The 2026 ARIA Awards Celebrating 40 Years of Australian Music Excellence

ARIA Celebrates 40 years of Australian music excellence in 2026

ARIA Awards return on 18 November with a Special Hall Of Fame event on 11 June. 

The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) will this year mark the 40th anniversary of the ARIA Awards, commemorating four decades of Australian music, recognising artists, creators and industry leaders who have defined the sound and stories of our nation. 

Established in 1987, the ARIA Awards have represented the pinnacle of recognition for Australian music, celebrating the talent, innovation and cultural significance of local artists on home soil and the global stage. 

In celebration, ARIA will host a special ARIA Hall of Fame Anniversary event on Wednesday, 11 June at Carriageworks, Sydney as a stand-alone event, honouring some of Australia’s most beloved and influential artists of the past 40 years. 

Presented in partnership with Sound NSW, six artists and industry figures selected by the ARIA Board will be inducted into the 2026 ARIA Hall of Fame, joining a distinguished lineage that includes You Am I, Jet, Missy Higgins, AC/DC, Molly Meldrum, Tina Arena, Cold Chisel, Jimmy Barnes, Olivia Newton John, INXS, Crowded House, Archie Roach, Human Nature and many more. 

This landmark event will shine a spotlight on artist excellence, legacy and cultural impact, bringing together icons, peers and fans to celebrate the best of Aussie music.

The 2026 ARIA Awards in partnership with Spotify will return on Wednesday, 18 November at Sydney’s Horden Pavilion to celebrate the very best of Australian music on its biggest global stage to date. Australian music’s night of nights will also return to 10 and stream live on Paramount+. 

The 2025 ARIA Awards delivered a standout celebration of Australian music, spotlighting both iconic acts and rising stars at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion. Amyl and The Sniffers dominated the night, while rising star Ninajirachi was a standout as the night’s most nominated artist.With nearly 700,000 fan votes cast, audience engagement hit record highs across genres. From unforgettable performances including global icon Olivia Dean to Hall of Fame tributes, the ARIAs continues to reflect a vibrant, evolving local music scene.

ARIA CEO, Annabelle Herd, said: “Reaching 40 years of the ARIA Awards is a powerful moment to reflect on just how deeply Australian music is woven into our story. The ARIA Hall of Fame anniversary event gives us the chance to properly honour the artists and industry figures whose work has shaped generations, while the 2026 ARIA Awards will continue that story by championing the next wave of Australian talent on an increasingly global stage. This milestone is about legacy but it’s also about backing where Australian music is going next. We can’t wait for what 2026 will bring.”

More information about the 2026 ARIA Awards and the 40th anniversary celebrations will be announced in the coming months.

To register interest in attending the special ARIA Hall of Fame Anniversary event on Wednesday, 11 June at Carriageworks, Sydney as a stand-alone event click here.