The Polaris Music Prize announces the 20th anniversary festival
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Canada’s Polaris Music Prize. From the humble first gala at The Phoenix, it has now grown into an event that requires Massey Hall. And there’s more.
During the month of September leading up to the gala on September 18 (and beyond, actually), there will be 15 events collectively making up the Polaris Music Festival. Artists include Cadence Weapon, Clairmont The Second, The Dears, JayWood, Junia-T, Eliza Niemi, Cedric Noel, Justin Rutledge, SATE, Shad, Sister Ray, Katie Stelmanis, and TEKE::TEKE.
Here’s the schedule right from the press release:
Poster Exhibition – Looking At Polaris: A Retrospective Poster Show
Cry Baby Gallery, Toronto
September 2-10, 7 PM – 2 AM
FREE
Polaris will be returning to Cry Baby Gallery to display a retrospective exhibition celebrating the bold, graphic history of the Polaris Music Prize. This touring show features posters from every year of the prize’s poster history, each one a unique visual tribute to Canada’s most creative albums.
Salon – Producer’s Circle
University of Toronto’s Hart House, Toronto
September 3, 6-9 PM
FREE WITH TICKET
Co-presented by Hart House Hip Hop Education, this intimate music production-focused event will be moderated by Marco Adamovic with expert support from 4x Polaris nominee Clairmont The Second.
Salon – Patchwork Salon
Responsive Ecologies Lab (RELab) at TMU, Toronto
September 7, 1:30-3:30 PM
FREE WITH TICKET
Katie Stelmanis (Austra) and Casey Mecija (Ohbijou) will lead a gender-diverse workshop series for learning and practicing Modular Synthesis.
Salon – De-Mystifying Polaris Salon
Daniel’s Spectrum, Toronto
September 8, 6-8 PM
FREE WITH TICKET
Co-presented with Music Managers Forum, this industry-focused panel talk will shed light on the Polaris universe.
Concert – Supercrawl & Polaris Festival Present: Sister Ray And Eliza Niemi
Mills Hardware, Hamilton
September 12, 8-10:30 PM
TICKETS AVAILABLE
A special side-quest to both Supercrawl and the Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony, this bill featuring past nominees Sister Ray and Eliza Niemi will take place at the intimate Mills Hardware space.
The show will also feature a Polaris Poster Exhibition. This pop-up Polaris Poster show features posters from the prize’s poster archive, each one a unique visual tribute to Canada’s most creative albums. Part music history, part art show, and on display for one night only.
Salon – Night Mirror: The Psychic Raver Salon
University of Toronto’s Hart House, Toronto
September 13, 10 PM-3 AM
TICKETS LAUNCHING AUGUST 20
Co-presented with Lotion Magazine. A guided 1-on-1 experience inside the rave where
a psychic helps attendees pause, reflect, and set an intention for the night ahead.
Listening Session – The Dears Listening Session
Sounds Good, Toronto
September 13, 4-7 PM
FREE WITH TICKET
Multi-time nominees The Dears will host an exclusive listening session of new music at Sounds Good in Toronto.
Concert – Beautiful View & Polaris Festival Present Cedric Noel And Justin Rutledge
Belleville Club, Belleville
September 13, 3-7:30 PM
FREE WITH TICKET
Past Polaris nominee Hannah Georgas curates the first-ever Beautiful View, a new music festival set against the scenic backdrop of Belleville, Ontario. The inaugural lineup features intimate performances by fellow Polaris alumni Cedric Noel and Justin Rutledge, with Polaris co-presenting.
The show will also feature a Polaris Poster Exhibition. This pop-up Polaris Poster show features posters from the prize’s poster history, each one a unique visual tribute to Canada’s most creative albums. Part music history, part art show, and on display for one day only.
Listening Session – Shad
Loveless Cafe, Toronto
September 15, 9 – 11 PM
FREE WITH TICKET
One night before the big Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony 5x Short-Lister Shad will play and unpack a set of easy listening gems he loves, live at Loveless Cafe.
Concert – Polaris 2025 Official Afterparty – Featuring TEKE::TEKE
Church of the Holy Trinity, Toronto
September 16, 10 PM-1 AM
TICKETS AVAILABLE
Celebrate the reveal of this year’s #Polaris2025 Album, Song, and Heritage Prize winners with a special performance by 2x nominees TEKE::TEKE.
Listening Session – Polaris Festival Presents: Raw Reflections With SATE
The Vault, Creation Lab, Toronto
September 22, 7:30-9:30 PM
TICKETS AVAILABLE
Toronto rock force SATE hosts a special preview listening session of her bold new rock opera recordings, punctuated with live moments alongside her band.
Concert – JayWood At Second Summer Festival Launch Party
Lee’s Palace, Toronto
September 24, 7 PM, 19+
TICKETS AVAILABLE
Polaris will support the Second Summer indie festival launch party with past nominee JayWood joining a bold lineup of underground sounds alongside standout artists like Dry Cleaning, Bria Salmena and Slash Need.
Concert – ROM After Dark
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
September 26, 7:15 PM
TICKETS AVAILABLE
Co-presented with the Royal Ontario Museum, Polaris‑winning Cadence Weapon and past short-listed nominee Junia‑T take over the decks for a high-energy DJ party. Join them and party around dinosaur bones that are 145–200 million years old in ROM’s Connelly Hall. It’s a rare Mesozoic mash‑up of club vibes and Ankylosaural atmospheres.
