognized songwriters including Aaron Paris, Jessie Reyez, Lowell, Charlotte Cardin, Mustafa, Les Louanges, Ariane Roy, Fredz, Lou Adriane Cassidy, Eli Brown, Nemahsis and Rau_Ze. This year’s winners, one in each of the French Language and Non-French Language categories, were selected from a group of outstanding finalists representing the depth, diversity and future of Canadian songwriting.

Reflecting on this year’s selection, Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Executive Director Nick Fedor emphasized the importance of recognizing the next generation of songwriters:

“The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame exists to celebrate both the legacy and the future of Canadian songwriting. The Breakthrough Songwriter Award recognizes creators whose work demonstrates exceptional talent, originality and dedication to the craft. ZALE and Marie Céleste represent two remarkable songwriting voices, and we are proud to recognize their achievements as they join a growing community of songwriters helping shape the future of Canadian music.”

“TikTok has become an important platform for songwriters, and we are committed to helping them connect with audiences in new and meaningful ways,” said Emily Mitchell, Head of Music Publishing Partnerships – Americas, TikTok. “As the leading platform for music discovery, we believe in supporting songwriters at all stages of their careers. We are proud to partner with the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame to celebrate the next generation of Canadian songwriting talent and congratulate ZALE and Marie Céleste on this well deserved recognition.”

The 2026 finalists reflected the extraordinary range of writers talent emerging across Canada. Finalists in the Non-French Language category included Eugene Tsai, Jade LeMac, Katie Tupper, Tia Wood and ZALE. Finalists in the French Language category included Benjamin Nadeau, Benny Adam, Grand Eugène, Marco Ema and Marie Céleste.

Each winner will receive a $7,500 cash prize tied to a customized career development plan, along with global exposure and resources supported by TikTok.

This year’s ceremony will honour The Tragically Hip, Loverboy songwriters Mike Reno and Paul Dean, Leslie Feist and Roch Voisine, celebrating their enduring contributions to Canadian songwriting and reinforcing the Hall’s commitment to recognizing both legendary creators and the next generation of Canadian storytellers. Tickets for the 2026 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are on sale now through the Massey Hall box office.

For more information, visit www.cshf.ca.

CSHF Breakthrough Songwriters Award_Digital Tool Kit

CSHF 2026 Massey Hall Induction_Inductee Press Kit

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