Amyl And The Sniffers and Tame Impala spearhead Kevin Parker are once again in the hunt for APRA’s song of the year, the top honor at the annual APRA Music Awards. But they’ve got stiff competition from the likes of first-time shortlisters Keli Holiday and Ninajirachi, plus Paul Kelly with his nephew and first-time nominee Dan Kelly.
The peer-voted category and many others will be presented at the centenary edition of the 2026 APRA Music Awards, set for Wednesday, April 29 at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.
Amyl Taylor and Co. are nominated for “Jerkin’,” which is also shortlisted for most performed rock work. The punk rock outfit could go back-to-back, having won the 2025 title for “U Should Not Be Doing That,” lifted from their third album Cartoon Darkness.
Tame Impala’s Deadbeat single “Loser” is a red-hot chance, too. Should the psychedelic pop artist lift the donut-shaped trophy, the West Australian could boast a three-peat following wins in 2013 (for “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards”) and 2016 (“Let It Happen”).
Paul and Dan Kelly are nominated for “Rita Wrote A Letter”, the long-awaited follow up to “How to Make Gravy;” Keli Holiday, the solo project of Peking Duk’s Adam Hyde, is nominated alongside co-composers Alex Cameron and Konstantin Kersting, for the ARIA Award-winning hit “Dancing2”; and EDM star Ninajirachi (real name: Nina Wilson) is in the frame for “iPod Touch”, co-written with Darcy Baylis.
View this post on InstagramThe APRAs this year counts 52 first-time nominees, seven of whom are up for two awards.
Nominees for emerging songwriter of the year category are ARIA Award-winning Indigenous stars BARKAA and Emily Wurramara; first-time nominees Grace Sinclair, Heide Peverelle and Jeanie Pilkington, (Folk Bitch Trio); rising pop star Nick Ward; and Ninajirachi, who cleaned up on the 2025 awards circuit.
The recipient of the prestigious Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music will be unveiled Tuesday, April 14. Winners of all categories including the international recognition award, OneMusic licensee of the year, most performed Australian work overseas and songwriter of the year will be revealed at the APRAs, which celebrate excellence in contemporary music, saluting songwriters and publishers who have achieved artistic excellence and outstanding success in their fields.
This year’s awards will be “the biggest yet,” a statement reads, with Julia Zemiro on presenting duties, alongside guest presenters Bernard Fanning, Jessica Mauboy, Mark Coles Smith and Stella Donnelly.
The ceremony is a pillar of APRA’s 100th anniversary celebrations, a year-long slate of activities which the PRO has described as the “most significant celebration of the contribution of songwriting and composition to Australia and New Zealand’s culture, identity and economy.” Those plans include the launch of a new “hall of fame-style” event in November, and a major anthology book will be published, spotlighting a century of music from these parts.
Formed by six music publishers a century ago in January, the Australasian Performing Right Association now represents over 128,000 music creators.
Check out the full list of 2026 APRA Music Awards nominations below.
Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year
Title: Dancing2 Artist: Keli Holiday
Written by: Adam Hyde / Alex Cameron* / Konstantin Kersting^Published by: BMG / Sony Music Publishing* / Payday Music Publishing^
Title: iPod TouchArtist: NinajirachiWritten by: Nina Wilson* / Darcy Baylis
Published by: Sony Music Publishing*
Title: Jerkin’Artist: Amyl and The SniffersWritten by: Declan Mehrtens / Amy Taylor / Bryce Wilson
Title: Loser Artist: Tame ImpalaWritten by: Kevin ParkerPublished by: Sony Music Publishing
Title: Rita Wrote A Letter Artist: Paul KellyWritten by: Paul Kelly / Dan KellyPublished by: Sony Music Publishing
Emerging Songwriter of the Year
Writer: BARKAA
Published by: Sony Music Publishing
Writer: Emily WurramaraPublisher: Mushroom Music Publishing Writer: Heide Peverelle, Jeanie Pilkington & Grace Sinclair (Folk Bitch Trio)Published by: Kobalt Music Publishing Writer: Nick WardPublished by: Sony Music Publishing
Writer: Nina Wilson (Ninajirachi)Published by: Sony Music Publishing Most Performed Australian Work
Title: MaybeArtist: Guy Sebastian Written by: Guy Sebastian / Robby De Sa* / Ned Houston*Published by: Universal Music Publishing / Sony Music Publishing*
Title: Please Don’t Move to Melbourne Artist: Ball Park Music Written by: Sam Cromack Published by: Sony Music Publishing
Title: stay a little longer Artist: ROSÉ Written by: Sarah Aarons / Andrew Wells / Chae Park*Published by: Sony Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music*
Title: Tell MeArtist: Sonny Fodera & Clementine DouglasWritten by: Stuart Crichton / Sonny Fodera* / Clementine Douglas^ / Ruth Cunningham^Published by: Concord Music Publishing ANZ / BMG* / Mushroom Music Publishing^
Title: Touch Artist: KATSEYE Written by: Taka Perry / Jessica Porfiri* / Caroline Ailin^ / Omer Fedi+ / Magnus Hoiberg~ / Blake Slatkin+Published by: Concord Music Publishing ANZ / Gaga Music* / Sony Music Publishing^ / Universal/MCA Music Publishing+ / Warner Chappell Music~
Most Performed Alternative Work
Title: All the Noise Artist: Spacey Jane Written by: Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu / Caleb Harper / Kieran Lama / Peppa Lane Published by: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Dew Process
Title: car Artist: Royel Otis Written by: Otis Pavlovic / Royel Maddell / Omar Fedi* / Blake Slatkin* Published by: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Ourness Songs / Universal/MCA Music Publishing*
Title: Dancing2 Artist: Keli HolidayWritten by: Adam Hyde / Alex Cameron* / Konstantin Kersting^Published by: BMG / Sony Music Publishing* / Payday Music Publishing^
Title: Hideaway Artist: Mallrat Written by: Grace Shaw / Styalz Fuego* / Gab Strum^
Published by: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Dew Process / Universal Music Publishing* / Concord Music Publishing ANZ^
Title: Please Don’t Move to Melbourne Artist: Ball Park Music Written by: Sam Cromack Published by: Sony Music Publishing
Most Performed Blues & Roots Work
Title: I’m Yours Artist: Karen Lee Andrews Written by: Karen Lee Andrews
Title: Let It Rain Artist: Dallas Frasca Written by: Dallas Frasca / Paul Wood
Title: Milk & Honey Artist: Tash SultanaWritten by: Tash Sultana
Published by: Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: Straight Into The Sun Artist: The Cruel Sea Written by: Tex Perkins* / Daniel Atkins* / Kristyna Higgins Published by: Universal Music Publishing* Title: Survival Artist: Karen Lee Andrews Written by: Daniel March / Adam Ventoura
Most Performed Country Work
Title: BUY THAT GIRL A BEERArtist: Casey Barnes Written by: Casey Barnes* / Andy Skib^ / James Thow Published by: Mushroom Music Publishing* / Warner Chappell Music^
Title: Dirty Money Artist: Travis Collins Written by: Travis Collins* / Jason Duke^ / Christopher Yurchuck Published by: Universal Music Publishing* / Downtown Music^
