The Polaris Music Prize has announced its 2026 shortlist, naming 10 albums in the running for this year’s award, according to Stereogum. The annual prize honors the best Canadian album of the year.
This year’s winner will be revealed during a special ceremony at Toronto’s Massey Hall on Sept. 22. The event will also feature performances from many of the nominated artists.
The shortlist includes Angine de Poitrine for Vol. II, Aquakultre for 1783, Begonia for Fantasy Life, Bibi Club for Amaro, Charlotte Cornfield for Hurts Like Hell, Beverly Glenn-Copeland for Laughter In Summer, Rochelle Jordan for Through The Wall, Les Louanges for Alouette!, Peaches for No Lube So Rude, and Tanya Tagaq for Saputjiji.
The winning artist will receive $30,000 from the Slaight Family Foundation. The lineup for the award show includes performances by Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Tanya Tagaq, Charlotte Cornfield, Bibi Club, Aquakultre, Begonia, and Les Louanges, while Slash Need will perform an interpretation of Peaches’ No Lube So Rude.
Several of the shortlisted artists have been recognized by Polaris before. Tanya Tagaq won the prize in 2014 for Animism, and Charlotte Cornfield, Bibi Club, Begonia, and Les Louanges have all previously appeared on the shortlist. Beverly Glenn-Copeland and Peaches have also each received the Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize for earlier Canadian albums.
