Polaris Music Prize 2023 Event Season Announced
The Polaris Music Prize, presented by CBC Music, has revealed the surprising plans for its 2023 season. The announcement includes all event key dates, the season creative direction, a Gala venue change, and ticket launch.
The 2023 Polaris Event Season will kick-off with the Prize’s 40 album Long List on June 13, followed by the 10 album Short List on July 13. These signature events will also be transformed in 2023 with more details being shared in the coming week. This year’s winning album reveal will once again take place during the Polaris Gala presented by long-time partner CBC Music, happening September 19, 2023.
The biggest change? This year marks the first time since 2013 where the winner won’t be revealed under the beautiful art moderne ceiling at The Carlu. While Polaris will miss our home for the last decade, the opportunity to host the Polaris Gala at historic 129-year-old Massey Hall, Canada’s marquee live venue, represents a wonderful opportunity to shine an even bigger and brighter spotlight on the Polaris nominees and the exceptional music they make.
The iconic venue will be transformed by “Waveform,” its themed look for the Polaris 2023 season. Designed by Montreal-based artist, Aude Guivarc’h, various iterations of the Waveform will be unveiled throughout Polaris season and will be integrated in the stage design and environment at the Polaris Gala. Directed by Daniel Tal, Polaris has launched the official event season kick-off video (linked and below) where you can see Guivarc’h’s landscapes come to life for the first time.
The Polaris Music Prize awards $50,000 to the artist who creates the Canadian album of the year, judged solely on artistic merit, without consideration for genre or record sales. This life changing award is no small moment in the trajectory of the winners path.
This year’s lineup is still to be determined, but dedicated music lovers can snag their tickets now.
The Event Season will come to a close with the announcement of two new Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize-winning albums on October 19. The Heritage Prize is a hall of fame-minded critics prize/public polling campaign meant to celebrate classic Canadian albums created before Polaris began in 2006.
Additionally, Polaris is proud to announce that its signature community-based programming will also be returning with a complete refresh, all with the goal of supporting Canada’s arts and culture community.
The award-winning Polaris Poster program will be hitting the road, with a touring exhibition expected to touch down in a number of cities throughout the summer and fall.
The SiriusXM Canada Polaris Cover Sessions will be making a return as well, with a number of remarkable reinterpretations of classic Canadian songs expected to be released throughout the year.
And new for this year, Polaris expects to launch its new Partnership Program, an initiative to team with like-minded not-for-profit groups, businesses and affiliated events.
“The Polaris team has left no rock unturned and is making every change with intention and dedication to celebrating the art of music. Our annual programming demonstrates what can be achieved when people come together with a common goal. Our expanding partnership program is in an effort to continue that mission and provide the necessary resources behind it to give it the time it deserves to make the biggest impact possible,” said Amber Moyle, Executive Director of Polaris Music Prize.
The Partnership Programming 2023 expansion has been made possible thanks to Ontario Creates. Further details on these programs and ways to get involved are expected in the coming weeks ahead. Stay tuned.
Albums eligible for 2023 Polaris Music Prize consideration must be released between May 1, 2022 and May 1, 2023. An independent jury of musical selectors from across Canada and the adjoining unceded Indigenous lands determines the Long List and Short List. Eleven people from the larger jury pool are then chosen to serve on the Grand Jury. This Grand Jury then convenes to select the Polaris Music Prize winner.
The past winners are Pierre Kwenders (2022), Cadence Weapon (2021), Backxwash (2020), Haviah Mighty (2019), Jeremy Dutcher (2018), Lido Pimienta (2017), Kaytranada (2016), Buffy Sainte-Marie (2015), 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).
Polaris Music Prize 2023 Event Season
June 13 – Long List Announcement: The Long List is where Polaris reveals the 40 nominated albums that will be considered for a given year’s Prize.
July 13 – Short List Announcement: Selected from the 40 album Long List, the Short List is where Polaris reveals the 10 finalist albums that will be considered for a given year’s Prize.
September 19 – Polaris Gala: Our prestige winner reveal event, the Polaris Gala features live musical performances from the nominated acts on the Polaris Short List. The Polaris Prize winner is determined by an 11-member Polaris Grand Jury selected from the greater Polaris juror pool.
October 19 – Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize: The Heritage Prize is a hall of fame-minded critics prize/public polling campaign meant to celebrate classic Canadian albums created before Polaris began in 2006. Like the Polaris Music Prize, winners and nominees of the Heritage Prize are albums of the highest artistic distinction, without regard to sales or affiliations.
We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.
