Polaris Music Prize Reveals The 10 Album Short List, Announces Performers For Concert & Award Ceremony At Massey Hall September 16
CBC presents the 2025 Polaris Music Prize has revealed its 10 nominee album Short List.
The album Short List, powered by FACTOR, is where Polaris reveals the finalist records that will be considered for a given year’s Prize.
The 2025 Polaris Music Prize Album Short List is:
Bibi Club – Feu de garde
Lou-Adriane Cassidy – Journal d’un Loup-Garou
Marie Davidson – City Of Clowns
Saya Gray – SAYA
Yves Jarvis – All Cylinders
Mustafa – Dunya
Nemahsis – Verbathim
The OBGMs – SORRY, IT’S OVER
Population II – Maintenant Jamais
Ribbon Skirt – Bite Down
There are three previous Short List nominees on the Short List, including Marie Davidson (2019), Mustafa (2021) and The OBGMs (2021), and seven first-time finalists in Bibi Club, Lou-Adriane Cassidy, Saya Gray, Yves Jarvis, Nemahsis, Population II and Ribbon Skirt.
The Polaris Music Prize awards $30,000 courtesy of the Slaight Family Foundation to the artist who creates the Canadian album of the year, judged solely on artistic merit, without consideration for genre or record sales. The Polaris Prize album winner is determined by an 11-member Polaris Grand Jury selected from the greater Polaris juror pool.
The winning album, along with the new SOCAN Polaris Song Prize and Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize winners, will be revealed during the Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony, powered by FACTOR, taking place at Toronto’s Massey Hall on Tuesday, September 16. Polaris has confirmed the following acts will take the stage at this year’s marquee winner reveal event (subject to change): Bibi Club, Lou-Adrienne Cassidy, Marie Davidson, Saya Gray, Yves Jarvis, Nemahsis, The OBGMs, Population II, and Ribbon Skirt. Polaris is also very excited to announce that Haviah Mighty, the 2019 Polaris winner, will be the evening’s host.
This will be the third straight year that Polaris will take over the iconic 131-year-old Massey Hall, Canada’s marquee live venue. Tickets to the Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony are on sale now via the Massey Hall website. To celebrate the Short List, Polaris is offering 15% off tickets with the code POLARIS15.
The album Short List was unveiled during the Polaris Short List Special, a two-hour national radio event hosted by Odario Williams which explored each of the albums nominated for the grand prize with commentary from Polaris jurors and CBC Music experts.
With the reveal of the 10 nominated albums, CBC Music is kicking off Short List Summer: its signature deep dive into the nominated records and the artists who made them. Short List Summer will be anchored by CBC Music’s THE TEN, a series of one-hour weekly radio specials hosted by Odario Williams, broadcasting each Sunday on CBC Music and CBC Listen at 6 p.m. (6:30 NT) starting Sunday, July 13, running until Sunday, September 14. Each one-of-a-kind episode of THE TEN will feature a discussion about the short-listed album with music writers and Polaris jurors from across the country, along with a deep album listening session.
CBC Music will also kick into high gear with Polaris Album Short List coverage on cbcmusic.ca/polaris, diving into the 10 nominated albums on July 10. Leading up to the Polaris Music Prize Concert & Award Ceremony, CBC Music will be digging into Polaris history through archives, an oral history and more. Follow CBC Music on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok for all your Polaris Music Prize content.
THE TEN Broadcast Schedule:
Each special broadcasts at 6 p.m. local time (6:30 NT) on CBC Music and CBC Listen
Sunday, July 13 – The Ten: Mustafa
Sunday, July 20 – The Ten: Bibi Club
Sunday, July 27 – The Ten: Marie Davidson
Sunday, August 3 – The Ten: Yves Jarvis
Sunday, August 10 – The Ten: Population II
Sunday, August 17 – The Ten: Saya Gray
Sunday, August 24 – The Ten: Ribbon Skirt
Sunday, August 31 – The Ten: Lou-Adriane Cassidy
Sunday, September 7 – The Ten: The OBGMs
Sunday, September 14 – The Ten: Nemahsis
“There has never been a more important time to discover, celebrate, and support Canadian artists,” said Meg Symsyk, FACTOR President & CEO. “Our culture is central to who we are, it shapes our uniquely Canadian identity and tells our stories. The Polaris Prize Short List showcases some of the most powerful and innovative music made in Canada this year, reflecting the depth and diversity of talent from coast to coast to coast. These albums are more than just collections of songs, they are creative statements that evoke emotion, capture the spirit of our communities, and become the soundtrack to our lives. I don’t envy the Polaris Jury; choosing from such an extraordinary field of talent is no small task. Artists on the list are a testament to the strength of Canadian and Indigenous culture and the importance of protecting and promoting it.”
Polaris, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025, will be revealing a number of exciting events between now and the end of September. In addition to the Album Prize, the newly created Song Prize, and an adjusted Heritage Prize campaign that will now run throughout August instead of late-Fall, the organization is also finalizing details for the new Polaris Festival, presented by SiriusXM Canada. The festival will feature new programming like Salons, Listening Parties, Poster Exhibits, and Concerts, all culminating in the annual Concert & Award Ceremony. The aim is to spotlight as many of our 600+ past nominees as possible while reaching new audiences through expanded programming and diverse venues. More details on these events will be shared in the coming weeks.
POLARIS ALBUM PRIZE WINNERS
The past winners are 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).
2025 POLARIS MUSIC PRIZE KEY DATES
June 10 – Album Long List presented by the Canada Council for the Arts. Polaris reveals the 40 nominees for the year’s Album Prize.
June 24 – SOCAN Song Prize Long List. Polaris reveals the 20 nominees for the year’s Song Prize.
July 10 – Album Short List presented by FACTOR. Polaris reveals the 10 finalist nominees for the year’s Album Prize.
July 29 – SOCAN Song Prize Short List. Polaris reveals the 5 finalist nominees for the year’s Song Prize.
July 29 – The Slaight Family Heritage Prize Short List. Polaris reveals the 12 nominee albums for the Slaight Family Heritage Prize and opens its related public voting campaign.
September 16 – Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony is powered by FACTOR. Our prestigious winner reveal event, this concert features performances by nominated acts as well as the announcement of the year’s Album Prize, Song Prize and Heritage Prize honourees.
CBC presents the 2025 Polaris Music Prize. This year’s Short List is presented by FACTOR. This project is funded in part 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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