The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) is proud to announce the six iconic artists who will be inducted into the 2026 ARIA Hall of Fame, marking a milestone moment as ARIA celebrates the 40th anniversary of the ARIA Awards in partnership with Spotify.
In a special standalone event on Thursday, 11 June 2026 at Carriageworks, Sydney, Gurrumul, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait, The Living End and Vika & Linda will become the latest inductees into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
This year’s Hall of Fame Special Event will honour the inductees, alongside some of the most influential and beloved artists of the past 40 years, whose work has defined generations and contributed to the sound of contemporary Australia. The evening will bring together artists, peers and fans, to celebrate both legacy and continued influence, reinforcing the vital role Australian music plays on the world stage.
The 2026 inductees will join a distinguished lineage that includes You Am I, Jet, Missy Higgins, AC/DC, Molly Meldrum, Tina Arena, Cold Chisel, Kylie MInogue, Yothu Yindi, Jimmy Barnes, Kasey Chambers, Olivia Newton John, INXS, Crowded House, Archie Roach, Human Nature and many more.
Established in 1987, the ARIA Awards have long represented the highest honour in Australian music, recognising the artists, creators and industry leaders who have shaped the nation’s cultural identity. The 2026 celebration will commemorate four decades of innovation, storytelling and global impact, highlighting the enduring strength and diversity of Australia’s music industry.
ARIA CEO, Annabelle Herd, said:“This year’s Hall of Fame inductees represent the depth, diversity and enduring influence of Australian music across generations. Each of these artists has shaped how Australian music is heard and understood at home and around the world. As we mark 40 years of the ARIA Awards, it feels especially meaningful to honour these artists whose work has defined moments in time and continues to resonate with audiences today. This is a celebration of legacy and their continued success but also the ongoing influence these artists have on Australian music. This is going to be a very special night and I am super excited to be a part of it.”
The ARIA Hall of Fame Special Event has been made possible by the NSW Government through Sound NSW. This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Office for the Arts and Music Australia.
Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, The Hon. John Graham, said: “These incredible artists have defined the Australian sound, taken it to the world, and inspired the next generation. This is such a fitting way to recognise their service to Australian music. The work of these artists shows that Australian music has sounds and stories you won’t hear anywhere else in the world. As the global music scene changes, we have to keep supporting the next wave of talent to carry on that legacy.”
Federal Minister for the Arts, Hon Tony Burke MP, said: “You can’t imagine the soundtrack to life in Australia without these artists. And yeah, I know Jenny was born in New Zealand but we’re claiming her too.”
A singular voice in Australian music, Gurrumul remains one of the nation’s most celebrated and culturally significant artists. Born blind and hailing from the Gumatj clan of Elcho Island in Arnhem Land, the Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter became internationally revered for music that explored identity, spirit and connection to Country. He rose to international acclaim with his 2008 self-titled debut album Gurrumul which helped drive more than 500,000 album sales worldwide, and went on to perform for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II , US President Barack Obama, Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark. He was one of only two Australian performers at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace.
Across his career, Gurrumul received 22 ARIA Award nominations and 10 wins, alongside 16 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) wins, making him one of the country’s most awarded First Nations musicians. Following his passing in 2017 at age 46, his legacy endures not only through his extraordinary catalogue, but through the lasting cultural impact of his music and the work of the Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation.
Few artists have shaped Australian music quite like Jenny Morris. Both on stage and behind the scenes she is an enduring champion of the industry. Inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame in recognition of her extraordinary contribution to Australian music, Jenny Morris is one of the country’s most respected performers, songwriters and advocates. Rising to prominence in the 1980s and 90's with QED and INXS before launching a hugely successful solo career, she went on to release multiple platinum albums including Body and Soul (1987), Shiver (1989), and Honeychild (1991), receiving 9 ARIA Nominations and win back-to-back ARIA Awards for Best Female Artist in 1987 and 1988.
Internationally, she toured with major names including Prince, INXS and Paul McCartney, earning acclaim for her emotional depth and commanding vocals. Beyond the stage, Morris has played a significant role in shaping the Australian music industry through leadership and advocacy especially as board member and then chair of the board of APRA. Jenny sat on the board of the music therapy charity NORO for 10 years and is the mastermind of Art of Music, a charity fund raiser for NORO which has its 20th anniversary this year. Despite having to give up singing due to a neurological issue affecting her voice, Morris continues to be a powerful voice for Australian artists, songwriters and creators. Her legacy is shaped not only by her voice but by her enduring influence.
With a career spanning more than four decades, ARIA Hall of Fame inductee Kate Ceberano is one of Australia’s most versatile and enduring musical forces. She first broke through in 1984 as the lead singer of the genre-defining band I’m Talking, with five consecutive Top 20 singles and a Platinum debut album, Bear Witness, before achieving her first Platinum solo album, Brave, in 1989. Kate has released 31 albums and 57 singles, moving seamlessly between pop, soul, jazz, and rock. She holds the rare distinction of being one of only four Australian artists alongside AC/DC, Midnight Oil, and Kylie Minogue to achieve Top 10 albums across five consecutive decades.
