{"id":903291,"date":"2026-09-24T03:58:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T03:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/903291\/"},"modified":"2026-09-24T03:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T03:58:10","slug":"aria-awards-2026-nominations-genesis-owusu-and-tame-impala-lead-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/903291\/","title":{"rendered":"ARIA Awards 2026 nominations: Genesis Owusu and Tame Impala lead field"},"content":{"rendered":"

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the ARIA Music Awards, and the nominees vying for the iconic pointy trophy this November have just been announced.<\/p>\n

A host of Australian musicians, artisans and performers are lined up across 29 categories, following the induction of six legendary acts being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame<\/a> earlier this year: Gurrumul, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait, The Living End and Vika & Linda.<\/p>\n

Who’s got the most ARIA nominations?<\/p>\n

Leading the pack, landing eight nominations each, are Genesis Owusu and Tame Impala.<\/p>\n

Owusu’s third genre-bending album, Red Star Wu & The Worldwide Scourge<\/a>, has placed the Ghanaian-Australian rule-breaker in contention for Album of the Year, Best Solo Act and the public-voted Best Australian Live Act.<\/p>\n

The 28-year-old’s first two records each won Album of the Year, along with five additional ARIAs already in the trophy cabinet.<\/p>\n

Tame Impala, aka West Australian polymath and 15-time ARIA winner Kevin Parker, extends a huge year behind fifth album Deadbeat<\/a>, featuring the global hit Dracula.<\/p>\n

On the eve of a national arena tour<\/a>, Parker is up for Album of the Year, Best Solo Artist, and nominations in the Best Pop, Dance\/Electronic and Alternative categories.<\/p>\n

Genesis Owusu, Ecca Vandal among May’s best albums<\/a><\/p>\n

From long-awaited comebacks to First Nations glam rock and genre-defying polymaths, May was stacked with excellent new releases.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Netting several impressive nods is first-time solo nominee Ecca Vandal. South African-born with Sri Lankan (Tamil) heritage and Melbourne-raised, her loud, empowering music mixes punk, neo-soul, metal, hip hop, and more.<\/p>\n

Her second album, Looking For People To Unfollow,<\/a> puts her in the mix for Album of the Year, Best Solo Artist and Breakthrough Artist.<\/p>\n

Ecca Vandal, Genesis Owusu and Tame Impala all square off for an award returning for the first time since 2016: Best Alternative Release.<\/p>\n

The category also includes Gang of Youths’ comeback single Things Take Time and Meg Mac’s fourth album It’s My Party<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Who else is hoping for ARIAs glory?<\/p>\n

Last year’s breakout winner<\/a>, electronic producer Ninajirachi, has scored five nominations.<\/p>\n

So too has Yol\u014bu sensation Baker Boy, singing-drumming star G Flip, tough-talking independent indigenous woman Miss Kaninna, and soulful Australian-Samoan visionary Boy Soda.<\/p>\n

Amyl & The Sniffers and Ninajirachi dominate 2025 ARIAs<\/a><\/p>\n

The ARIAs belonged to two relative underdogs this year. Don’t know who they are? It’s time to pay attention.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Clocking in with four ARIA chances each are pop auteur Troye Sivan, rock trio DMA’s and Dom Dolla, the world-renowned DJ playing to 50,000-plus people at Marvel Stadium this month.<\/p>\n

There is a host of iconic Australian musicians in the mix, too, including Paul Kelly, Vika & Linda, Keith Urban, Hilltop Hoods and impending Grand Final entertainer Kylie Minogue.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, The Wiggles face off against former member Emma Memma and a Bluey record for Best Children’s Album.<\/p>\n

The best music festival award is back for a second year, featuring CMC Rocks, Laneway, Spilt Milk, Victoria’s Beyond the Valley and the Lismore leg of Groovin The Moo.<\/p>\n

When are the ARIA Awards?<\/p>\n

The winners will be revealed on Wednesday 18 November at a glitzy ceremony, hosted at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Gadigal Land and broadcast on Paramount+ and 10.<\/p>\n

