
Mississauga’s Biggest Night in the Arts!
Celebrate Mississauga’s creative excellence at the 2026 Mississauga Arts Awards (The MARTYS).
On Thursday, June 18, 2026, join the Mississauga Arts Council at the Mississauga Convention Centre for an unforgettable evening honouring the city’s top creative talent across all arts disciplines – music, visual arts, dance, film, and so much more.
The evening kicks off at 6:00 PM with red-carpet photos, cocktails, and live music. At 7:00 PM, enjoy a delicious three-course dinner and an inspiring awards ceremony. The night will feature exciting live performances by past MARTY Award winners. All are welcome!

31st Annual Mississauga Arts Award Finalists
Community Arts Group of the Year
The Canadian Arabic Orchestra
Lakeshore Art Trail
Mississauga Music
NeoVoce Philharmonic Choir
Festival of the Year
InSitu Multi-Arts Festival
Mississauga Polish Days
Philippine Festival Mississauga
Puppet Festival Mississauga
Streetsville Founders’ Bread and Honey Festival
Film/Video Arts – Emerging
Anas Hasan
Emmanuel Teji
Srinivas Kasturi
Film/Video Arts – Established
Anubhav Singh
Eemaan Qadri
John Taylor
Literary Arts Fiction & Non-Fiction – Emerging
Corlan Blissett
Cynthia Díaz Del Solar
Frank Paul Beghin
Literary Arts Poetry – Emerging
Angelo Brown
Leah Duarte
Tahira Rajwani
Literary Arts Poetry – Established
Paul Edward Costa
Sneha Subramanian Kanta
Susan Ksiezopolski
Music – Group – Emerging
Crossfield Bend
Raquel’s Riot
Sticks N’ Stones
6IX PAL MUNDO
Music – Group – Established
Arlene & the People
El Ceibo
148
Music – Instrumental – Established
John Bride
ShallumX
Tom Frelek
Music – Solo Vocalist – Emerging
Hasanthika Bineshani Kodituwakku
Jasy
Maame G
Marielle Divino
Roze
Music – Solo Vocalist – Established
Alexis Martinez
Ankita Nandawat
Chase Stevens
Mike Celia
Neddy
Theatre Arts – Emerging
Asha Ponnachan
Colleen Taffe
Kunal Choudhary
Theatre Arts – Established
Andreja Kovac
Anubha Jha
Nitin Sawant
Jasmine Sawant
Visual Arts – Multimedia Arts – Emerging
Beatriz Simas
Chantelle Dorafshani
Miss Daisy
Vian Wrya
Visual Arts – Multimedia Arts – Established
The Aesthetics Studio
Sauga City
Visual Arts – Traditional Forms – Emerging
Della Vaz
Olga Kharchuk
Pino Cao
Sandy Yaacoub
Taylor Hogan
Visual Arts – Traditional Forms – Established
Agata Wisniewski
Luan Quach
Lydia Panart
Stephen Uhraney
Veronika Benjamin
Community Arts Award Winners

Jim Murray
Laurie Pallett Patron of the Arts Award
In recognition of his longstanding commitment to civic and cultural enrichment, as former President and current Chair of the Hazel McCallion Foundation for Arts, Heritage and Culture.

Andrew Da Câmara
Hazel McCallion Patron of the Arts Award
In recognition of his 34 years of dedicated volunteer service to Mississauga’s arts community through the Portuguese Cultural Centre of Mississauga.

Zohra Zoberi
Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
In recognition of her 50-year legacy as an Author, Playwright, and Humanitarian. Zohra’s work exemplifies a profound commitment to fostering empathy and cultural understanding.
Tickets for the 2026 Mississauga Arts Awards
Date
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Time
6 PM Red Carpet Reception
7 PM Dinner and Awards Show
Location
Mississauga Convention Centre (75 Derry Rd W)
Dress Code
Semi-formal, business formal, or a creative, dressy look
Menu
Salad Course:
Sliced Heirloom Tomato with Mozzarella di Bufala, Basil, Arugula & Olive Oil
Main Course: (choice of):
Cranberry & Pumpkin Seed Crusted Chicken Breast served with Parisienne Potatoes & Seasonal Vegetables
OR
Vegetarian Potato Gnocchi with Roasted Artichokes, Peppers & Olives with a Tomato Sauce
Dessert Course:
Caramel Crunch Layers of Meringue with Caramel & Chocolate Sauce (contains nuts)
OR
Vegan Sorbet with Fresh Berries
Cash bar. Bottle of Red & White Wine on each table for dinner. Coffee & Tea served with dessert.
Host and Performers

Matthew Testament Jones
Host/Emcee, Ontario Poet Laureate
About Matthew Testament Jones
Mississauga, Ontario native Matthew-Ray Jones, also known as Testament, is a connoisseur of anything and everything involving words. From poetry, spoken word and emceeing to facilitating, hosting and keynoting, Matthew-Ray has been using his natural speaking abilities to inspire audiences for over 20 years.