With 22 ARIA nominations and five wins, including Best Female Artist (1989 and 1990), Highest Selling Single with Bedroom Eyes in 1990, Highest Selling Album for Jesus Christ Superstar in 1993 and Best Jazz Album for Tryst in 2019, her chart legacy and ongoing creativity have cemented her as a cornerstone of contemporary Australian music. Renowned for her dynamic and expressive live performances, Kate continues to tour nationally, connecting with audiences old and new while celebrating both her iconic catalogue and fresh creative chapters. Her fearless artistry and enduring influence make her a true icon of Australian music.
Formed in 1989 in the NSW Riverina town of Finley, Spiderbait - composed of Janet English, Kram Maher, and Damian Whitty - are one of Australia’s most enduring and distinctive bands. After relocating to Melbourne in 1990, the trio quickly embedded themselves in the city’s punk and alternative underground, earning a reputation for explosive live shows and relentless touring. At the forefront, Janet English’s presence marked a pivotal moment in Australian music - offering a powerful and visible role model for female musicians at a time when representation on stage was limited, with her songwriting and vocal delivery influencing a new generation of artists. Across seven studio albums, six have debuted in the ARIA Top 40, earning two ARIA Awards from 19 nominations.
Their third album Ivy & The Big Apples (1996) marked a defining breakthrough, debuting in the ARIA Top 3, achieving Double Platinum status and remaining in the Top 50 for nearly a year. Featuring Calypso and the era-defining Buy Me a Pony - the first Australian song to top the Triple J Hottest 100 - it cemented their place in Australian music history. Across more than three decades, Spiderbait have released seven albums, all achieving Gold, Platinum or Double Platinum status. They also scored a number one single with their version of Black Betty . Today, their music continues to reach new audiences globally, generating more than 100 million streams annually, with over 70% of their listenership now based outside Australia. The band’s largest streaming audiences is a testament to the enduring and far-reaching appeal of their sound. More than thirty years on, they remain one of Australia’s most enduring and beloved bands, defined by longevity, authenticity and a musical friendship that began in a Finley cow shed, developed in Melbourne's sticky carpet venues and continues on stages around the world.
The Living End, fronted by Chris Cheney, Scott Owen and Andy Strachan, have built a three-decade career as one of Australia’s most influential rock bands. With two #1 albums, multiple Top 10 records, five ARIA Awards and multi-platinum success, their impact on Australian music is significant. Their 1998 debut remains one of the country’s highest-selling rock albums going 4x Platinum, #1 ARIA Debut and 83 weeks on the ARIA Chart, while Second Solution / Prisoner of Society became the biggest Australian single of the 1990s. The band also hold the record for the most consecutive entries in triple j’s Hottest 100 from 1997 - 2006. Having toured internationally with major acts including The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Green Day and The Offspring, the band have maintained an incredibly strong global presence. Most recently the release of I Only Trust Rock ’N’ Roll has debuted Top 5 on the ARIA Album Charts and hailed as their strongest release since 1998, followed by a sold-out national tour, underscoring The Living End’s status as one of Australia’s greatest and most enduring live rock acts. Over their incredible career, The Living End have been nominated for 29 ARIA Nominations, taking home five wins for Highest Selling Single for Second Solution / Prisoner of Society (1998) Breakthrough Artist and Best Group (1999), and Best Rock Album for White Noise (2008) and Best Rock Album for The Ending Is Just the Beginning Repeating (2011).
Vika & Linda - the powerhouse vocal duo of sisters Vika Bull and Linda Bull - are among Australia’s most revered and enduring voices. Rising to prominence as key members of The Black Sorrows, their powerful harmonies became a defining element of the band’s sound on their landmark albums of the late 80s/early 90s, before they forged a successful path as a duo in their own right, building a remarkable career spanning four decades. Their 1994 self-titled debut album reached the ARIA Top 10 and went platinum, and their greatest hits complication ‘Akilota (Anthology 1993 - 2006) hit #1 in 2020, cementing their place in Australian music. Over their time, they have released multiple acclaimed albums, collaborated with artists including Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers, Archie Roach, Renee Geyer, and Mark Seymour, and become one of the country’s most beloved live acts, renowned for their powerful harmonies and deeply emotive performances. Vika and Linda have received six ARIA Award nominations, AIR Awards recognition, induction into the Music Victoria Hall of Fame, and were awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2022 in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the performing arts.
June 5, 2026 sees the release of their ninth studio album, Where Do You Come From? Their most personal and revealing body of work to date. Their enduring influence, authenticity and extraordinary artistry have cemented Vika & Linda’s place at the heart of Australian music, and their induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame recognises a legacy that continues to resonate across generations.
Gurrumul, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait, The Living End and Vika & Linda will be inducted into the ARIA Hall Of Fame on Thursday 11th June at Carriageworks Sydney, where they will join the ranks of Australia's most revered musical legends and artists.
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 stream live on Paramount+ and also return to Network 10.
