Polaris Music Prize Announces 2026 Album Short List

By: Staff –

The Polaris Music Prize has revealed its 10 nominee album Short List. 

The album Short List is where Polaris reveals the finalist records that will be considered for a given year’s Prize. 

The 2026 Polaris Music Prize Album Short List is:

Angine de Poitrine – Vol. II

Aquakultre – 1783 – Performing 

Begonia – Fantasy Life – Performing 

Bibi Club – Amaro – Performing 

Charlotte Cornfield – Hurts Like Hell – Performing 

Beverly Glenn-Copeland – Laughter In Summer – Performing 

Rochelle Jordan – Through The Wall

Les Louanges – Alouette! – Performing 

Peaches – No Lube So Rude – Interpretation of Peaches’ No Lube So Rude from Slash Need

Tanya Tagaq – Saputjiji – Performing 

This is the first Album Short List nomination for Angine De Poitrine, Aquakultre, Charlotte Cornfield, Rochelle Jordan, Peaches and Beverly Glenn-Copeland.

The Polaris Music Prize awards $30,000 to the artist who creates the Canadian Album of the Year, judged solely on artistic merit, without consideration for genre or record sales. The 2026 Album Prize winner will be determined through a vote by the full Polaris jury after a series of Grand Jury presentations and debate sessions.

The winning album will be revealed during the Polaris Concert & Award Ceremony taking place at Toronto’s Massey Hall on Tuesday, September 22. 

Polaris has confirmed the following acts will take the stage at this year’s marquee winner reveal event (subject to change): Aquakultre, Begonia, Bibi Club, Charlotte Cornfield, Beverly Glenn-Copeland & Elizabeth Copeland, Les Louanges, Tanya Tagaq and an interpretation of Peaches’ No Lube So Rude from Slash Need. Polaris is also very excited to announce that Odario Williams will be the evening’s host. 

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.