The 2025 ARIA Awards - Wrapped

Amyl and The Sniffers and Ninajirachi top the 2025 ARIA Awards

All the winners from Australian music’s night of nights

OFFICIAL ARIA AWARD IMAGES: HERE (includes red carpet, show and winners portraits) 

• Amyl and the Sniffers claimed four Award wins including: Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Rock Album presented by Tooheys, and Best Cover Art (John Stewart and Thomas Rennie)
• Ninajirachi proves she is one of Australia’s most exciting artists, taking home three major Awards: Best Solo Artist, Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist presented by Spotify, and Best Independent Release presented by PPCA
• Oliva Dean delivered a stunning, exclusive ARIA Awards performance with global hit-single Man I Need.
• Dom Dolla received inaugural Global Impact Award presented by Spotify
• Troye Sivan won Best Australian Live Act presented by Destination NSW
• Tame Impala won two ARIA Awards: Engineer – Best Engineered Release (Kevin Parker), Producer – Best Produced Release (Kevin Parker)
• In an ARIA-first, all nominees from Best Soul/R&B category performed melody of hits

Fresh from a triumphant 2025 European festival tour, Amyl and the Sniffers take their place as Australia’s most electrifying band, claiming the night’s top honours with four wins at the 2025 ARIA Awards in partnership with Spotify at Hordern Pavilion on Gadigal land.

The most nominated artist of 2025, Ninajirachi, marked yet another defining moment in her career:  her first ARIA Award (plus an extra two to boot). The phenom took home Best Solo Artist, Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist presented by Spotify, and Best Independent Release presented by PPCA for her acclaimed debut album I Love My Computer.

Turning six nominations into four victories, Amyl and the Sniffers unstoppable momentum saw them win Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Rock Album presented by Tooheys, and Best Cover Art for John Stewart and Thomas Rennie; all for their latest release, Cartoon Darkness.

In one of the most heartfelt moments of the night, Dom Dolla made history as the inaugural recipient of the ARIA Global Impact Award presented by Spotify. Recognised for his outstanding international success and cultural influence, Dom has significantly elevated Australian music on the world stage through his artistry, innovation, and global reach over the past year. Alongside this landmark achievement, Dom secured the ARIA for Best Dance/Electronic Release.

Keli Holiday set the tone for the 2025 ARIA Awards with an unforgettable opening, sending the crowd to their feet with his explosive hit Dancing2. Boasting over 6 million Spotify streams this year, the track’s cinematic brilliance was also recognised, earning it an ARIA Award for Best Video (Ryan Sauer), and cementing Keli as one of the country’s most party-ready exports.

International superstar Oliva Dean joined the ARIA Awards stage to perform her breakout mega-hit, Man I Need. With over 4.5 billion global streams and 236 million career streams in Australia alone, Olivia has quickly become one of the most celebrated voices of her generation. Alongside her performance, Olivia presented Best Solo Artist to Ninajirachi and Album of the Year to Amyl and The Sniffers.

More winners on the night included Troye Sivan for Best Australian Live Act presented by Destination NSW, Taylor Swift for Most Popular International Artist, Tame Impala, who took home two ARIA Awards for Engineer – Best Engineered Release (Kevin Parker), and Producer – Best Produced Release (Kevin Parker), BOY SODA for Best Soul/R&B release, Thornhill for Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album, The Teskey Brothers for Best Blues & Roots Album, Emma Memma for Best Children’s Album, BARKAA for Best Hip Hop/Rap Release, Kasey Chambers for Best Country Album, Lucy Clifford for Best Jazz Album and Gurrumul for Best World Music Album. The full list of winners can be found at the bottom of this release.

Laneway Festival was honoured with the inaugural Best Music Festival Award presented by Tixel and developed in close partnership with the Australian Festivals Association (AFA). The award was introduced this year to recognise and celebrate the critical role Australian music festivals play in showcasing and advancing local talent, offering breakthrough moments and essential exposure, and transforming the careers of Australian artists by connecting them with wider audiences. 

Other incredible performances included the very-first super collaboration from the full field of nominees for Best Soul/R&B Release, including BOY SODA (Lil’ Obsession), JACOTENE (Why’d You Do That / Stop Calling), Jerome Farah (Good Girl), Larissa Lambert (Cardio) and PANIA (Pity Party). Kita Alexander graced the stage to perform Press Pause and Missy Higgins – who also took the ARIA for Best Adult Contemporary Album – had everyone captivated with her performance of Complicated Truth.

