The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) today announced the 2026 ARIA Awards in partnership with Spotify will return to Australia’s creative industries capital, Sydney, on Wednesday, 18 November.
Held for the sixth year running at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, on Gadigal land, the 40th ARIA Awards will celebrate the very best of Australian music on its biggest global stage, returning to 10 and streaming live on Paramount+ to deliver a powerful celebration of Australian music across free-to-air and streaming platforms.
The 40th anniversary of the ARIA Awards marks four decades of celebrating Australian music, bringing together the country’s biggest artists, emerging talent, industry leaders and music fans for one of the most significant nights on the Australian music calendar. The milestone celebrations kicked off earlier this year with a spectacular ARIA Hall of Fame Special Event at Sydney’s Carriageworks in June, honouring six legendary Australian acts who were inducted into the Hall of Fame: Gurrumul, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait, The Living End and Vika & Linda.
Returning for a second year as presenting partner, Spotify will again amplify the ARIA Awards with its global platform, in-app voting and a global OOH campaign that delivers maximum local and international visibility for nominees and winners alike. Last year's partnership proved that award momentum can translate into real opportunities for audience growth and music export, and this year Spotify will build on that with a dedicated ARIA Awards hub and editorial features to ensure Australian music remains front and centre on Spotify, both at home and around the world.
The 2025 ARIA Awards showcased the extraordinary breadth and momentum of Australian music, with Amyl and The Sniffers taking home four Awards, including Album of the Year and Best Group, while rising star Ninajirachi claimed three major Awards, including Best Solo Artist and the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist Award presented by Spotify. The night also celebrated major Australian names including Dom Dolla, Troye Sivan, Tame Impala, Thelma Plum, Boy Soda, BARKAA and Kasey Chambers, alongside International superstar Olivia Dean, who joined the ARIA Awards stage to perform her breakout mega-hit, Man I Need.
ARIA CEO, Annabelle Herd, said: “Australian music is electric, ever-evolving and has never failed to set the cultural conversation ablaze right around the world. The ARIA Awards have had the best seat in the house for four decades of one incredible show. Whatever gets thrown at Aussie music, our artists find a way to cut through. Now is no exception. Amyl and the Sniffers, The Kid LAROI, Ninajirachi, Dom Dolla and Troye Sivan are all proof of that, and there is a generation behind them who will take Australian music somewhere none of us can picture yet. That’s exactly what we can’t wait to celebrate at the 40th ARIA Awards: the icons who built these four decades, the superstars carrying Australian music today and the artists who will own the next forty years. I promise the team has thrown everything they have at making this milestone unforgettable, see you in November!”
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Steve Kamper, said: “The ARIA Awards has championed and celebrated Australian music for four decades, with Sydney as the nation’s main stage for live music. It’s only fitting then that the Hordern Pavilion, one of our most iconic live music venues, will host the 40th anniversary of the highest accolade in Australian music. The NSW Government has worked hard to create more opportunities for live music across NSW and provide a platform for artists, while also supporting venues, businesses and jobs that rely on our state’s visitor and night-time economy. I congratulate ARIA on 40 years of advocating for Australian music and thank them for sharing our values for a thriving live music scene in NSW.”
Spotify Managing Director AUNZ, Mikaela Lancaster said: “Australia continues to produce some of the most exciting music in the world, and every year the ARIA Awards remind us just how deep the talent pool runs in this country. We're proud to be back as Presenting Partner, and our goal is to take the energy of the night and turn it into streams, fans and opportunities that follow these artists long after the trophies are handed out. Australian music is world-class and we want to make sure audiences here and around the world know it."
Tamara Simoneau, VP Content, Paramount ANZ, said: “We’re really proud for 10 and Paramount+ to be the broadcast partners of the ARIA Awards, and to support the Australian music industry by celebrating the incredible breadth of talent we have in this country, as well as the brilliant work ARIA does to amplify our artists and their music. The ARIA Awards are the music industry’s biggest night of the year, and we want audiences across the country to be able to share in the celebrations, connect with their favourite acts and discover new favourites along the way.”
The 40th ARIA Awards is proudly supported by Destination NSW, celebrating Australia’s vibrant music industry and showcasing Sydney as a global hub for world-class entertainment and culture.
The ARIA Awards Presents program will return in 2026, providing opportunities for aspiring artists and industry professionals to celebrate Australia’s best established and up-and-coming talent, and facilitating important conversations to shape the future of Australian music. The line up of events for 2026 ARIA Awards Presents will be released at a later date.
The 2026 ARIA Awards nominations will be announced on Thursday, 24 September.
ARIA Hall of Fame
