With 2026 marking the 20th edition of the AIR Awards, the annual gathering of Australia's independent music scene celebrates the rich and vibrant scene locally.
To again be staged in Adelaide (30 July), Australia's UNESCO designated City of Music, in conjunction with AIR's Indie-Con Australia Conference and A2IM's Indie Week Australian Edition (29-31 July), the AIR Awards recognise, promote, and celebrate the success of Australia's independent music sector.
This year's nominees feature a stack of recognised names including John Butler, Bliss N Eso, The Cat Empire, Touch Sensitive, Confidence Man, Fisher, Ninajirachi, Hands Like Houses, Spacey Jane, Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers, WILSN, and Montaigne.
While emerging stars and stalwarts like Liz Stringer, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Hayley Jensen, Wade Forster, Emma Memma, Press Club, Private Function, Thornhill, Playlunch, The Southern River Band, Stella Donnelly are also finalists.
Finalists for Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year are Folk Bitch Trio, Georgia Knight, Rageflower, Rona. and Yes Boone.
Folk Bitch Trio are also nominated for Independent Album Of The Year, joining Ninajirachi, The 046, The Belair Lipbombs and Way Dynamic.
Both Ninajirachi and Way Dynamic will also contest Independent Song Of The Year with Jem Cassar-Daley, Keli Holiday and Playlunch.
With a history of awarding over 250 individual awards, often being the musician-artist's first industry recognition, AIR Awards alumni is a who's who of Australia.
Past winners include Amyl and the Sniffers, Genesis Owusu, Courtney Barnett, Fanny Lumsden, Flume, Sampa the Great, The Amity Affliction, Kasey Chambers, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Confidence Man, G Flip, A.B. Original, King Stingray, Violent Soho, and many, many more.
"The South Australian Government is proud to support Indie‑Con Australia and the AIR Awards, and to welcome nominees, industry leaders and delegates from across Australia and around the world to South Australia," Minister for Arts Kyam Maher MLC says.
"Hosting this celebration in Adelaide – Australia's only UNESCO City of Music – alongside A2IM's Indie Week Australian Edition reinforces South Australia's role as a national and international leader in the independent music sector.
"Together, these events recognise the outstanding contribution of independent artists and music businesses, while delivering opportunities for creative collaboration, industry development and global engagement that strengthen South Australia’s creative economy."
AIR Awards take place at Adelaide Town Hall on 30 July.
2026 Air Awards Nominees
Best Independent Blues And Roots Album or EP
John Butler - 'Prism'
Folk Bitch Trio - 'Now Would Be A Good Time'
Liz Stringer - 'The Second High'
Melbourne Ska Orchestra - 'The Ballad Of Monte Loco'
Sons Of The East - 'Sons'
Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP
Bliss N Eso - 'The Moon (The Light Side)'
Devaura - 'Vol 1. Learning In Public'
Elsy Wameyo - 'Wameyo'
Jamaica Moana - 'Bud & Deni'
Teether & Kuya Neil - 'Yearn Iv'
Best Independent Country Album or EP
Emily Lubitz - 'Two Black Horses'
Hayley Jensen - 'Country Soul'
Imogen Clark - 'Choking On Fuel'
Ruby Gill - 'Some Kind Of Control'
Wade Forster - 'Gooseneck Party'
Best Independent Jazz Album or EP
Natalie Gauci - 'Pictures Of Mars'
Phia - 'When I'm Holding You, I'm Holding Me'
Temporary Blessings - 'Sumbisori'
The Cat Empire - 'Bird In Paradise'
Touch Sensitive - 'In Paradise'
Best Independent Classical Album or EP
Andrea Lam - 'Piano Diary'
Australian String Quartet - 'Vanessa Perica, String Quartet No. 1 No Feeling Is Final'
Joseph Tawadros - 'The Forgotten Path To Humanity'
Rose Riebl - 'Dust'
William Barton, Omega Ensemble - 'Gift - Our Breath Of Life'
Best Independent Children's Album or EP
Diver City - 'Weekend Baby'
