For two decades, the Polaris Music Prize has been one of Canada’s most trusted measures of musical artistry. Founded in 2006, its mandate was and has remained simple but bold: reward artistic merit above all else – regardless of genre, sales or record label.
The Prize, first awarded in 2006, has elevated hundreds of artists, spotlighting not just big names but voices at the margins, those pushing boundaries, experimenting and redefining what Canadian music can be, with past winners including Haviah Mighty (who played host this year), Kaytranada and Tanya Tagaq.
This year proved to be no exception. On Tuesday evening at Toronto’s Massey Hall, Montreal rock artist Yves Jarvis was awarded the 2025 Polaris Prize for his album All Cylinders, securing the main album prize of $30,000. And for the newly inaugurated SOCAN Polaris Song Prize, folk poet Mustafa took home $10,000 for his song Gaza Is Calling.
As Polaris celebrates 20 years, the Globe asked a handful of this year’s nominees – plus Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize winner Jane Siberry – about their hopes for the Prize’s future.
These quotes have been edited and condensed.
