The Polaris Music Prize has officially kicked off its 20th anniversary celebrations in a big way! On June 10, Polaris revealed its 2025 Long List, spotlighting 40 outstanding Canadian albums that reflect the depth, diversity, and brilliance of music being made across the country and adjoining unceded Indigenous lands.

This year’s Long List, presented by the Canada Council for the Arts, includes 16 first-time nominees, two past Polaris winners (Backxwash and Caribou), and Rick White, a previous Heritage Prize recipient with Eric’s Trip. It’s a vibrant cross-section of genres, languages, and stories—each one chosen purely for artistic merit by the 205-member jury of music journalists, programmers, and broadcasters.

As someone who’s been proud to serve on the Polaris jury since 2017, this is always one of my favourite times of the year. It’s a chance to dive deep into Canadian music, discover new voices, and share those discoveries with others. This year’s list includes artists from my personal “Wish List” as well as new gems I’m thrilled to now know.

🎧 The 2025 Polaris Music Prize Long List:

  • Art d’Ecco – Serene Demon
  • Backxwash – Only Dust Remains
  • Quinton Barnes – CODE NOIR
  • Bibi Club – Feu de garde
  • Basia Bulat – Basia’s Palace
  • Caribou – Honey
  • Lou-Adriane Cassidy – Journal d’un Loup-Garou
  • Choses Sauvages – Choses Sauvages III
  • Cold Specks – Light For The Midnight
  • Antoine Corriveau – Oiseau de Nuit
  • Marie Davidson – City Of Clowns
  • Destroyer – Dan’s Boogie
  • Myriam Gendron – Mayday
  • Gloin – All of your anger is actually shame (and I bet that makes you angry)
  • Saya Gray – SAYA
  • Hildegard – Jour 1596
  • Yves Jarvis – All Cylinders
  • Kaia Kater – Strange Medicine
  • Bells Larsen – Blurring Time
  • Richard Laviolette – All Wild Things Are Shy
  • Wyatt C. Louis – Chandler
  • Kelly McMichael – After The Sting Of It
  • Men I Trust – Equus Asinus
  • Mustafa – Dunya
  • N NAO – Nouveau langage
  • Nemahsis – Verbathim
  • Eliza Niemi – Progress Bakery
  • The OBGMs – SORRY, IT’S OVER
  • Dorothea Paas – Think Of Mist
  • Klô Pelgag – Abracadabra
  • Population II – Maintenant Jamais
  • Ribbon Skirt – Bite Down
  • Ariane Roy – Dogue
  • Mike Shabb – Sewaside III
  • Sister Ray – Believer
  • Snotty Nose Rez Kids – RED FUTURE
  • The Weather Station – Humanhood
  • Rick White and The Sadies – Rick White and The Sadies
  • Donovan Woods – Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now
  • Yoo Doo Right – From the Heights of Our Pastureland

Unveiled at Toronto’s Paradise Wine Bar, the Long List event also featured an art installation by Oasis Skateboard Factory and a room full of past Polaris winners and current nominees. It was the perfect atmosphere to launch this landmark season.

🎉 New Additions to the Polaris Family

In honour of its 20th year, Polaris also made two major announcements:

🎵 SOCAN Polaris Song Prize

Polaris is introducing its first-ever Song Prize, presented by SOCAN. Much like the album prize, the Song Prize celebrates artistic excellence without regard to commercial metrics. A 20-song Long List will be revealed on June 24, followed by a five-song Short List on July 29. The winning track will receive a $10,000 prize, split between the performer(s) and songwriter(s).

🎤 Polaris Festival

This September, Polaris is launching its first full month-long Polaris Festival, presented by SiriusXM Canada. Expect salons, listening parties, poster exhibits, and concerts across a variety of venues, all leading up to the Concert & Award Ceremony at Massey Hall on September 16. With over 600 past nominees, this expanded format aims to reconnect audiences with Canadian music history and spotlight the future.

Tickets for the Polaris Gala are on sale now through the Massey Hall website. And to celebrate the Long List, you can get 25% off with code POLARIS25!

💿 Past Winners

Polaris has a legacy of honouring groundbreaking artists. Here’s a look at the Album Prize winners from over the years:

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), Final Fantasy / Owen Pallett (2006)

🗓 Key 2025 Polaris Dates

  • June 10 – Album Long List
  • June 24 – SOCAN Song Prize Long List
  • July 10 – Album Short List
  • July 29 – SOCAN Song Prize Short List + Heritage Prize Nominees
  • September 16 – Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony at Massey Hall

🥂 Here’s to 20 Years of Polaris!

From the beginning, the Polaris Music Prize has stood as a beacon for Canadian music excellence—amplifying the voices that shape, challenge, and define our cultural landscape. As we celebrate two decades of this iconic award, the future of Canadian music looks brighter than ever.

Let the listening begin. 🎶

https://tidal.com/playlist/e900908c-8cec-402e-8220-74601c0400ad