What is the best Canadian music band of all time?

Prog-rock virtuosos, indie darlings, and pop-punk heavyweights — Canada's music scene punches well above its weight. Pick your champion!

1

Rush

Legendary Toronto progressive rock trio known for complex compositions and Neil Peart's virtuosic drumming.

2

Arcade Fire

Montreal indie rock collective known for epic, emotionally charged albums like Funeral and The Suburbs.

3

The Tragically Hip

Kingston, Ontario rock band and Canadian cultural icons, fronted by the late Gord Downie.

4

Nickelback

Post-grunge rock band from Hanna, Alberta, one of the best-selling music artists of the 2000s.

5

Barenaked Ladies

Toronto pop-rock band beloved for witty lyrics and hits like One Week and If I Had $1000000.

6

The Guess Who

Winnipeg rock band and pioneers of Canadian rock, known for American Woman and These Eyes.

7

Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Winnipeg hard rock band famous for Takin' Care of Business and You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet.

8

Broken Social Scene

Toronto indie rock collective with a rotating cast of musicians, known for You Forgot It in People.

9

Sum 41

Ajax, Ontario pop-punk band known for Fat Lip and In Too Deep, active from 1996 to 2024.

10

Simple Plan

Montreal pop-punk band known for I'm Just a Kid, Perfect, and Welcome to My Life.

11

Three Days Grace

Norwood, Ontario post-grunge band known for Animal I Have Become and I Hate Everything About You.

12

Alexisonfire

St. Catharines post-hardcore band known for blending screamo with melodic rock on albums like Crisis.

13

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Montreal post-rock collective known for sprawling, cinematic instrumentals on albums like Lift Your Skinny Fists.

14

Metric

Toronto indie rock band fronted by Emily Haines, known for Fantasies and Synthetica.

15

Alvvays

Toronto dream-pop band known for jangly guitars and lush reverb on albums like Antisocialites and Blue Rev.