It was a big night for Thelma Plum, who performed Nobody’s Baby before winning Best Pop Release for her album I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back. In an epic melody of hits, Young Franco was joined on stage by friends including Baker Boy, Kobie Dee, Anna Ryan and Touch Sensitive.

Closing out the show in style was none other than Daniel Johns inducting the 2025 ARIA Hall of Fame to Australian rock icons, You Am I, who treated the crowd to hits Heavy Heart and Berlin Chair.

Joining hosts Tim Blackwell and Concetta Caristo throughout the evening were presenters Anna Lunoe, Budjerah, Cody Simpson, Dom Dolla, Dylan Alcott, G Flip, John Pearce, Josh Pyke, Kacey Musgraves, Kate Ceberano, Kaylee Bell, King Stingray, Kobie Dee, MALLRAT, Meg Washington, Melanie Bracewell, Mia Wray, Sosefina Fuamoli, Tim Nelson and Sam Netterfield from 2Charm, Tait McGregor, Tkay Maidza, Tyra Banks and Vidya Makan.

The ARIA Awards streamed live across Paramount+, followed by a special presentation on 10 from 8.45pm with performances and moments available on the @ARIA.official social channels.

The ARIA Awards are supported proudly by the NSW Government through its tourism and events agency, Destination NSW.

2025 ARIA AWARD WINNERS AND NOMINATED ARTISTS

 Album of the Year

Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group] - WINNER

Missy Higgins – The Second Act [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]

Thelma Plum – I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back [Warner Music Australasia]

Best Solo Artist

BARKAA – Big Tidda [Big Apples Music / Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Dom Dolla – DREAMIN’ [Good Fortune Records]

Kylie Minogue – Tension II [Mushroom Music]Mallrat – Light Hit My Face Like A Straight Right [Dew Process / Universal Music Australia]

Missy Higgins – The Second Act [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records] - WINNER

Paul Kelly – Fever Longing Still [EMI Music Australia]

The Kid LAROI – How Does It Feel? [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Thelma Plum – I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back [Warner Music Australasia]

Young Franco – it's Franky baby! [Neon Records]

Best Group

Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group] - WINNER

Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]

Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Royel Otis – hickey [Ourness / Capitol Records]

RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]

Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist presented by Spotify

Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]

Gut Health – Stiletto [AWAL Recordings]

Mia Wray – hi, it’s nice to meet me [Mushroom Music]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records] - WINNER

Young Franco – it's Franky baby! [Neon Records]

Best Pop Release

G Flip – Disco Cowgirl [AWAL Recordings]

Kita Alexander – Press Pause [Warner Music Australasia]

Kylie Minogue – Tension II [Mushroom Music]

Mallrat – Light Hit My Face Like A Straight Right [Dew Process / Universal Music Australia]

Thelma Plum – I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back [Warner Music Australasia] - WINNER

Best Dance / Electronic Release

Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA) [I OH YOU / Mushroom Music]

Dom Dolla – DREAMIN' [Good Fortune Records] - WINNER

FISHER – Stay [etcetc Music Pty Ltd]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Sonny Fodera, D.O.D & Jazzy – Somedays [Solotoka / ADA]

Best Hip Hop / Rap Release

BARKAA – Big Tidda [Big Apples Music / Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia] - WINNER

Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Miss Kaninna – Kaninna EP [Soul Has No Tempo]

ONEFOUR – Look At Me Now [ONEFOUR Records / The Orchard]

The Kid LAROI – Baby I’m Back [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Best Soul / R&B Release

BOY SODA – Lil Obsession [Warner Music Australasia] - WINNER

JACOTÉNE - Why’d You Do That? [Epic Records / Sony Music]

Jerome Farah – CHLORINE [Sony Music]

Larissa Lambert – Cardio [New Levels / Virgin Music Group]

PANIA – Pity Party [Warner Music Australasia / Say Less]

Best Independent Release presented by PPCA

Ball Park Music – Like Love [Prawn Records / Inertia Music]

Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA) [I OH YOU / Mushroom Music]

Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]

Miss Kaninna – Kaninna EP [Soul Has No Tempo]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records] - WINNER

 Best Rock Album presented by Tooheys

Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group] - WINNER

Ball Park Music – Like Love [Prawn Records / Inertia Music]

King Stingray – For The Dreams [Civilians / The Orchard]

Royel Otis – hickey [Ourness / Capitol Records]

Spacey Jane – If That Makes Sense [AWAL Recordings]

Best Adult Contemporary Album

Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]

