The following musical events and releases that happened in 2025 in Canada.
Notable events March - The East Coast Music Association faces backlash from some members over the sudden firing of its CEO and concerns from some over a lack of transparency. March 7 - Following the controversy around singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie's long-claimed indigenous Canadian heritage, both the Juno Awards and the Polaris Music Prize revoke awards that she had previously won. She is also removed from the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.Kevin Maimann, "Buffy Sainte-Marie stripped of Juno, Polaris music awards". CBC News, March 7, 2025. March 30 - Tate McRae is the leading winner at the Juno Awards of 2025 where Anne Murray received a lifetime achievement award.Megan Lapierre, "JUNO Awards Backtrack on Pulling Reggae Category from 2025 Awards Following Backlash". Exclaim!, September 18, 2024. April 6 - 20th Canadian Folk Music AwardsKerry Doole, "Abigail Lapell Leads Nominations for 2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards". Billboard, October 31, 2024. May 13 - Jacob Lewis, a singer from Butlerville, Newfoundland and Labrador, wins the fifth season of Canada's Got Talent.Maddie Ryan, "Butlerville's Jacob Lewis wins top prize on Canada's Got Talent". CBC News Newfoundland and Labrador, May 14, 2025. June 10 - Alongside the announcement of the initial longlist for the 2025 Polaris Music Prize, the Polaris committee and SOCAN announce the creation of a new prize for individual songs, replacing the former SOCAN Songwriting Prize. The main Polaris album prize also drops in value from $50,000 to $30,000.Howard Druckman, "Polaris Music Prize announces 2025 Long List". Words & Music, June 11, 2025. September 13 - 2025 Canadian Country Music Association Awards September 16 - Yves Jarvis wins the 2025 Polaris Music Prize for his album All Cylinders."Yves Jarvis wins Polaris Music Prize for ‘All Cylinders’". Toronto Star, September 16, 2025. The new Polaris SOCAN Song Prize is won by Mustafa for "Gaza Is Calling", while the Heritage Prize is won by The Organ for Grab That Gun (public vote), and Jane Siberry for The Speckless Sky (jury vote).Natalie Harmsen, "Yves Jarvis wins the 2025 Polaris Music Prize". CBC Music, September 16, 2025.
Dates TBA Prism Prize 47th Félix Awards
Albums released
A Bryan Adams, Roll with the Punches - August 29 Alexisonfire, Copies of Old Masters Volume 1 - November 7Kerry Doole, "New & Upcoming Canadian Releases: Long-Running Bands The Dears, Finger Eleven and Alexisonfire Release New Projects". Billboard, November 7, 2025. Naya Ali, We Did the Damn Thing - February 7 Laura Anglade, Get Out of Town Aqyila, Falling Into Place - March 28 Arcade Fire, Pink Elephant - May 9 Ardn, Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow Rich Aucoin, Synthetic Season 4 - October 30 Austra, Chin Up Buttercup - November 14 Aysanabee, Edge of the Earth - June 20
B Backxwash, Only Dust Remains - March 28 Bahamas, My Second Last Album - October 24Alex Hudson, "Bahamas Announces 'My Second Last Album'". Exclaim!, September 23, 2025. Jill Barber, A Holly Jolly Jill Barber - November 21 Quinton Barnes, CODE NOIR - January 10 Quinton Barnes, BLACK NOISE - June 6 The Barr Brothers, Let It Hiss - October 17Allie Gregory, "The Barr Brothers Announce New Album 'Let It Hiss'". Exclaim!, June 11, 2025. bbno$, bbno$ - October 17 The Beaches, No Hard Feelings - August 29 The Besnard Lakes, The Besnard Lakes Are the Ghost Nation - October 10 Justin Bieber, Swag - July 11 Justin Bieber, Swag II - September 5 Big Wreck, The Rest of the Story - October 24 The Birthday Massacre, Pathways - April 11THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE : Drop 'Sleep Tonight' included on 'Pathways' album out in April Black Atlass, Seven - June 4 Jason Blaine, Russham Road - August 29 Blond:ish, Never Walk Alone - February 14 The Blue Stones, Metro - March 28 Bob Moses, Blink - October 17Bob Moses: the hypnotic fusion of indie house and electronic music arrives in Bayamón. Mixmag Caribbean, April 4, 2025. John Borra, Last Dance at the E Room - October 24Alex Hudson, "John Borra Celebrates Toronto Studio with 'Last Dance at the E Room' Album". Exclaim!, July 8, 2025. The Bros. Landreth, Dog Ear - November 14 Basia Bulat, Basia's Palace - February 21 The Burning Hell, Ghost Palace - March 7
