The Polaris Album Prize honours the Canadian Album of the Year, judged solely on artistic merit—not genre, sales, or popularity.
Each season, an independent jury of 200+ Canadian critics, curators, and broadcasters listens, debates, and votes to reveal the Album Long List (40 nominees, June), the Album Short List (10 nominees, July), and the winner at the Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony each September in Toronto.
Key points:
- Scope: Canadian Album of the Year
- Cash prize: $30,000 to the winner (courtesy of the Slaight Family Foundation.)
- Judging: Independent jury of 200+ music experts from across Canada
- Annual reveals: Long List (40 nominees) → Short List (10 nominees) → Winner
- Where crowned: Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony, Toronto
- Live performances: All Short-Listed nominees are invited to perform live at the Concert & Award Ceremony
- Why it matters: National visibility, artist support, cultural impact
Quick links: Donate to Polaris · Concert & Award Ceremony · Subscribe for announcements · Submit your music for consideration. · Jury Application · Press Releases
Jump to: How it Works · Eligibility · Timeline · Winners & Nominees · Artist Impact · FAQ · Get Involved
2025 Season Impact
- 104 artist bookings across the Polaris Festival and the Concert & Award Ceremony
- $61,450 paid in artist booking fees; $40,000 awarded in artist prizes
- 10,973 attendees at 23 events across 14 Ontario venues; 14 free public events
- 142M+ total impressions (9.5M+ Polaris channels; 61M+ partner channels; 730K earned media; 197K web users, up 420% from 2024)
How it works
- Listening & recommendations — 200+ jurors listen widely across Canadian releases and Music Submissions entries, sharing recommendations in a closed forum.
- Album Long List vote (June) — Jurors submit ranked ballots; the top 40 nominated albums (and their performing artists) form the Album Long List.
- Album Short List vote (July) — Jurors vote again from the Long List; the top 10 nominated albums (and their performing artists) form the Album Short List.
Grand Jury — An independent Grand Jury of 11 is convened. - Winner — The Grand Jury listens, discusses, and debates the 10 albums.
Winner (September) — The Grand Jury votes by secret ballot; the Polaris Album of the Year is revealed at the Concert & Award Ceremony.
Jurors disclose conflicts and cannot advocate or vote for directly represented artists; breaches can lead to removal from the jury.
Learn more about the jury
Read the Official Rules
Eligibility Snapshot
- Artistic merit: Selected solely on artistic merit, without regard to genre, sales history, or professional affiliation.
- Release window: For #Polaris2026, albums must be released April 1, 2025–May 1, 2026. (The window can change each season—confirm in the Official Rules.)
- Album definition: One release that is at least 20 minutes in length or contains five or more songs. EPs less than 20 mins or with 5 songs or less are not eligible.
- What counts as a release (Canada): Publicly available by streaming services, digital purchase (retailer or artist site), physical retail, free release with the artist’s consent, or for sale/giveaway at performances. (Promo advances/media-only streams don’t count until publicly released.)
- Canadian eligibility: Solo artists must be Canadian citizens or landed immigrants; groups must be at least 50% Canadian.
- Compilations & collaborations: Newly recorded multi-artist releases can be eligible. “Best-of/greatest-hits” packages are not eligible.
- Authority: Eligibility interpretations are at the sole discretion of Polaris leadership; all rulings are final.
For artists, labels, managers, and publicists
- Submit for free: Submitting via the Music Submissions Portal is free.
- Who can submit? Anyone (artists or their representatives) can submit an eligible album via the Music Submissions Portal.
- Submit early: We recommend submitting early in the cycle so jurors have adequate time to evaluate your work, as the jury receives a high volume of music.
- Submissions ≠ nominations: A submission is not a nomination. Nominations are made at the jury’s discretion.
Timeline
- April–May: Submit your music within the season’s eligibility window (e.g., April 2025–May 2026)
- June: Album Long List announced (40 nominees)
- July: Album Short List announced (10 nominees)
- September: Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony (winner revealed). Through a partnership with CBC, the Concert & Award Ceremony is covered by CBC Music platforms.
Winners & nominees
- 2025 Winner: Yves Jarvis, All Cylinders
- 2025 Album Short List (10 nominees)
- 2025 Album Long List (40 nominees)
- Past Winners & Nominees (archive)
Looking for other prizes?
SOCAN Polaris Song Prize (Song of the Year, artistic merit)
Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize (classic Canadian albums made before 2006; public + jury)
Artist impact (over time)
Album Prize nominees & winners (multi-year study)
- Career advancement: 48% credit their Polaris nomination/win with advancing their careers
- Audience growth after first nomination/win (average): +126% social following; +157% revenue-platform followers; +90% live audiences
- Income growth: 82% saw increases in music income and live performance income; 78% saw increases in sync revenue
- Visibility & opportunities: 47% reported more media attention; 57% grew their professional networks
Media enquiries
aaron.brophy@polarismusicprize.ca • Press Releases
FAQs (Album Prize) {#faqs}
What is the eligibility window?
Typically April 1 of the previous year to May 1 of the current year. Check /official-rules/ for the current season.
Can I submit my album? Who can submit?
Yes. Artists, record labels, managers, and publicists may submit via the Music Submissions Portal. Submission does not guarantee a nomination; it ensures jurors can fairly evaluate your album.
What kind of music is considered?
All genres and styles. Jurors evaluate artistic merit only.
Who are the jurors? How are they selected?
Over 200 independent writers, broadcasters, bloggers, curators, and programmers from across Canada. Individuals with direct financial ties to artists are ineligible. Jurors are selected annually by Polaris staff and the Jury Foreperson.
How is the winner decided?
An 11-member Grand Jury debates and ranks the 10 Short-Listed Album Prize nominees, and for the winner, votes by secret ballot at the Concert & Award Ceremony.
Can I lobby the jury or contact them?
Overt lobbying is discouraged to maintain fairness. You may make jurors aware of your record via their public media channels. We do not publish jurors’ contact details; see their media affiliations on our site.
What are the benefits of being nominated or winning?
National visibility, career momentum, and community connection. The Album Prize winner receives a $30,000 cash prize.
More questions? See the broader FAQ
Get involved
Polaris is a registered Canadian charitable arts organization. Your support keeps artist-first programming thriving.
Donate to Polaris · Subscribe for announcements · Submit your music for consideration · Jury Application