Australian music awards announce 2026 finalists

Several Australian music award ceremonies have announced their finalists for 2026.

The South Australian Music Awards, organized by MusicSA, will be held on November 10 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre Theatre. The event will include the induction of BAD//DREEMS into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame. Finalists across major categories include Ella Ion, Any Young Mechanic, and The Tullamarines.

In New South Wales, the NSW Government has announced finalists for the NSW Music Prize, which features $160,000 in total prize money. The awards include an $80,000 main prize, a $40,000 First Nations Music Prize, and a $40,000 Breakthrough Artist of the Year award. Finalists such as Keli Holiday, DON WEST, and Ninajirachi are among those shortlisted. The ceremony is scheduled for November 9 at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.