2018 Polaris Music Prize

The 2018 edition of the Canadian Polaris Music Prize was presented on September 17, 2018. The gala was hosted by broadcaster Raina Douris.

Grand jury
The Polaris committee announced the grand jury in August 2018. Jurors were Matt Carter of Grid City , Jill Krajewski of Noisey, Erin Lowers of Exclaim!, Dustin Riel McGladrey of the Aboriginal Multi-Media Society of Alberta, Marc-André Mongrain of Radio-Canada, Josh O'Kane of The Globe and Mail, Rosina Riccardo of CJAM-FM, Kate Wilson of The Georgia Straight, and freelance music writers J.D. Considine, Marie Mello and Anubha Momin.

Shortlist
The ten-album shortlist was announced on July 17.

• Jeremy Dutcher, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa

• Alvvays, Antisocialites

• Jean-Michel Blais, Dans ma main

• Daniel Caesar, Freudian

• Pierre Kwenders, MAKANDA at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time

• Hubert Lenoir, Darlène

• Partner, In Search of Lost Time

• Snotty Nose Rez Kids, The Average Savage

• U.S. Girls, In a Poem Unlimited

• Weaves, Wide Open

Longlist
The prize's preliminary 40-album longlist was announced on June 14.

• a l l i e, Nightshade

• Alvvays, Antisocialites

• Arcade Fire, Everything Now

• Bahamas, Earthtones

• The Barr Brothers, Queens of the Breakers

• Bernice, Puff LP: In the air without a shape

• Jean-Michel Blais, Dans ma main

• Bonjay, Lush Life

• Booji Boys, Weekend Rocker

• Philippe Brach, Le silence des troupeaux

• Cadence Weapon, Cadence Weapon

• Daniel Caesar, Freudian

• Jennifer Castle, Angels of Death

• Clairmont the Second, Lil Mont from the Ave

• Gord Downie, Introduce Yerself

• Jeremy Dutcher, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa

• Faith Healer, Try ;-)

• FRIGS, Basic Behaviour

• Zaki Ibrahim, The Secret Life of Planets

• Iskwé, The Fight Within

• Kacy & Clayton, The Siren's Song

• Lydia Képinski, Premier Juin

• Pierre Kwenders, MAKANDA at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time

• Pierre Lapointe, La Science du cœur

• Mélissa Laveaux, Radyo Siwèl

• Hubert Lenoir, Darlène

• Terra Lightfoot, New Mistakes

• Loud, Une année record

• Milk & Bone, Deception Bay

• Partner, In Search of Lost Time

• Propagandhi, Victory Lap

• Vivek Shraya and the Queer Songbook Orchestra, Part-Time Woman

• Sloan, 12

• Snotty Nose Rez Kids, The Average Savage

• U.S. Girls, In a Poem Unlimited

• The Weather Station, The Weather Station

• Weaves, Wide Open

• Charlotte Day Wilson, Stone Woman

• Donovan Woods, Both Ways

• Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, Dirt

Heritage Prize
Nominees for the Polaris Heritage Prize, a separate award to honour classic Canadian albums released before the creation of the Polaris Prize, were announced at the main Polaris gala, and the winners were announced on October 23.

1960–1975

 * Public: Neil Young, Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
 * Jury: Jean-Pierre Ferland, Jaune
 * The Band, Music from Big Pink
 * Beau Dommage, Beau Dommage
 * Robert Charlebois and Louise Forestier, Lindberg
 * Joni Mitchell, Court and Spark
 * Jackie Mittoo, Wishbone
 * The Oscar Peterson Trio, Night Train
 * Buffy Sainte-Marie, It's My Way!
 * Jackie Shane, Jackie Shane Live

1976–1985

 * Public: Rush, 2112
 * Jury: Bruce Cockburn, Stealing Fire
 * D.O.A., Hardcore '81
 * Fifth Column, To Sir With Hate
 * Gowan, Strange Animal
 * Martha and the Muffins, This Is the Ice Age
 * Jackie Mittoo, Showcase Volume 3
 * Stan Rogers, Fogarty's Cove
 * Rough Trade, Avoid Freud
 * Leroy Sibbles, On Top

1986–1995

 * Public: Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill
 * Jury: Dream Warriors, And Now the Legacy Begins
 * Daniel Bélanger, Les Insomniaques s'amusent
 * k. d. lang, Ingénue
 * Daniel Lanois, Acadie
 * Maestro Fresh Wes, Symphony in Effect
 * Main Source, Breaking Atoms
 * Sarah McLachlan, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy
 * John Oswald, Plunderphonics
 * Voivod, Nothingface

1996–2005

 * Public: Broken Social Scene, You Forgot It in People
 * Jury: Kid Koala, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
 * Bran Van 3000, Glee
 * Constantines, Shine a Light
 * The Dears, No Cities Left
 * Destroyer, Streethawk: A Seduction
 * Esthero, Breath from Another
 * Sarah Harmer, You Were Here
 * The New Pornographers, Mass Romantic
 * The Weakerthans, Left and Leaving