20 Nominees Revealed For Second Edition Of SOCAN Polaris Song Prize
CBC presents the 2026 Polaris Music Prize has revealed the 20 nominee Long List for the second edition of the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize. Launched last year as part of Polaris’ 20th and SOCAN’s 100th anniversaries, the Song Prize rewards $10,000 for one winning song, split between the song’s Canadian performers and the song’s credited Canadian songwriter(s).
Similar to the Polaris Album Prize, the SOCAN Polaris Song Prize honours the Canadian song of the year, based on artistic merit, without regard to musical genre or commercial popularity.
The winning song will be revealed during the Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony, powered by FACTOR, taking place at Toronto’s Massey Hall on Tuesday, September 22. Tickets to the Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony are on sale now via the Massey Hall website. To celebrate the Song Prize Long List, Polaris is offering 15% off tickets with the code POLARIS15.
The 2026 SOCAN Polaris Song Prize Long List is:
Angine de Poitrine – Fabienk
Angine de Poitrine – Yor Zarad
Aquakultre – Gallows
Aquakultre – Holy
Begonia – My Fantasy Life
Blue Moon Marquee & Northern Cree – PUT YOUR FEATHERS ON
Mariel Buckley – Vending Machines
Cadence Weapon, Junia-T & DijahSB – Step Out
Charlotte Cornfield – Hurts Like Hell
Rochelle Jordan – The Boy
Les Louanges – Correct
Les Louanges – La journée va être chaude
No Joy, Fire-Toolz – Jelly Meadow Bright
Ouri – Paris (Ft. Oli XL)
PUP – Hunger For Death
Julianna Riolino – Seed
Sloan – No Damn Fears
Arielle Soucy – Varieties of Quiet
Patrick Watson & Martha Wainwright – House on Fire
Charlotte Day Wilson – Lean (feat. Saya Gray)
This is the first set of Song Prize nominations for everyone involved except Saya Gray, who was also nominated last year for their work “Shell (Of A Man).” The Song Prize Long List was created and voted forward by the 205 members of the Canada-wide Polaris Music Prize jury. The first-ever SOCAN Polaris Song Prize was awarded to Mustafa for “Gaza is Calling,” and was written by Mustafa Ahmed, Emmanuel Hailemariam, Simon Hessman and Nicolas Jaar.
With Canadian musicians creating more single releases annually, an award in this segment provides artists and songwriters with additional opportunities to be acknowledged and supported by Polaris, its partners, and the industry. Polaris aims to ensure these outstanding works receive the recognition they deserve. By expanding our awards, we strengthen our mission to celebrate and elevate the diversity and creativity of Canadian music.
The 10 finalist albums on the Polaris Music Prize Album Short List will be revealed on July 9 and the five nominee Song Prize Short List will be announced on July 29.
Key dates in the 2026 Polaris season include:
- Thursday, June 11 – 40 Album Long List announced at NXNE
- Wednesday, June 24 – 20 Song Long List announced
- Thursday, July 9 – 10 Album Short List announced
- Wednesday, July 29 – 5 Song Short List announced
- Wednesday, August 5 – Heritage Prize nominees announced; public voting opens
- Friday, August 21 – Heritage Prize public voting closes
- Tuesday, September 22 – Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony at Massey Hall
- Throughout September – Polaris Festival (programming to be announced)
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POLARIS SONG PRIZE WINNERS
The 2025 winner was Mustafa’s “Gaza is Calling,” written by Mustafa Ahmed, Emmanuel Hailemariam, Simon Hessman and Nicolas Jaar.
POLARIS ALBUM PRIZE WINNERS
The past winners are 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) and Final Fantasy / Owen Pallett (2006).
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.
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