The 2026 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 22, 2026 at Massey Hall in Toronto, Ontario.Alex Nino Gheciu, "Angine de Poitrine, Beaches, Kaytranada make Polaris Music Prize long list". The Globe and Mail, June 11, 2026.
The 2026 edition saw changes to the prize's voting process. Instead of the longtime 11-member "grand jury" deliberating and voting on the final winner, the process will now be opened to the full 205-member voting panel who were involved in the nomination process.David Friend, "The Polaris Music Prize is reshaping how it picks Canada's best album of the year". Toronto Star, June 29, 2026.
Albums Shortlist The shortlist for albums was announced on July 9.David Friend, "Charlotte Cornfield and indie icon Peaches among Toronto artists shortlisted for $30,000 Polaris Music Prize". Toronto Star, July 9, 2026.
Angine de Poitrine, Vol. II Aquakultre, 1783 Begonia, Fantasy Life Bibi Club, Amaro Charlotte Cornfield, Hurts Like Hell Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Laughter in Summer Rochelle Jordan, Through the Wall Les Louanges, Alouette! Peaches, No Lube So Rude Tanya Tagaq, Saputjiji
Longlist The longlist for albums was announced on June 11.Sydney Brasil, "Polaris Music Prize Shares 2026 Long List". Exclaim!, June 11, 2026.
Angine de Poitrine, Vol. II Aquakultre, 1783 Baby Nova, Shhugar The Beaches, No Hard Feelings Begonia, Fantasy Life Bibi Club, Amaro Boy Golden, Best of Our Possible Lives Mariel Buckley, Strange Trip Ahead Lou-Adriane Cassidy, Triste Animal Ora Cogan, Hard Hearted Woman Cootie Catcher, Something We All Got Charlotte Cornfield, Hurts Like Hell Daphni, Butterfly Nadah El Shazly, Laini Tani Dominique Fils-Aimé, My World Is the Sun Foxwarren, 2 Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Laughter in Summer Holy Fuck, Event Beat Home Front, Watch It Die JayWood, Leo Negro Rochelle Jordan, Through the Wall Kaytranada, Ain't No Damn Way! Catherine Leduc, Les jours où il neige à tous les postes Les Louanges, Alouette! Men I Trust, Equus Caballus Tami Neilson, Neon Cowgirl No Joy, Bugland Ouri, Daisy Cutter Peaches, No Lube So Rude Pony, Clearly Cursed Propagandhi, At Peace PUP, Who Will Look After the Dogs? Julianna Riolino, Echo in the Dust Shad, Start Anew Slash Need, Sit & Grin Arielle Soucy, Passages Tanya Tagaq, Saputjiji Tobi, For Good Measure (at Dreamhouse Studios) Katie Tupper, Greyhound Charlotte Day Wilson, Patchwork
Songs
Shortlist The shortlist for songs was announced on July 29."Here are the five finalists for the 2026 SOCAN Polaris Song Prize". Words & Music, July 29, 2026.
Angine de Poitrine, "Fabienk" Charlotte Cornfield, "Hurts Like Hell" PUP, "Hunger for Death" Patrick Watson and Martha Wainwright, "House on Fire" Charlotte Day Wilson feat. Saya Gray, "Lean"
Longlist The longlist for songs was announced on June 24.Natalie Harmsen, "2026 SOCAN Polaris Song Prize long list: Begonia, Cadence Weapon, Charlotte Day Wilson and more". CBC Music, June 24, 2026.
Angine de Poitrine, "Fabienk" Angine de Poitrine, "Yor Zarad" Aquakultre, "Gallows" Aquakultre, "Holy" Begonia, "My Fantasy Life" Blue Moon Marquee with Northern Cree, "Put Your Feathers On" Mariel Buckley, "Vending Machines" Cadence Weapon feat. Junia-T and DijahSB, "Step Out" Charlotte Cornfield, "Hurts Like Hell" Rochelle Jordan, "The Boy" Les Louanges, "Correct" Les Louanges, "La journée va être chaude" No Joy feat. Fire-Toolz, "Jelly Meadow Bright" Ouri feat. Oli XL, "Paris" PUP, "Hunger for Death" Julianna Riolino, "Seed" Sloan, "No Damn Fears" Arielle Soucy, "Varieties of Quiet" Patrick Watson and Martha Wainwright, "House on Fire" Charlotte Day Wilson feat. Saya Gray, "Lean"
Polaris Heritage Prize Nominees for the Polaris Heritage Prize were announced on August 5, with voting open until August 21.
Public Prize: The Watchmen, McLaren Furnace Room Jury Prize: Willie Dunn, Willie Dunn Annihilator, Alice in Hell Les Colocs, Les Colocs Richard Desjardins, Tu m'aimes-tu
Mort Garson, Mother Earth's Plantasia Sarah Harmer, You Were Here k.d. lang, Absolute Torch and Twang Joni Mitchell, Court and Spark Muzion, Mentalité Moune Morne... (Ils n'ont pas compris) Rough Trade, Avoid Freud Various Artists, Kwakiutl: Indian Music of the Pacific Northwest
References