Summer Walker and Bebe Rexha to Be Honored at Billboard Canada Women in Music 2026
Billboard Canada Women in Music 2026 will present Summer Walker with the Global Visionary Award and Bebe Rexha with the Global Hitmaker Award. Walker's honor follows her arena tour built around the Over It trilogy, while Rexha is recognized for a decade of chart success and her recent independent partnership with EMPIRE. The roundup also notes Drake financing a Canadian rapper's album and criticism of Tate McRae's Victoria's Secret performance.
The 2026 Billboard Canada Women in Music event will also recognize Cardi B as Global Woman of the Year and Chxrry as Rising Star. The Beaches’ Leandra Earl and Kylie Miller are set to host. Summer Walker’s Global Visionary honor follows an arena tour tied to her completed Over It trilogy; it began in Toronto and ended with two London O2 dates.
Bebe Rexha’s Global Hitmaker Award reflects a decade-long shift from songwriter to chart performer across pop, electronic, country and R&B, with No. 1s in Canada and the U.S. In 2026 she went independent with EMPIRE, and her album Dirty Blonde topped Billboard’s Top Dance Albums chart; she is making videos for every track.
The honors could spotlight how women artists navigate long careers and creative control, potentially influencing fans and emerging musicians who see independent paths and genre-crossing success as viable. Canadian audiences and industry professionals may find added attention for domestic talent and event programming, while debates around live performances could shape public expectations. The impact is likely cultural rather than immediate, affecting reputations, audience engagement, and career narratives more than policy or daily life.