Bestie, the nominations for the 40th annual ARIA Awards just dropped, and the vibes are absolutely immaculate. If you were wondering who is currently running the Australian music scene, Tame Impala and Genesis Owusu have officially entered the chat, each securing a massive eight nominations.
Kevin Parker is clearly still in his element following his 2025 album Deadbeat. His hit track "Dracula" has been living rent-free in the national top 10 for weeks, and now he’s up for heavy-hitter categories like Album of the Year and Best Solo Artist. Not to be outdone, genre-bending icon Genesis Owusu is also racking up the Ws with eight nods, including Best Independent Release, following the success of his latest project, REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE.
Ecca Vandal is lowkey coming for the crown too, snagging seven nominations for her album Looking For People To Unfollow. Other fan favorites like G Flip, Baker Boy, and Troye Sivan are also in the mix with plenty of nominations to their names.
How to get involved
If you want your faves to win, it’s time to say less and start voting. Public voting for categories like Song of the Year and Best Australian Live Act is officially open from now until November 9. You can cast your daily votes directly through the Spotify app, which is a major convenience.
The whole celebration goes down on November 18 at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, and you can catch the action on Paramount+ and Channel 10.
Why it matters
This year marks 40 years of the ARIAs, and ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd highlighted that in an era where artists are navigating the complexities of AI and copyright, these awards are a crucial moment to celebrate the human artistry that keeps Australian music feeling so vital and alive.