Fiddlestix
Fiddle-Driven Country/Celtic Rock Band
About Fiddlestix
For nearly 15 years, Fiddlestix has been setting stages ablaze and redefining live music with a sound that fuses Country, Celtic, and Rock into one explosive experience. Fronted by Yamaha-endorsed fiddle phenom Steve Bowen, this electrifying band has become a must-see live act and a fan-favorite across Canada — especially in Southern Ontario, where their loyal following continues to grow by the thousands. From the first note, Fiddlestix brings the energy of a stadium rock show with the soul of a country hoedown, delivering pulse-pounding performances that get crowds singing, dancing, and screaming for more.

Karoline Podolak
Operatic Soprano Vocalist
About Karoline Podolak
Karoline Podolak is a Polish-Canadian soprano with an international career across Europe and North America. She has appeared with the Canadian Opera Company, the National Opera and Ballet of Bulgaria, and at Carnegie Hall, among others. She is a recipient of the Polish Bronze Cross of Merit and a laureate of multiple international competitions.

JSAL
Pop Singer-Songwriter
About JSAL
JSAL is an award-winning, Mississauga-based singer-songwriter who defines her sound as Phoenix Pop, transforming pain into power through emotionally charged pop with subtle Middle Eastern influences. A cancer survivor, she creates music for those facing unseen battles, delivering cinematic performances that inspire audiences to rise, feel deeply, and stand unapologetically. Her debut album launches in May 2026.

Majd Sukar
Fiddle-Driven Country/Celtic Rock Band
About Majd Sukar
Majd Sukar is a clarinetist, saxophonist, and composer recognized for his distinctive sound and his seamless fusion of Eastern melodies with jazz and classical traditions. His work bridges cultures, creating a musical language that is both deeply rooted and strikingly contemporary.
A multiple award winner, Majd received a Grammy Award in 2026 for his contribution to Justin Gray’s Immersed. In 2025, he was honored with The Martys Award for Outstanding Music Instrumental. Earlier, in 2020, he received the RBC Newcomer Arts Award. He has also been nominated for the Juno Awards three times across different projects.

Andre Anthony
Singer, Actor, Dancer, Writer
About Andre Anthony
Andre Anthony is a Toronto-based singer, actor, dancer, and writer who has performed on many stages, including Mirvish Productions’ Kinky Boots and Titanique. He is the author of the children’s book The Gingerbread Band and creates work spanning gospel, jazz, pop, R&B, and musical theatre, inspiring audiences nationwide through music and storytelling.
About the MARTYS
The Mississauga Arts Awards (The MARTYS) celebrate outstanding individual and organizational contributions to the arts and cultural activity in our city. Each year, we recognize honourees whose work transforms and advances our communities through art. In 2026, we celebrate 31 years of the MARTYS, the city’s most distinguished red-carpet event for recognizing established and emerging artists.
The Artistic Excellence Awards honor both Emerging and Established artists in their specific disciplines, while the Community Arts Awards recognize individuals committed to our arts community, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Hazel McCallion Volunteer of the Year Award, Laurie Pallett Patron of the Arts Award, and more.
Take Centre Stage
Show Your Support at the MARTYS!
Join us as a sponsor of the 2026 MARTY Awards – Mississauga’s biggest celebration of individual and organizational contributions to the arts.
Your sponsorship directly supports local artists, and shines a spotlight on Mississauga’s thriving creative community. Whether you want to take a leading role in bringing the MARTYS to life, step into the spotlight to present an award on stage, or contribute to help artists attend the celebration, there are many impactful ways to align your brand with arts and culture at the MARTYS.






MARTYS News
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2025 MARTY Award Winners
2026 MARTY Award Sponsors
Champion Sponsor

Resounding Sponsor

Award Sponsors
Laurie Pallett
Mississauga Arts Council Board of Directors









Friends of the MARTYS


Silent Auction Supporters

























