ILLUMINATE – PRACTICE, A Curated Jam

September 21, 2026 | 9:00 PM | The Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON | Ticket Info

In celebration of the 2026 Polaris Festival, presented by SiriusXM Canada, Polaris presents PRACTICE, a curated jam of improvised music that invites audiences to participate in the act of making music as it happens.

The 2026 Polaris Festival is a month-long celebration of Canadian music as art, bringing together concerts, salons, listening sessions, conversations, artist development initiatives, and the Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony at Massey Hall. Through the Festival, Polaris creates space for audiences to listen differently, gather around important Canadian albums, and explore how music shapes culture, identity, memory, and belonging.

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.PRACTICE is a curated jam of improvised music.

. the number one rule of PRACTICE is that… this event is not about you… leave your ego at home, and come with an open heart

. if this is your first PRACTICE, you probs won’t get on stage, and that’s okay… come with the expectation of observing and taking in what the event is

. be sure to introduce yourself to the players and organizers

. again, this is about improvised music. no covers, no original material. come and feel the energy in the room… communicate with whoever else is on stage. make space for each other…. make your contribution… and then make space for somebody else

. toronto has the juice… let’s help build each other up

Featured Contributors

Musicians that make up the landscape of Canadian music

About Polaris Music Prize

Polaris Music Prize is a Canadian charitable arts organization honouring music as art. Through its Album, Song, and Heritage Prizes, Polaris amplifies Canadian artists based on artistic merit — not genre, sales, or algorithmic popularity.

The 2026 Polaris Festival is presented by SiriusXM Canada and made possible through the support of Experience Ontario, Ontario Creates, the City of Toronto’s Cultural Festivals Funding Program, FACTOR, the Government of Canada, Canada’s private radio broadcasters, and the Festival’s many community and venue partners.