Title: I’m A Boxer Artist: Brad Cox Written by: Brad Cox / Alexander Burnett* Published by: Sony Music Publishing / Origin Music Publishing* Title: TROUBLE Artist: Tori Darke & Jay SantilliWritten by: Victoria Darke* / Jessica Santilli / Michael De Lorenzis^ / Michael Paynter^ Published by: Sentric Music Publishing obo Digital Music Publishing* / Mushroom Music Publishing^
Title: Who You Are Artist: Rachael FahimWritten by: Rachael Fahim / Shawn Mayer / Liam Quinn / Vlado Saric / Keenan Te* Published by: Sentric Music Publishing obo Acts Music Publishing* Most Performed Dance/Electronic Work
Title: Break My LoveArtist: RÜFÜS DU SOL Written by: Jonathon George / James Hunt / Tyrone Lindqvist Published by: Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: CAVE Artist: Dom Dolla & Tove Lo Written by: Dominic Matheson / Tove Lo*Published by: Sony Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music*
Title: Focus Artist: John Summit feat. CLOVES Written by: Kaity Dunstan / Abraham Dertner* / Frederik Geuze^ / Neil Ormandy / John Schuster+Published by: Payday Music Publishing & Silo: Music / Kobalt Music Publishing* / Sony Music Publishing^ / Warner Chappell Music+
Title: Beautiful People Artist: David Guetta & Sia Written by: Sia Furler / David Guetta* / Mikkel Eriksen / Tor Hermansen / Timofey Reznikov* Published by: Sony Music Publishing / Peermusic*
Title: Tell MeArtist: Sonny Fodera & Clementine DouglasWritten by: Stuart Crichton / Sonny Fodera* / Clementine Douglas^ / Ruth Cunningham^Published by: Concord Music Publishing ANZ / BMG* / Mushroom Music Publishing^
Most Performed Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Work
Title: All That I Remember Artist: The Amity Affliction Written by: Joel Birch* / Daniel Brown* / Joseph Longobardi / Jonathan ReevesPublished by: Concord Music Publishing ANZ*
Title: nerv Artist: Thornhill Written by: Jacob Charlton* / Benjamin Maida* / Ethan McCann* / Nicholas Sjogren* / Samuel BassalPublished by: Concord Music Publishing ANZ*
Title: RAINDROP Artist: Ocean Grove Written by: Samuel Bassal* / Brent Hunter* / Luke Holmes Published by: BMG*Title: Sacred Artist: Parkway Drive Written by: Benjamin Gordon / Luke Kilpatrick / Jeffrey Ling / Winston McCall / Zachary Cervini* / Jordan Fish*Published by: Kobalt Music Publishing / BMG*
Title: Tether Artist: Make Them Suffer Written by: Sean Harmanis / Jordan Mather / Nicholas McLernonPublished by: Sentric Music Publishing obo Cooking Vinyl Publishing
Most Performed Hip Hop / Rap Work
Title: The Gift Artist: Hilltop Hoods feat. Marlon Written by: Matthew Lambert (Suffa)* / Daniel Smith (MC Pressure)* / Andrew Burford / Jim Ford^ Published by: Sony Music Publishing* / Warner Chappell Music^
Title: Party On The Moon Artist: Bliss n Eso Written by: Max Mackinnon / Jonathan Notley / Keith Elam* / Chris Martin^Published by: Mushroom Music Publishing / Mushroom Music Publishing & Sony Music Publishing*/ Kobalt Music Publishing & Sony Music Publishing^Title: Spinnin’ Artist: ONEFOUR & Nemzzz Written by: Jerone Misa* / Salec Su’a* / Hoi Tang / Nemiah Simms* / Robin Turrini Published by: Sony Music Publishing*
Title: The Trap Artist: Rops1 Written by: Tristan Dunphy* / Elijah WilsonPublished by: Mushroom Music Publishing*
Title: Who’s Back Artist: Skux Written by: Aayan Ahmed / Logan Cudarans
Most Performed Pop Work
Title: I Can Die Now Artist: Ruel Written by: Ruel Van Dijk / Julian Bunetta* / Joshua Coleman^/ Edward Drewett+ / Jacob Hindlin^ / Steven Schick*Published by: Universal Music Publishing / Sony Music Publishing* / Kobalt Music Publishing^ / Warner Chappell Music+
Title: MaybeArtist: Guy Sebastian Written by: Guy Sebastian / Robby De Sa* / Ned Houston*Published by: Universal Music Publishing / Sony Music Publishing^
