Via The Glenn Gould Foundation
Eric McCormack to Host May 9 Celebration in Toronto
The Glenn Gould Foundation is proud to announce that acclaimed, Grammy and Juno award-winning artist Sarah McLachlan and the National Ballet ‘s Noah Parets have been added to the roster of Canadian performers taking the stage at The Glenn Gould Prize Gala Honouring Elton John. The celebration will be hosted by Emmy award-winning actor and comedian Eric McCormack on May 9, 2026, at The Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto.
With Elton John in attendance, the gala will celebrate his unparalleled artistic achievements and enduring humanitarian legacy. The evening will feature live performances of Elton John’s iconic catalogue by a hand-selected group of celebrated Canadian artists spanning genres and generations.
McLachlan, McCormack and Parets join an already stellar lineup including internationally renowned jazz pianist and vocalist Diana Krall; 2026 Juno Award winners for Group of the Year and Rock Album of the Year, The Beaches; multiple Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith; Juno and Polaris Prize-winning tenor Jeremy Dutcher; rising pop/neo-soul artist LOONY; and Ryan Wang, the BBC’s 2024 Young Musician of the Year.
The evening will also feature a special performance by acclaimed mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, a Juno Award and Leonard Bernstein Award recipient. Personally selected by Elton John to receive the Glenn Gould Protégé Prize recognizing exceptional promise and the importance of mentorship in the arts, D’Angelo will be presented the Glenn Gould Protégé Prize during the gala.
Often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of the Arts,” The Glenn Gould Prize is one of the world’s most prestigious cultural honours. Awarded biennially, it recognizes a living individual of any nationality or discipline for a lifetime of artistic achievement that has enriched the human condition. Established in 1987, the Prize includes a CDN $100,000 award for the Laureate, who in turn selects an emerging artist to receive the CDN $25,000 Protégé Prize.
Elton John was named the Laureate of the 15th Glenn Gould Prize by a distinguished international jury of cultural leaders and artists, including The Right Honourable Kim Campbell, Jeremy Irons, Sam Jackson, Martin Katz, Chris Levine, Alexander Neef, Lee Hall, Nyla Innuksuk, and Bernhard Schlink. Following public nominations, the jury selected Elton John in recognition of his transcendent artistic excellence, innovation, and profound humanitarian contributions.
“In selecting Elton John, we chose to honour someone whose artistic achievements have been transformed into profound social impact,” said Kim Campbell. “He has used his success to change lives, embodying the very highest ideals of the arts.”
With a career spanning more than five decades, Elton John has sold over 327 million albums worldwide and achieved more than 50 Top 40 hits. A member of the rare EGOT circle, he has earned five Grammy Awards, two Academy Awards, an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. His global impact extends far beyond music through the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has raised more than USD $650 million for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. Elton John is also a dedicated champion of emerging artists with a demonstrated history of elevating young and diverse talent into the mainstream.
“Elton John is the perfect Laureate of the Glenn Gould Prize – an icon whose artistry, versatility, passion, and courage have inspired generations,” said Brian Levine, CEO of The Glenn Gould Foundation. “This gala promises an unforgettable evening celebrating not only his extraordinary career, but also the next generation of creative voices he continues to champion.”