Quebec rock duo Angine de Poitrine wins 2026 Polaris Music Prize

The Quebec rock duo Angine de Poitrine has been awarded the 2026 Polaris Music Prize, marking a significant milestone in their breakout year. The enigmatic duo, consisting of Klek and Khn, earned the prestigious accolade, along with a cash prize of $30,000, for their second album, Vol. II. Hailing from the city of Saguenay in Quebec, the band is renowned for their distinctive black-and-white polka dot attire, masks, and elongated noses, which have garnered attention and intrigue worldwide.

The award ceremony took place at Toronto’s iconic Massey Hall, where, although the duo typically remains anonymous, their manager Sébastien Collin graciously accepted the prize on their behalf. Collin expressed gratitude to the Polaris Music Prize for acknowledging the duo's "weird and complex" music, emphasizing that the recognition is more of an artistic accolade than a marketing or statistical achievement.

In a groundbreaking move, Angine de Poitrine also claimed the $10,000 song prize for their hit single "Fabienk," making them the first band to secure both awards since the song prize was introduced last year. Their unique "cardboard anti-arena instrumental rock" sound gained viral popularity in February after Seattle’s KEXP shared a clip of their performance. Consequently, the band witnessed a surge in attendance, drawing tens of thousands of fans to their free concert at the Montreal Jazz Festival in June.

Notably, Angine de Poitrine’s ascent to stardom was not without notable highlights. The band opened for Jack White at RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto and headlined one of three shows in the city, further bolstering their international presence. Their performances also took them on a whirlwind tour across the U.S., Japan, the Netherlands, and the U.K., with a majority of their remaining show dates for the year selling out rapidly. Cities such as London, Paris, and Los Angeles were among the sold-out venues.

The Polaris Music Prize selection process has evolved in recent years, with Angine de Poitrine emerging victorious from a pool of nine other talented acts. Other notable nominees included folk artist Charlotte Cornfield, indie pop duo Bibi Club, and singer-songwriter Beverly Glenn-Copeland.