Cardi B is set to travel to Toronto to accept the inaugural Global Woman of the Year award at the 2026 Billboard Canada Women In Music event. The ceremony will take place on November 24 at the Rebel venue, marking the third edition of this industry celebration.

Why is Cardi B receiving this honor?

Billboard Canada selected the rapper to recognize her massive international influence and chart success. Her connection to the Canadian market is significant, as she has placed dozens of tracks on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100, with eight of those reaching the top 10.

Her recent professional milestones include:

  • Being the first solo female artist to win a Grammy for Best Rap Album.
  • Achieving multiple No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • Completing a highly successful North American arena tour, the Little Miss Drama Tour.

A history of Canadian success

This award follows a period of significant engagement between the artist and Canadian audiences. During her recent Little Miss Drama arena tour, she played major venues including Vancouver's Rogers Arena and Toronto's Scotiabank Arena. Notably, her performance at the TD Coliseum in Hamilton set a record as the highest-grossing hip-hop show at that venue and made her the first woman to headline the space.

Her touring strength was further highlighted by a midyear report from Pollstar, which ranked her as the seventh most successful touring act globally. This success was driven by her ability to sell out massive arenas across North America.

Who else is being recognized?

The event will also celebrate prominent figures within the Canadian music industry. Alongside the headline honouree, two executives will receive awards for their professional contributions:

  • Melissa Bubb-Clarke of Live Nation Canada will be named Executive of the Year.
  • Kristy Fletcher, president of MusiCounts and COO of CARAS, will receive the Impact Award for her work with young musicians.

What to expect from the event

This appearance marks a return to Canada for the artist, who performed in Toronto less than a year ago. The upcoming ceremony follows a busy period for Canadian music news, including recent honours for Drake and Jessie Reyez. Tickets for the November 24 ceremony are available through the official Billboard Canada website.