Sydney icon becomes new home of the ARIA Awards

Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) today announced that the 2022 ARIA Awards in partnership with YouTube will be held at Sydney’s iconic live music venue, The Hordern Pavilion, on Gadigal land, in November 2022.

Since 1987, the ARIA Awards have represented the pinnacle of achievement in Australian music. “The Hordern”, as it is affectionately known by Sydneysiders, has been an architecturally and socially significant landmark since it opened in 1924. ARIA’s move to the venue represents its commitment to championing Australian music and its return to the live stage, as well as the Awards’ highlyanticipated return to the large-scale broadcast event beloved by Australians and previously attended by Harry Styles, Halsey, Dua Lipa, The Weekend and more.

The Hordern has an incredible history and legacy within the Australian music community. Over the years, it has hosted many of the world’s leading acts, including Amy Shark, The Kid LAROI, Arctic Monkeys, AC/DC, Billie Ellish, Cold Chisel, Coldplay, Crowded House, David Bowie, Flume, Fleetwood Mac, Foo Fighters, Thelma Plum, INXS, LORDE, Midnight Oil, Matt Corby, RUEL, Silverchair, Troye Sivan, Bob Marley, The Cure, The Killers, DMA’s and The Veronicas.

ARIA CEO, Annabelle Herd, said, “We are so excited to take this year’s ARIA Awards to one of Sydney’s most iconic music venues. In a year that has had so many challenges we want to bring the joy of music back to fans, blow up the fashion, fun, and excitement of the red carpet, and celebrate the amazing achievements of our artists in true music style. I can't think of a better place to do that than a venue as steeped in music DNA as the Hordern”.

Four-time winner at the 2021 ARIA Awards, Genesis Owusu, said: “Last year, the ARIAs graced me with a few lovely awards... It was something that I didn't really expect to happen with the music that I made and the way that I presented myself. It felt like the signifier of a cultural change in Australian music. The ARIA Awards truly have the power to put a spark in the careers of amazing Australian artists, who might not have been as accepted in the eyes of the greater public in years past. This year, we get to experience it happen again, live in the flesh, at one of Australia's most iconic music venues. It's fitting, it's exciting, and I can't wait to see the ARIA Awards continue to celebrate boundary-breakers and culture-movers.”

ARIA Chair, Natalie Waller, said: “On behalf of the ARIA Board, I am delighted to bring together the 2022 ARIA Awards at Sydney's iconic live music venue, The Hordern Pavilion. In the event's 36th year, we are thrilled to recognise Australia’s most outstanding talents in music during a significantly challenging time for the industry. I am honoured to be a part of such an exciting night in music.”

NSW Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport, and Minister for Western Sydney, The Honorable Stuart Ayres, said: “Sydney and NSW has been the birthplace of many outstanding Australian artists and provided the backdrop to equally as many significant Australian music moments across 36 years of the ARIA Awards. The NSW Government is proud to partner with ARIA in this fantastic annual celebration of Australian music and I am particularly excited to see The Hordern Pavilion, a landmark Sydney live music venue, provide another perfect backdrop for this year’s event. We are committed to supporting the resurgence of the music industry through events like the ARIA Awards, Great Southern Nights and other initiatives including CBD revitalisation projects."

There have been a host of Australian successes over the past 12 months, with over 67 Australian releases having landed in the Top 10 on the ARIA Albums Chart and 13 Australian albums reaching #1.

More announcements to come.