Here is the Short List for the 2026 Polaris Music Prize
After a year of listening, nominating, debating, kvetching, complaining, and voting, the 200+ members of the Polaris Music Prize have narrowed things down to the ten albums in the running for the best Canadian album of 2025-2026. Here, then, is the Short List, which was announced today (July 9). I’ve placed things in alphabetical order.
- Angine de Poitrine – Vol. II
- Aquakultre – 1783 (They will perform at the Gala in September)
- Begonia – Fantasy Life (Performing_
- Bibi Club – Amaro (Performing_
- Charlotte Cornfield – Hurts Like Hell (Performing)
- Beverly Glenn-Copeland – Laughter In Summer (Performing)
- Rochelle Jordan – Through The Wall
- Les Louanges – Alouette! (Performing)
- Peaches – No Lube So Rude- Interpretation of Peaches’ No Lube So Rude from Slash Need
- Tanya Tagaq – Saputjiji (Performing)
Some notes:
- Tanya Tagaq is a previous winner, taking the grand prize for Animism back in 2014.
- Tagaq made the Short List in 2017 but did not win. Les Lounanges made it in 2019, Begonia was there in 2023, and Bibi Club was on the list last year.
- The Gala will be held at Massey Hall on September 22. The winner will receive $30,000. The nine runners-up will get $3,000 courtesy the Slaight Family Foundation.
Who will join these past winners?
- Yves Jarvis (2025)
- Jeremy Dutcher (2024)
- Debby Friday (2023)
- Pierre Kwenders (2022)
- Cadence Weapon (2021)
- Backxwash (2020)
- Haviah Mighty (2019)
- Jeremy Dutcher (2018)
- Lido Pimienta (2017)
- Kaytranada (2016)
- Tanya Tagaq (2014)
- Godspeed You! Black Emperor (2013)
- Feist (2012)
- Arcade Fire (2011)
- Karkwa (2010)
- Fucked Up (2009)
- Caribou (2008)
- Patrick Watson (2007)
- Final Fantasy / Owen Pallett (2006).