C Daniel Caesar, Son of Spergy - October 24 Alessia Cara, Love & Hyperbole - February 14 Casper Skulls, Kit-Cat - April 11Alex Hudson, "Casper Skulls' "Dying in Eight Verses" Reflects on Generational Cycles of Rock". Exclaim!, March 5, 2025. Change of Heart, In the Wreckage - March 4Allie Gregory, "Change of Heart Announce New Album, Book Release Shows at Toronto's Newest Venue". Exclaim!, January 28, 2025. Choclair, Transit Music - November 28 Choses Sauvages, Choses Sauvages III - March 28 Cleopatrick, Fake Moon - March 14 Cold Specks, Light for the Midnight - April 9Richie Assaly, "After a harrowing spiral into darkness, Toronto singer Cold Specks returns with breathtaking comeback album". Toronto Star, April 11, 2025. Rose Cousins, Conditions of Love, Vol. 1 - March 14 Alex Cuba, Indole - November 7
D The Damn Truth, The Damn Truth Marie Davidson, City of Clowns - February 28 The Dears, Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful! - November 7Sydney Brasil, "The Dears Ready New Album 'Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful!'". Exclaim!, September 10, 2025. Art d'Ecco, Serene Demon - February 14 The Deep Dark Woods, The Circle Remains - October 3 Mac DeMarco, Guitar - August 22 Cris Derksen, The Visit - November 6 Destroyer, Dan's Boogie - March 28 Digawolf, Trapline - April 25 The Dirty Nil, The Lash - July 25The Dirty Nil ready new album, The Lash, for July 25th release date & unveil the tip of the spear with first single, "Gallop of the Hounds" Peter Dreams, Peter Dreams and MOONRIIVR - February 14 Marc Dupré, Parce que ce soir - November 14
E Kathleen Edwards, Billionaire - August 22
F Stephen Fearing, The Empathist - March 13Sam Duerksen, "Victoria's Stephen Fearing explores the power of empathy in song". Victoria News, February 1, 2025. Finger Eleven, Last Night on Earth - November 7 Foxwarren, 2 - May 30Ethan Shanfeld, "How Foxwarren Made a Folk Rock Album With a Hip-Hop Ethos". Variety, May 30, 2025. Debby Friday, The Starrr of the Queen of Life - August 1
G Garou, Un meilleur lendemain - April 4Valérie Lessard, "Quand Garou se chante dans ses propres mots". Ici Radio-Canada, April 4, 2025. Sebastian Gaskin, Lovechild - February 21Richie Assaly, "From Tataskweyak Cree Nation to Toronto: Juno-nominated singer Sebastian Gaskin is ready to ‘bust down the door’ with his debut album". Toronto Star, February 21, 2025. Ghetto Concept, Legendary - November 7 Gloin, all of your anger is actually shame (and I bet that makes you angry) - March 28Ian Gormely, "Gloin Break the Feedback Loop on 'All of your anger is actually shame (and I bet that makes you angry)'". Exclaim!, March 27, 2025. Matthew Good, Zero Hours - September 26 Great Lake Swimmers, Caught Light - October 10Megan Lapierre, "Great Lake Swimmers Ready New Album 'Caught Light,' Share Title Track". Exclaim!, July 23, 2025. Tom Green, Home to the Country - January 24
H Georgia Harmer, Eye of the Storm - August 15Megan Lapierre, "Georgia Harmer Readies Sophomore Album 'Eye of the Storm,' First Headlining Tour". Exclaim!, June 4, 2025. Hotel Mira, The After Party - November 6
J James Barker Band, One of Us - September 5 Yves Jarvis, All Cylinders - February 28 Jelleestone, Original Rude Boy - December 22 Jets Overhead, Ordinary Dreamers: Rarities and Demos Volume 1 - November 7 Jutes, Dilworth - December 3
K Peter Katz, Everything Unfolding - November 7 Kaytranada, Ain't No Damn Way! - August 15 Brett Kissel, Let Your Horses Run – The Album - February 28
L Pierre Lapointe, Dix chansons démodées pour ceux qui ont le cœur abîmé - January 25 Bells Larsen, Blurring Time - April 25Megan Lapierre, "Bells Larsen Details Sophomore Album 'Blurring Time'". Exclaim!, January 30, 2025. Ada Lea, When I Paint My Masterpiece - August 8 Catherine Leduc, Les jours où il neige à tous les postesDominic Tardif, "Le grand débrouillage de Catherine Leduc". La Presse, April 19, 2025. Jade LeMac, It's Always at Night - November 7 Lights, A6 - May 2 Isabella Lovestory, Vanity - June 27 The Lowest of the Low, Over Years and Overnight - May 2Karlie Rogers, "Lowest of the Low Announce 'Over Years and Overnight,' Plot Tour". Exclaim!, March 28, 2025.
