ARIA Awards 2026 Guide: Nominees, Voting and How to Watch
Genesis Owusu and Tame Impala tie on eight nominations, five albums chase the big one, and you still get a daily vote in four categories before the ARIAs turn 40.
The ARIAs are turning 40, and they have picked a good year for it. The ARIA Awards 2026 land on 18th Nov 26 at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney.
Two names sit level at the top, five albums are chasing the big prize, and the best part is that you still get a say in a handful of categories. Nobody needs a ticket to be part of this one.
Who leads the nominations
Genesis Owusu and Tame Impala are tied out in front with eight nominations each. That is a lovely pairing to see side by side: one a restless, genre-bending storyteller out of Canberra by way of Ghana, the other Kevin Parker's psychedelic one-man universe out of Perth.
Right behind them is Ecca Vandal with seven, which makes her the quiet storm of the night. Then comes a bunched-up group on five apiece: Baker Boy, BOY SODA, G Flip, Miss Kaninna and Ninajirachi. It is a wonderfully mixed bag, from hip hop to club music to pop, and it says something good about the state of local music that so many different corners are getting a look in.
The Album of the Year field
Five albums are in the running, and it is a proper spread. Tame Impala's Deadbeat, Genesis Owusu's Redstar Wu & The Worldwide Scourge, Ecca Vandal's Looking For People To Unfollow, BOY SODA's Soulstar and the self-titled album from DMA'S.
Three of the five also top the nominations tally, so there is a neat storyline running through the whole category. And Ecca Vandal's album title deserves a mention just for being the most relatable thing anyone has put on a record this year. Picking a favourite is half the fun, and we will leave the tipping to the pub.
How to vote before it closes
Four categories are decided by the public: Song of the Year, Best Video, Most Popular International Artist and Best Australian Live Act, which is presented by Destination NSW. The live act list alone is a roll call of the summer festival circuit and the big touring years, with names like Hilltop Hoods, Gang Of Youths and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard sitting alongside the album heavyweights.
Voting opened on 24th Sep 26 and closes at 11.59pm AEDT on 9th Nov 26. You can vote once a day, either in the Spotify app or on the ARIA voting page. Each category has a playlist of its nominees, so it doubles as a very good excuse to spend an evening listening to the shortlist before you lock in a pick.
How to watch on the night
The ceremony is on Wednesday, 18th Nov 26, and it is shaping up as a proper birthday party for the ARIAs, with 29 categories on the list. Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald are hosting. It airs on Channel 10 and streams live on Paramount+, so you can watch from the couch or on whatever screen is closest. ARIA's watch page has the rest of the viewing details, and performances and moments from the night are also posted on the ARIA YouTube channel.
The full list of nominees across every category lives on the ARIA nominees page, handy for settling any disputes before the broadcast starts.
At a glance
- Ceremony: Wednesday, 18th Nov 26, Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, the 40th anniversary of the ARIAs
- Hosts: Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald
- Watch: Channel 10, with a live stream on Paramount+
- Most nominations: Genesis Owusu and Tame Impala with eight each, then Ecca Vandal with seven
- Album of the Year nominees: BOY SODA, DMA'S, Ecca Vandal, Genesis Owusu and Tame Impala
- Public vote: Best Australian Live Act, Song of the Year, Best Video and Most Popular International Artist
- Voting window: 24th Sep 26 to 11.59pm AEDT on 9th Nov 26, one vote a day via Spotify or the ARIA website
Verdict: a big, mixed, properly Australian line-up for the 40th ARIAs, with a genuine say for fans until the vote closes on 9th Nov 26.