Gordi – Like Plasticine [Mushroom Music]

Meg Washington – GEM [OriGiN Distribution / ADA]

Missy Higgins – The Second Act [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia] - WINNER

Paul Kelly – Fever Longing Still [EMI Music Australia]

Best Country Album

Dylan Wright – Half a World Away [Sony Music]

Imogen Clark – Choking on Fuel [Potts Entertainment / MGM]

Kasey Chambers – Backbone [Essence Music Group / MGM] - WINNER

Keith Urban – High [CAPITOL – NASHVILLE / EMI Music Australia]

Taylor Moss – Firecracker [Taylor Moss / Ditto Music]

Best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Album

Civic – Chrome Dipped [ATO Records / Inertia Music]

Press Club – To All The Ones I Love [Inertia Music]

RedHook – Mutation [RedHook Records]

The Amity Affliction – Let The Ocean Take Me Down (Redux) [G.Y.R.O.]

Thornhill – Bodies [UNFD / Community Music] - WINNER

Best Blues & Roots Album

Dope Lemon – Golden Wolf [BMG]

Mama Kin Spender – Promises [Mama Kin Spender / MGM]

Sons Of The East – SONS [Sons Of The East Music / MGM]

Tash Sultana – Return to the Roots [Lonely Lands Records via Sony Music]

The Teskey Brothers – Live At The Hammersmith Apollo [Mushroom Music] - WINNER

Best Children’s Album

Emma Memma – Dance Island Party [G.Y.R.O.] - WINNER

Justine Clarke – Mimi's symphony [ABC Music / The Orchard]

Teeny Tiny Stevies – Brain Fart [Love Your Records / Xelon]

The Vegetable Plot – Season Three [ABC Music / The Orchard]

The Wiggles – Wiggle Up, Giddy Up! [ABC Music / The Orchard]

Best Music Festival presented by Tixel

Ability Fest – Dylan Alcott Foundation + Untitled Group

Beyond The Valley – Untitled Group / Beyond The Valley Music Festival

Bluesfest Byron Bay – Bluesfest Byron Bay

Laneway Festival – St Jerome’s Laneway / Laneway Festival - WINNER

Yours and Owls Festival – Yours and Owls

PUBLIC VOTED AWARDS

Best Video

Break My Love - RÜFÜS DU SOL, Alexander George (Katzki) [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]

Craters – Missy Higgins, Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia]

Lordy Lordy – Emily Wurramara, Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore [ABC Music / The Orchard]

All the Noise – Spacey Jane, Dan Lesser [AWAL Recordings]

car – Royel Otis, Jamieson Kerr [Ourness / Capitol Records]

Big Dreams – Amyl and The Sniffers, John Stewart [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group]

DREAMIN’ - Dom Dolla, Kyle Caulfield & Shevin Dissanayake [Good Fortune Records]

Don’t Happy, Be Worry – Hilltop Hoods, Roman Anastasios and Jordan Ruyi Blanch [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Dancing2 – Keli Holiday, Ryan Sauer [GROUP SPEED] - WINNER

WASxSA – Vv Pete, UTILITY, Formation Boyz, UTILITY [Trackwork]

Best Australian Live Act presented by Destination NSW

Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness World Tour

Ball Park Music – Like Love Tour

BARKAA – BIG TIDDA TOUR [Jackson Street & Bad Apples Music]

Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA) Tour [I OH YOU]

Dom Dolla – Dom Dolla Australia 2024 [Untitled Group]

Hilltop Hoods – Hilltop Hoods 2025

Kylie Minogue – Tension Tour 2025

Miss Kaninna – Dawg In Me Tour [Astral People]

SPEED – SPEED AUSTRALIA TOUR ‘25

Troye Sivan – Something To Give Each Other Tour [Live Nation] - WINNER

Song of the Year

Cyril, Maryjo – Still Into You [Warner Music Australasia / Spinnin Records]

Dean Lewis – With You [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Dom Dolla Feat. Daya – Dreamin [Good Fortune Records]

FISHER – Stay [etcetc Music Pty Ltd]

Gotye, FISHER, Chris Lake Feat. Kimbra, Sante Sansone – Somebody [Eleven: A Music Company / EMI Music Australia]

OneFour, Nemzzz – Spinnin [ONEFOUR RECORDS / THE ORCHARD]

Royel Otis – Linger (SiriusXM Session) [Ourness]

Sonny Fodera, D.O.D & Jazzy – Somedays [Solotoko / ADA]

