Host and Polaris Album Prize Winner Haviah Mighty presenting the Polaris Album Prize to Yves Jarvis at the 2025 Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony – Photo by Wade Muir
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.
Polaris awards a $30,000 cash prize to the winner, courtesy of the Slaight Family Foundation. Check out all past winners and nominees by clicking here. The Polaris Music Prize Submission Portal is currently open for #Polaris2026 submissions for both the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize and Album Prize.
CBC presents the 2026 Polaris Music Prize. This year’s Concert & Award Ceremony is powered by FACTOR, the Government of Canada, and Canada’s private radio broadcasters. It is supported by SiriusXM Canada, Ontario Creates, the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, and the Slaight Family Foundation.