M Kate Maki, Impossible Knot - May 9Megan Lapierre, "Kate Maki Announces First New Album in Nine Years 'Impossible Knot,' Shares 'All I Get'". Exclaim!, March 5, 2025. Dan Mangan, Natural Light - May 16Allie Gregory, "Dan Mangan Unveils New Album 'Natural Light'". Exclaim!, March 6, 2025. Mappe Of, Afterglades - September 19 Cory Marks, Sorry for Nothing Vol. 2 - October 3 Mae Martin, I'm a TV - February 27 Sarah McLachlan, Better Broken - September 19 Tate McRae, So Close to What - February 21 Men Without Hats, On the Moon - November 14 Amy Millan, I Went to Find You - May 30Siméon Dumont, "Amy Millan lancera un premier album en 15 ans". Le Canal Auditif, February 12, 2025. Mother Mother, Nostalgia - June 6RELEASE/LIVE: MOTHER MOTHER announce new album, new single and Brixton Academy date in July.... Anne Murray, Here You Are - September 5Cassandra Szklarski, "Anne Murray gives fans the gift of a new album, on her 80th birthday". CBC Music, June 20, 2025.
N N Nao, Nouveau Langage - January 31 Nav, OMW2 Rexdale - March 28
O Odonis Odonis, Odonis Odonis - November 14 Ryan Ofei, Jubilate Old Man Luedecke, She Told Me Where to Go - November 14 Optikz, The Optikz EP - November 7
P PartyNextDoor & Drake, Some Sexy Songs 4 U - February 14 Jean-François Pauzé, Les amours de seconde mainCharles Rioux, "Les amours de seconde main : JF Pauzé, sans les Cowboys". Ici Radio-Canada, October 3, 2025. Jonathan Personne, Nouveau Monde - March 14Alex Hudson, "Jonathan Personne Charts a Majestic Power Pop Course on 'Nouveau Monde'". Exclaim!, March 14, 2025. Lou Phelps, Chèlbè - April 4 Preoccupations, Ill at Ease - May 9 William Prince, Further from the Country - October 17Allie Gregory, "William Prince Announces New Album 'Further from the Country'". Exclaim!, July 9, 2025. Propagandhi, At Peace - May 2 PUP, Who Will Look After the Dogs? - May 2 Purity Ring, Purity Ring - September 26
R Allan Rayman, #1 Girl - February 28 Jessie Reyez, Paid in Memories - March 28 Rheostatics, The Great Lakes Suite - November 21Alex Hudson, "Rheostatics to Launch New Album with Toronto Performance Featuring Alex Lifeson". Exclaim!, July 29, 2025. Ribbon Skirt, Bite Down - April 11Megan Lapierre, "Ribbon Skirt's 'Bite Down' Is Irresistible Indigenous Futurism". Exclaim!, April 11, 2025. Julianna Riolino, Echo in the Dust"Julianna Riolino: Drawn Into the Music". CKUA Radio Network, November 4, 2025. Robert Robert, Boost - October 24Cédric Bélanger, "Robert Robert — Nouvel album: la recherche des 30 secondes d’extase". Le Journal de Québec, November 1, 2025. Josh Ross, Later Tonight - September 19
S Ron Sexsmith, Hangover Terrace - August 29 Shad, Start Anew - October 31 The Shuffle Demons, Are You Really Real Siibii, SiibiiFelix Hughes, "Community and collaboration drive Siibii’s ability to find inner self through music". NEXT Magazine, November 8, 2025. Silverstein, Antibloom - February 21 Silverstein, Pink Moon - September 12 Sister Ray, Believer - April 4 Skiifall, Lovers Till I'm Gone - January 10 Slash Need, Sit & Grin - October 21Allie Gregory, "Slash Need Announce Debut Album 'Sit & Grin'". Exclaim!, August 12, 2025. Sloan, Based on the Best Seller - September 26Megan Lapierre, "Sloan Detail New Album 'Based on the Best Seller,' Share 'Live Forever'. Exclaim!, June 16, 2025. John Southworth, The Red Castle Spiritbox, Tsunami Sea - March 7
T Tariq, Scroll Before You Sleep - January 24 Three Days Grace, Alienation - August 22