2026 ARIA Awards nomineesAlbum of the YearBOY SODA \u2014 Soulstar [Warner Music Australia]DMA’S \u2014 DMA’S [Wonderlick Recording Company \/ Sony Music]Ecca Vandal \u2014 Looking For People to Unfollow [Loma Vista Recordings \/ Concord]Genesis Owusu \u2014 Redstar Wu & The Worldwide Scourge [Ourness \/ Believe]Tame Impala \u2014 Deadbeat [Columbia Records \/ Sony Music]Best Solo ArtistBaker Boy \u2014 Djandjay [Baker Boy Music Pty Ltd \/ Island Records Australia]BOY SODA \u2014 Soulstar [Warner Music Australia]Ecca Vandal \u2014 Looking For People to Unfollow [Loma Vista Recordings \/ Concord]G Flip \u2014 Dream Ride [AWAL Recordings]Genesis Owusu \u2014 Redstar Wu & The Worldwide Scourge [Ourness \/ Believe]Matt Corby \u2014 Tragic Magic [Island Records Australia \/ Universal Music Australia]Miss Kaninna \u2014 BLACKPRINT [Soul Has No Tempo \/ AWAL Recordings]Ninajirachi \u2014 WannaCry [NLV RECORDS]Tame Impala \u2014 Deadbeat [Columbia Records \/ Sony Music]Troye Sivan \u2014 She’s The Best [EMI Music Australia]Best Group5 Seconds of Summer \u2014 Everyone’s A Star! [Republic Records]DMA’S \u2014 DMA’S [Wonderlick Recording Company \/ Sony Music]Gang Of Youths \u2014 Things Take Time [Mosy Music \/ Sony Music]Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers \u2014 Glory [Community Music]Vika & Linda \u2014 Where Do You Come From? [Mushroom Music]Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artistaleksiah \u2014 Good On Paper [Chugg Music & Stellar Trigger \/ MGM]Ecca Vandal \u2014 Looking For People to Unfollow [Loma Vista Recordings \/ Concord]Rachael Fahim \u2014 Who You Are [Island Records Australia \/ Universal Music Australia]Way Dynamic \u2014 Massive Shoe [Spoilsport Records] WILSN \u2014 Bloom [Mushroom Music]WILSN \u2014 Bloom [Mushroom Music]Best Pop ReleaseBlusher \u2014 Rager [Warner Music Australia]G Flip \u2014 Dream Ride [AWAL Recordings]Kylie Minogue \u2014 Tension Tour\/\/Live 2025 [Mushroom Music]Tame Impala \u2014 Dracula [Columbia Records \/ Sony Music]Troye Sivan \u2014 She’s The Best [EMI Music Australia]Best Dance \/ Electronic ReleaseDean Turnley \u2014 Actin’ Tough [CHAOS in collaboration with HOME\/\/GRXWN]Dom Dolla \u2014 Addicted to Bass [TMRW Music]Ninajirachi, Porter Robinson \u2014 WannaCry [NLV RECORDS]Tame Impala \u2014 Afterthought [Columbia Records \/ Sony Music]Yes Boone \u2014 All I Really Want [TMRW Music]Best Hip Hop \/ Rap ReleaseBaker Boy \u2014 Djandjay [Baker Boy Music Pty Ltd \/ Island Records Australia]DEVAURA \u2014 Vol. 2 If You Don’t Laugh, You’ll Cry [Offbeat Collective \/ Xelon Digital]Hilltop Hoods \u2014 Never Coming Home [Island Records Australia \/ Universal Music Australia]Miss Kaninna \u2014 BLACKPRINT [Soul Has No Tempo \/ AWAL Recordings]Nerve \u2014 Growing Pains [Nerve MP3’s \/ Xelon Digital]Best Soul \/ R&B ReleaseBecca Hatch \u2014 Garden (Bang Goes the Drum) [G.Y.R.O.]BOY SODA \u2014 Soulstar [Warner Music Australia]Larissa Lambert \u2014 I Love You Out Loud [New Levels \/ Virgin Music Group]Miss Kaninna \u2014 Backstreets [Soul Has No Tempo \/ AWAL Recordings]Tkay Maidza \u2014 Romanticize [Dew Process \/ Universal Music Australia]Best Independent Release2charm \u2014 boyfriend [STAR SCUM RECORDS]Ecca Vandal \u2014 Looking For People to Unfollow [Loma Vista Recordings \/ Concord]Genesis Owusu \u2014 REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE [Ourness \/ Believe]Miss Kaninna \u2014 BLACKPRINT [Soul Has No Tempo \/ AWAL Recordings]Ninajirachi, Porter Robinson \u2014 WannaCry [NLV RECORDS]Best Rock AlbumCourtney Barnett \u2014 Creature Of Habit [Fiction \/ Virgin Music Australia]DMA’S \u2014 DMA’S [Wonderlick Recording Company \/ Sony Music]Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers \u2014 Glory [Community Music]The Belair Lip Bombs \u2014 Again [Third Man Records \/ Rocket]The Temper Trap \u2014 Sungazer [Mushroom Music]Best Alternative ReleaseEcca Vandal \u2014 Looking For People to Unfollow [Loma Vista Recordings \/ Concord]Gang Of Youths \u2014 Things Take Time [Mosy Music \/ Sony Music]Genesis Owusu \u2014 REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE [Ourness\/Believe]Meg Mac \u2014 It’s My Party [EMI Music Australia]Tame Impala \u2014 Deadbeat [Columbia Records \/ Sony Music]Best Adult Contemporary AlbumMatt Corby \u2014 Tragic Magic [Island Records Australia \/ Universal Music Australia]Paul Kelly \u2014 Seventy [EMI Music Australia]The Paper Kites \u2014 If You Go There, I Hope You Find It [Wonderlick Recording Company]Vika & Linda \u2014 Where Do You Come From? [Mushroom Music]Way Dynamic \u2014 Massive Shoe [Spoilsport Records]Best Country AlbumKeith Urban \u2014 Flow State [MCA \u2014 NASHVILLE \/ EMI Music Australia]Max Jackson \u2014 Dangerous in Denim [ABC Music \/ The Orchard]Morgan Evans \u2014 Steel Town [Solrise Records \/ Virgin Music Group]Rachael Fahim \u2014 Who You Are [Island Records Australia \/ Universal Music Australia]Wade Forster \u2014 Gooseneck Party [Community Music]Best Hard Rock \/ Heavy Metal AlbumCosmic Psychos \u2014 I Really Like Beer [G.Y.R.O.]DZ Deathrays \u2014 Easing Out Of Control [DZ Worldwide \/ The Orchard]Karnivool \u2014 In Verses [Cymatic Records \/ Sony Music]These New South Whales \u2014 Godspeed [These New South Whales \/ ADA]WAAX \u2014 Angel’s Mess [AWAL\/DRUNK ON POWER RECORDS]Best Blues & Roots AlbumAny Young Mechanic \u2014 The Modern Shoe Is Ruining The Foot [Warner Records]Emma Donovan \u2014 Take Me To The River [Civilians \/ The Orchard]John Butler \u2014 Prism [Jarrah Records\/Metropolitan Groove Merchants]William Crighton \u2014 Colonial Drift [ABC Music \/ The Orchard]Xavier Rudd \u2014 Freedom Sessions\/Where To Now [Salt.X Records \/ Virgin Music Group]Best Children’s AlbumBluey \u2014 Up Here (The Orchestral Album) [Demon Music Group \/ Rocket \/ Orchard]Don Spencer \u2014 Feathers, Fur or Fins 40th Anniversary (Don Spencer & Friends) [ABC Music \/ The Orchard]Emma Memma \u2014 Jungle Picnic [G.Y.R.O.]Play School \u2014 Dance It Out [ABC Music \/ The Orchard]The Wiggles \u2014 Sparkle!: A Circus Of Lights [Universal Music Australia]Best Music FestivalBeyond The Valley 2025 \u2014 Untitled GroupCMC Rocks \u2014 CMC Rocks Pty LtdGroovin The Moo Lismore \u2014 Fuzzy Operations Pty LtdLaneway Festival \u2014 ST JEROME’S LANEWAY PTY LTDSpilt Milk \u2014 Kicks EntertainmentPublic Voted AwardsBest VideoNever The Same \u2014 BOY SODA, Adam Saunders [Warner Music Australia]Running Low ft. Pardyalone \u2014 Baker Boy, Aurie Indianna & Jordan Ruyi Blanch [Baker Boy Music Pty Ltd \/ Island Records Australia]Backstreets \u2014 Miss Kaninna, Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore [Soul Has No Tempo \/ AWAL Recordings]My Baby’s Place \u2014 DMA’S, Cole Surrey [Wonderlick Recording Company \/ Sony Music]Cruising To Self Soothe \u2014 Ecca Vandal, Richie Buxton [Loma Vista Recordings \/ Concord]Stampede \u2014 Genesis Owusu, Isaac Brown [Ourness \/ Believe]One More \u2014 James Johnston, Jared Hinz [Warner Music Australia]Every Single Weekend \u2014 The Avalanches, Jonathan Zawada [Modular \/ EMI Music Australia]Addicted to Bass \u2014 Dom Dolla, Kyle Caulfield & Charles Buxton-Leslie [TMRW Music]Bed On Fire \u2014 G Flip, Tas Wilson [AWAL Recordings]Best Australian Live ActBaker Boy \u2014 Djandjay Tour [Handsome Tours]BOY SODA \u2014 Lil Obsession Tour [Select Music]Dom Dolla \u2014 Dom Dolla Australian Tour 2025 [Untitled & TEG Live Presents]G Flip \u2014 Dream Ride Tour \u2014 Australia 2026Gang Of Youths \u2014 VariousGenesis Owusu \u2014 Red Star Wu’s Pirate Radio Tour [Frontier Touring]Hilltop Hoods \u2014 Never Coming Home Tour [TEG Live & Blue Max Music]King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard \u2014 Phantom Island Australian TourNinajirachi \u2014 DARK CRYSTAL V [Laneway Presents & TEG Live]Paul Kelly \u2014 Australian Tour 2025 [Frontier Touring]Song of the YearFISHER \u2014 Blackberries [etcetc Music Pty Ltd]G Flip \u2014 Bed on Fire [AWAL Recordings]Keli Holiday \u2014 Dancing2 [GROUP SPEED]Lithe \u2014 Cannonball [10K \/ ADA]Ocean Alley \u2014 Love Balloon [Independent \/ Community Music]Royel Otis \u2014 car [Ourness \/ Capitol Records]Sonny Fodera \u2014 Think About Us [Solotoko \/ ADA]Tame Impala \u2014 Dracula [Columbia Records \/ Sony Music]The Kid LAROI \u2014 A COLD PLAY [Columbia Records \/ Sony Music]Vance Joy \u2014 Divine Feelings [Mushroom Music]Most Popular International ArtistBTS \u2014 ARIRANG [Virgin Music Group \/ Geffen]Ed Sheeran \u2014 Play [Atlantic Records \/ Warner Music Australasia]Harry Styles \u2014 Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally [Columbia \/ Sony Music]Morgan Wallen \u2014 I’m The Problem [Universal Music International \/ Universal Music Australia]Noah Kahan \u2014 The Great Divide [Universal Music International \/ Universal Music Australia]Olivia Dean \u2014 The Art of Loving [Universal Music International \/ Universal Music Australia]Olivia Rodrigo \u2014 you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love [Geffen \/ Universal Music Australia]Sabrina Carpenter \u2014 Man’s Best Friend [Island Records \/ Universal Music Australia]sombr \u2014 I Barely Know Her [Warner Records \/ Warner Music Australasia]Taylor Swift \u2014 The Life of a Showgirl [Republic Records \/ Universal Music Australia]Artisan AwardsBest Cover ArtAurie Indianna & Sulaiman Enayatzada for Baker Boy \u2014 Djandjay [Baker Boy Music Pty Ltd \/ Island Records Australia]Connor Dewhurst for Amy Shark \u2014 soft pop [Wonderlick Recording Company \/ Sony Music]Ecca Vandal, Kathryn Vinella, Sean McDonald for Ecca Vandal \u2014 Looking For People to Unfollow [Loma Vista Recordings \/ Concord]Kofi Owusu-Ansah, Isaac Brown, Gina Wagstaffe for Genesis Owusu \u2014 Redstar Wu & The Worldwide Scourge [Ourness \/ Believe]Miriam David and Pat Fox for Matt Corby \u2014 Tragic Magic [Island Records Australia \/ Universal Music Australia]Engineer \u2014 Best Engineered ReleaseDom Dolla for Dom Dolla \u2014 Don’t Worry Baby [Good Fortune Records]Kevin Parker for Tame Impala \u2014 Deadbeat [Columbia Records \/ Sony Music]Wave Racer for 2charm \u2014 Star Scum City [STAR SCUM RECORDS]Styalz Fuego for Troye Sivan \u2014 She’s The Best [EMI Music Australia]Tony Buchen for DOBBY \u2014 Marshmallow [ABC Music \/ The Orchard]Producer \u2014 Best Produced ReleaseDann Hume \/ Andrew Klippel for Genesis Owusu \u2014 Redstar Wu & The Worldwide Scourge [Ourness \/ Believe]Kevin Parker for Tame Impala \u2014 Deadbeat [Columbia Records \/ Sony Music]Ninajirachi for 2charm \u2014 Star Scum City [STAR SCUM RECORDS]Ninajirachi \/ Porter Robinson for Ninajirachi \u2014 WannaCry [NLV RECORDS]Styalz Fuego for Troye Sivan \u2014 She’s The Best [EMI Music Australia]Fine Arts AwardsBest Classical AlbumJayson Gillham \u2014 Chopin Etudes [ABC Classic \/ The Orchard]Richard Tognetti \u2014 Australian Chamber Orchestra \u2014 Beethoven & Brahms Concertos for Violin and Orchestra [ABC Classic \/ The Orchard]Simone Young & Sydney Symphony Orchestra \u2014 Mahler: Symphony No. 3 [Deautsche Grammophon Australia \/ Universal Music Australia]Tamara-Anna Cislowska \u2014 Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra \u2014 Johannes Fritzsch \u2014 Elena Kats-Chernin: Ancient Letters [ABC Classic \/ The Orchard]William Barton \u2014 Omega Ensemble \u2014 Gift \u2014 Our Breath of Life [ABC Classic \/ The Orchard]Best Jazz AlbumDonny Ben\u00e9t \u2014 Il Basso [Donnyland Records \/ The Orchard]Hilary Geddes \u2014 Redleaf [Earshift Music]Lauren Tsamouras & Tom Avegenicos \u2014 For Judy [ABC Jazz \/ The Orchard]Ten Part Invention \u2014 Time Is moved [ABC Jazz \/ The Orchard]The Vampires \u2014 Skydancer [Earshift \/ The Planet Company]Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast AlbumAck Kinmonth \u2014 The Pout Pout Fish (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Ack Music]Amanda Brown \u2014 Deadloch Season 1 [Amazon Content Services under exclusive licence to Strange Loops Recordings]Brian Cachia \u2014 Beast (Original Motion Picture Score) [BCMuse Studios \/ CDBaby]Caitlin Yeo \u2014 Every Little Thing (Official Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Strange Loops]Francois Tetaz \u2014 My Brilliant Career [Netflix]Best World Music AlbumMelbourne Ska Orchestra \u2014 Monte Loco Rides Again [ABC Music \/ The Orchard]Mo’Ju, Nicholas Buc and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra \u2014 Double J Live at the Wireless \u2014 Hamer Hall, Melbourne 2023 [ABC Music \/ The Orchard]Not Drowning, Waving \u2014 Malira [ORiGiN Recordings \/ ADA]Tenzin Choegyal & Philip Glass \u2014 Be The Sky [Orange Mountain Music]The Cat Empire \u2014 Live At Sydney Opera House [BMG]Our Soundtrack Our AdsBest Use of an Australian Recording in an AdvertisementFox Sports Australia Finals Footy \u2014 Fox Sports Australia, 3%, Fred Leone, ScribeParamount+: All Fired Up \u2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup \u2014 Hello, G FlipTourism WA: Walking On A Dream \u2014 Tourism WA, Empire of the Sun, West Australian Symphony Orchestra & Billy-Jo ShovellerToyota: Nice to Know it could. \u2014 THE HERO CORPORATION, Amyl and The SniffersUber Eats: The Man LAROI \u2014 Special, The Kid LAROI<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This year marks the 40th anniversary of the ARIA Music Awards, and the nominees vying for the 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