Toronto singer-songwriter Charlotte Cornfield, Halifax R&B and soul artist Aquakultre and Quebec microtonal rockers Angine de Poitrine are among the first-time finalists vying for this year’s Polaris Music Prize.
The annual award, which honours the best Canadian album based solely on artistic merit, announced its 10-album short list Thursday.
Cornfield’s acclaimed sixth LP “Hurts Like Hell” is her first since the birth of her daughter in 2023, a turning point that is felt throughout the project’s themes of personal growth and renewal.
Aquakultre is up for “1783,” which celebrates Black history in Nova Scotia, while Angine de Poitrine are in the running for their hotly buzzed album “Vol. II.”
The short list also includes first-time finalists Rochelle Jordan, Peaches and Beverly Glenn-Copeland, along with Begonia, Bibi Club, Les Louanges and Tanya Tagaq.
The winner of the $30,000 Polaris Music Prize, courtesy of the Slaight Family Foundation, will be announced Sept. 22 at Toronto’s Massey Hall.
Last year’s Polaris Music Prize was awarded to Montreal rocker Yves Jarvis for his album “All Cylinders.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2026.
Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press
