First Nations stars BARKAA, Emily Wurramara, and King Stingray are nominees for the 2026 APRA Music Awards.
The hosts and nominees for the centenary edition of the Awards, to be held on Wednesday 29 April at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion, were announced Tuesday.
Hip hop powerhouse BARKAA and acclaimed storyteller Emily Wurramara are both in the running for Emerging Songwriter of the Year, while King Stingray's with 'Southerly' is among the finalists in the Most Performed Rock Work category.
Jessica Mauboy is among the guest presenters for the night.
Amyl and the Sniffers, Dan and Paul Kelly, Keli Holiday, Kevin Parker and Ninajirachi make up the Song of the Year top five.
This year's Song of the Year top five features three previous winners from across the musical spectrum. 2025 winners Amyl and the Sniffers are nominated for "Jerkin'", which is also up for Most Performed Rock Work; multi-award-winner Paul Kelly, with nephew and first-time nominee Dan Kelly, for "Rita Wrote A Letter", the long-awaited follow up to "How to Make Gravy"; and two-time-winner Kevin Parker for Tame Impala's slacker-rock hit "Loser".
Adam Hyde, who performs as Keli Holiday, alongside co-composers Alex Cameron and Konstantin Kersting, secure a place in the top five for one of the biggest songs of last year, "Dancing2", which is also up for Most Performed Alternative Work, and rounding out the list is Nina Wilson (Ninajirachi), one of the most-awarded artists of recent months, for "iPod Touch", co-written with Darcy Baylis.
Other notable previous winners nominated again this year include Hilltop Hoods feat. Marlon for "The Gift" (Most Performed Hip Hop/Rap Work), and Jimmy Barnes with "Defiant" also up for Most Performed Rock Work (alongside fellow former APRA winner King Stingray), and the APRA Music Awards' most awarded member, Sia, with David Guetta for "Beautiful People" (Most Performed Electronic/Dance Work).
There are 52 first-time nominees this year, seven of whom are up for two awards, including five who are recognised for the same song, demonstrating the breadth of songwriting spanning multiple genres.
They are Alex Cameron (alongside Adam Hyde and Konstantin Kersting) for "Dancing2" (Most Performed Alternative Work and Song of the Year); Jessica Porfiri and Taka Perry for KATSEYE's K-Pop hit "Touch" and Ned Houston (alongside Guy Sebastian and Robby De Sa) for "Maybe", with both songs up for Most Performed Australian Work and Most Performed Pop Work; and Sam Cromack for Ball Park Music's "Please Don't Move to Melbourne" (Most Performed Alternative Work and Most Performed Australian Work).
The nominees for the 2026 Emerging Songwriter of the Year category - alongside BARKAA and Emily Wurramara - are Grace Sinclair, Heide Peverelle and Jeanie Pilkington (Folk Bitch Trio); bedroom pop prince, Nick Ward; and multi-award winner, Nina Wilson (Ninajirachi).
The recipient of the prestigious Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music will be announced on Tuesday 14 April. Winners of all categories including the International Recognition Award, OneMusic Licensee of the Year, Most Performed Australian Work Overseas and Songwriter of the Year will be revealed at the ceremony on Wednesday 29 April.
As part of APRA's 100-year celebrations, this year's awards will be the biggest yet, hosted by legendary presenter and musicophile, Julia Zemiro, with guest presenters Mauboy, Bernard Fanning, Mark Coles Smith and Stella Donnelly.
The APRA Music Awards celebrate excellence in contemporary music, honouring songwriters and publishers who have achieved artistic excellence and outstanding success in their fields.
