This year, due to COVID-19, the Polaris Prize team decided not to organise a public gala. Instead, they’ve chosen to invite filmmakers from across Canada to propose short films based on the ten nominated albums on the Short List. The films will be showcased during the Polaris 2020 Music Prize Celebration, re-imagined as a special cinematic tribute, to be broadcast in Canada on the free service CBC Gem; on CBC Music’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages; and internationally at CBCMusic.ca/Polaris on October 19 at 8pm EST. The winner of the Polaris 2020 Award will be revealed live at the end of the event.

An independent jury of music critics, broadcasters, and bloggers from across Canada determined the Long List and Short List. Eleven members of this extended jury were then selected to be part of the grand jury that will determine the winner of the Polaris 2020 Music Prize.

The nominated albums are:
Backxwash – God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It
Caribou – Suddenly
Junia-T – Studio Monk
Kaytranada – Bubba
nêhiyawak – nipiy
Pantayo – Pantayo
Lido Pimienta – Miss Colombia
Jessie Reyez – Before Love Came To Kill Us
U.S. Girls – Heavy Light
Witch Prophet – DNA Activation