Quebec Duo Makes History with Double Polaris Win
The masked math-punk duo Angine de Poitrine won both the Polaris Music Prize for best Canadian album and the song prize, a first. Their album Vol. II and song "Fabienk" were honored. The awards carried a combined $40,000 Canadian in prize money.
The Polaris Music Prize, which annually honors Canadian albums and, since last year, individual songs, saw its first double winner in 2026. Angine de Poitrine’s Vol. II and the track “Fabienk” earned the duo $40,000 Canadian in combined prize money, funded by the Slaight Family Foundation and SOCAN. Their manager noted the surprise of such recognition for rock-driven, complex music. The group, comprising Khn and Klek, recently made their U.S. television debut on Fallon, performing “Zugzegk,” and their album was cited in a mid-year best-music roundup. Previous winners include Yves Jarvis and Mustafa, while this year’s nominees ranged from Beverly Glenn-Copeland to Tanya Tagaq.
This double win could shift how Canadian music prizes are perceived, potentially elevating niche genres like math-punk into broader mainstream conversation. It may inspire other experimental acts to pursue recognition, while also drawing attention to the Polaris jury’s taste for boundary-pushing work. The increased prize money and dual awards might boost album sales and streaming for the duo, and could encourage similar prizes elsewhere to expand their categories.