Title: Press Pause Artist: Kita Alexander Written by: Nikkita Wright / Annie Schindel / Kyle Shearer*Published by: Kobalt Music Publishing / Concord Music Publishing ANZ* Title: stay a little longer Artist: ROSÉ Written by: Sarah Aarons / Andrew Wells / Chae Park*Published by: Sony Music Publishing / Warner Chappell Music*
Title: Touch Artist: KATSEYE Written by: Taka Perry / Jessica Porfiri* / Caroline Ailin^ / Omer Fedi+ / Magnus Hoiberg~ / Blake Slatkin+Published by: Concord Music Publishing ANZ / Gaga Music* / Sony Music Publishing^ / Universal/MCA Music Publishing+ / Warner Chappell Music~
Most Performed R&B / Soul Work
Title: Cardio Artist: Larissa LambertWritten by: Larissa Lambert / Khaled Rohaim* / John Jackson^ / Cynthia Loving+ / Avital Margulies / Andre Robertson / Justin Smith+ / Chelsea Unger#
Published by: Universal/MCA Music Publishing* / Sony Music Publishing^ / Mushroom Music Publishing+ / Kobalt Music Publishing#
Title: Julia Artist: Don West Written by: Don West* / Nathan Hawes^ / William Endicott / Zac Olsen / Jacob Parks Published by: Kobalt Music Publishing* / Sony Music Publishing^
Title: Lil’ ObsessionArtist: BOY SODAWritten by: Brae Luafalealo* / Nikodimos Nick Millman Paleologoudias / Finbar StuartPublished by: Sony Music Publishing*
Title: Pity Party Artist: PANIA Written by: Pania Hika / Jake Amy / Chelsea Warner / Sam Verghese
Title: Vetted Artist: Lithe Written by: Josiah Ramel* / Omid KhasrawyPublished by: Concord Music Publishing ANZ obo Boss Level*
Most Performed Rock Work
Title: Defiant Artist: Jimmy Barnes Written by: Jimmy Barnes* / Michael Paynter^ / Ben Rodgers Published by: Sony Music Publishing* / Mushroom Music Publishing^
Title: Everyone Will See It Artist: Old Mervs Written by: Henry Carrington-Jones / Chris Collins* / David House Published by: Sony Music Publishing*
Title: Jerkin’Artist: Amyl and The SniffersWritten by: Declan Mehrtens / Amy Taylor / Bryce Wilson
Title: Southerly Artist: King Stingray Written by: Theo Dimathaya Burarrwanga / Cameron Yimila Burarrwanga / Roy Kellaway* / Campbell Messer / Lewis Stiles / Yirrŋa Gotjiringu Yunupingu*Published by: Sony Music Publishing*
Title: Tangerine Artist: Ocean Alley Written by: Nic Blom / Baden Donegal / Lach Galbraith / Mitch Galbraith / Angus Goodwin / Tom O’BrienPublished by: Warner Chappell Music
Most Performed International Work
Title: APT. Artist: Bruno Mars and ROSÉ Written by: Bruno Mars / Amy Allen / Christopher Brown / Roget Chahayed* / Michael Chapman^ / Nicholas Chinn^ / Omer Fedi+ / Philip Lawrence / Chae Park / Theron Thomas~ / Henry Walter+ Published by: Warner Chappell Music / Kobalt Music Publishing* / Universal Music Publishing/MGB^ / Universal/MCA Music Publishing+ / Sony Music Publishing~
Title: DENIAL IS A RIVER Artist: Doechii Written by: Doechii* / James Anderson^ / Dante Franklin+ / Spencer Golanka / Serban Sirbu~ / Joseph Thompson# Published by: Universal/MCA Music Publishing* / Sony Music Publishing^ / Kobalt Music Publishing+ / Payday Music Publishing~ / Jungle Habitat Music#
Title: Squabble Up Artist: Kendrick Lamar Written by: Kendrick Lamar / Ruchaun Akers Jr / Jack Antonoff / Matthew Bernard* / Tony Butler* / Mark Spears*Published by: Universal/MCA Music Publishing / Sony Music Publishing*
Title: That’s So True
Artist: Gracie Abrams Written by: Gracie Abrams / Audrey HobertPublished by: Universal/MCA Music Publishing
Title: Timeless Artist: The Weeknd & Playboi Carti Written by: Abel Tesfaye* / Jordan Carter^ / Raul Cubina+ / Mike Dean^ / Evan Hood^ / Jarrod Morgan^ / Chisolm Petty+ / Tariq Sharrieff+ / Mark Williams~ / Pharrell Williams^Published by: Universal/MCA Music Publishing* / Sony Music Publishing^ / Kobalt Music Publishing+ / Warner Chappell Music~
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