The Kid LAROI – Girls [Columbia Records / Sony Music] - WINNER

Tobiahs – Angel of Mine [Mushroom Music]

Most Popular International Artist

Alex Warren – [Atlantic Records / Warner Music Australasia]

Calvin Harris – [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Gracie Abrams – [Interscope / Universal Music Australia]

Kendrick Lamar – [Interscope / Universal Music Australia]

Noah Kahan – [Republic Records / Universal Music Australia]

Post Malone – [Republic Records / Universal Music Australia]

Sabrina Carpenter –  [Island Records USA / Universal Music Australia]

Tate McRae – [RCA Records / Universal Music Australia]

Taylor Swift – [Republic Records / Universal Music Australia] - WINNER

Tyler, The Creator – [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

ARTISAN AWARDS 

Best Cover Art

Giulia McGauran for The Cat Empire – Bird in Paradise [BMG]

John Stewart for Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group] - WINNER

Kira Puru, Thelma Plum, Em Jensen for Thelma Plum – I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back [Waner Music Australasia]

Nina Wilson, John You, Aria Zarzycki for Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Sarah McCloskey for Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Engineer - Best Engineered Release

Alice Ivy for Alice Ivy – Do What Makes You Happy [Kewpie Mayo Records / Independent]

Dom Dolla for Dom Dolla – DREAMIN' [Good Fortune Records]

Eric J Dubowsky for Emma Louise & Flume – DUMB [Three Six Zero Recordings / ADA]

Kevin Parker for Tame Impala – End of Summer [Columbia Records / Sony Music] - WINNER

Thomas Purcell p/k/a Wave Racer for Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Producer – Best Produced Release

Alex Burnett for Thelma Plum - I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back [Waner Music Australasia]

Dom Dolla for Dom Dolla – DREAMIN' [Good Fortune Records]

Kevin Parker for Tame Impala – End of Summer [Columbia Records / Sony Music] - WINNER

Nina Wilson p/k/a Ninajirachi for Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

RÜFÜS DU SOL for RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]

FINE ARTS AWARDS

Best Classical Album

Andrea Lam – Piano Diary [ABC Classic / The Orchard] - WINNER

Australian Chamber Orchestra / Richard Tognetti – Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings and Andante Cantabile / Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony in C minor [ABC Classic / The Orchard]

Nat Bartsch – Forever Changed [Amica Records]

Simone Young & Sydney Symphony Orchestra – Mahler: Symphony No.2; Barton: Of The Earth [Deutsche Grammophon Australia / Universal Music]

Sophie Hutchings – Become The Sky [Universal Music Australia / Mercury KX]

Best Jazz Album

Evans Robson Quartet – Zenith [Lamplight Records]

Lachlan McKenzie – Departures [ABC Jazz / The Orchard]

Lucy Clifford – Between Spaces of Knowing [ABC Jazz / The Orchard] - WINNER

TL; DR & Peter Knight – Too Long; Didn’t Read [Earshift Music / The Planet Company-MGM]

Touch Sensitive – In Paradise [Future Classic]

Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album

Australian Chamber Orchestra – Memoir of a Snail (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [ABC Classic / The Orchard]

François Tétaz - The Surfer [Impressed Recordings / Rubber Records]

Michael Cassel Group – Michael Cassel Group Presents A (Very) Musical Christmas [ABC Music]

Various Artists  – How To Make Gravy [Origin Recordings] - WINNER

Vidya Makan – The Lucky Country (Original Cast Album) [ORiGiN Distribution / ADA]

Best World Music Album

Electric Fields, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – Live In Concert [ABC Music / The Orchard]

Gurrumul – Banbirrngu – The Orchestral Sessions [Decca Australia & Skinnyfish / UMA] - WINNER

Joseph Tawadros – The Forgotten Path To Humanity [Independent / The Planet Company]

Tenzin Choegyal – Snow Flower [Warner Music Australasia / Rainbow Valley Records]

The Cat Empire – Bird in Paradise [BMG]

OUR SOUNDTRACK OUR ADS

Best Use of an Australian Recording in an Advertisement

Fox League 2025: Our Greats – Fox Sports Australia, 3% - WINNER

Menulog: What’s Good in Your Hood – Thinkerbell, Bliss n Eso

Paramount+ Australia: Ballad of the GOATS – Paramount+ Australia, Briggs & Kobie Dee

Tooheys: I Feel Like a Tooheys – Thinkerbell, Dune Rats

Tourism & Events Queensland: That Holiday Feeling – Publicis Worldwide, Kita Alexander