Emma Memma - 'Dance Island Party'
Justine Clarke - 'Mimi's Symphony'
Teeny Tiny Stevies - 'Brain Fart'
The Wiggles, The Tree Of Wisdom - 'The Tree Of Wisdom'
Best Independent Dance/Club Single
Confidence Man, Jade - 'Gossip'
DJ Pgz and Yikes - 'Ouss Ouss'
Fisher - 'Stay'
Shouse - 'Sunrise'
Vv Pete - 'Wassa feat. Utility, Formation Boyz'
Best Independent Electronic Single
Cosmo's Midnight - '45'
Keanu Nelson - 'Place Where I Go / Kapi Ngalyananni'
Ninajirachi - 'Ipod Touch'
Robert Baxter & Sweatbaby - 'Icy (Take It Off)'
The Superjesus & The Journey - 'Something Good'
Best Independent Punk Album or EP
Press Club - 'To All The Ones I Love'
Private Function - '¯\_(ツ)_/¯'
Radio Free Alice - 'Empty Words EP'
These New South Whales - 'Godspeed'
Wet Kiss - 'Thus Spoke The Broken Chanteuse'
Best Independent Heavy Album or EP
Battlesnake - 'Dawn Of The Exultants And The Hunt For The Shepherd'
Hands Like Houses - 'Atmospherics'
Npcede - 'Npcede'
The Maggie Pills - 'Hearts Induring Lingering Loss'
Thornhill - 'Bodies'
Best Independent Electronic Album or EP
Essendon Airport - 'Mor'
Mel Blue - 'No More Jackets Please'
Ninajirachi - 'I Love My Computer'
Rona. - 'It's All Here'
Shouse - 'Collective Ecstasy'
Best Independent Rock Album or EP
Playlunch - 'Sex Ed'
Spacey Jane - 'If That Makes Sense'
Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers - 'Glory'
The Belair Lipbombs - 'Again'
The Southern River Band - 'Easier Said Than Done'
Best Independent Soul/R&b Album or EP
Bumpy - 'Kanana'
Cookin' On 3 Burners - 'Cookin' The Books'
Don West - 'Give Me All Your Love'
Felivand - 'My Body's My True North'
WILSN - 'Bloom'
Best Independent Pop Album or EP
Georgia Knight - 'Beanpole'
Montaigne - 'It's Hard To Be A Fish'
Stella Donnelly - 'Love And Fortune'
The Tullamarines - 'Safety Blanket'
Way Dynamic - 'Massive Shoe'
Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year
Folk Bitch Trio
Georgia Knight
Rageflower
Rona.
Yes Boone
Independent Song Of The Year
Jem Cassar-Daley - 'Kiss Me Like You're Leaving'
Keli Holiday - 'Dancing2'
Ninajirachi - 'Ipod Touch'
Playlunch - 'Keith'
Way Dynamic - 'Miffed It'
Independent Album Of The Year
Folk Bitch Trio - 'Now Would Be A Good Time'
Ninajirachi - 'I Love My Computer'
The 046 - 'Legacy In Motion'
The Belair Lipbombs - 'Again'
Way Dynamic - 'Massive Shoe'
Best Independent Label
ABC Music
Astral People Recordings
College Of Knowledge
Mushroom Music
NLV Records
Independent Marketing Team Of The Year
Mushroom Music - Bliss N Eso, 'The Moon (The Light Side)'
NLV Records, The Orchard - Ninajirachi, 'I Love My Computer'
Playlunch, ABC Music - Playlunch, 'Keith'
Secretly Group - Folk Bitch Trio, 'Now Would Be A Good Time'
The Annex - Ocean Alley, 'Love Balloon'
Independent Publicity Team Of The Year
Cult Logic - Ocean Alley, 'Love Balloon'
Mushroom Music - Bliss N Eso, 'The Moon (The Light Side)'
Mushroom Music - WILSN, 'Bloom'
Twnty Three - Folk Bitch Trio, 'Now Would Be A Good Time'
Twnty Three - Ninajirachi, 'I Love My Computer'
Independent Music Video Of The Year
Angus Wolfe pka Ball Bass John - Ninajirachi, 'F... My Computer'
Bridgette Winten, Folk Bitch Trio - Folk Bitch Trio, 'Cathode Ray'
Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore - Miss Kaninna, 'Backstreets'
Tas Wilson, James Adams - Jem Cassar-Daley, 'Kiss Me Like You're Leaving'
Jasper Van Daatselaar - Way Dynamic, 'People Settle Down'
Independent Producer Of The Year
Angus Stone - Dope Lemon, 'Golden Wolf'
Benjamin Stewart - Slowly Slowly, 'Forgiving Spree'
Dylan Young - Way Dynamic, 'Massive Shoe'
Nick Didia - Ocean Alley, 'Love Balloon'
Nina Wilson - Ninajirachi, 'I Love My Computer'
Independent Mix, Studio or Mastering Engineer Of The Year
Becki Whitton, Timothy Harvey, Hannah Cameron - Ruby Gill, 'Some Kind Of Control'
Leon Zervos - Ocean Alley, 'Love Balloon'
Michael Carpenter - Imogen Clark, 'Choking On Fuel'
Stephen Mowat - WILSN, 'Bloom'
Thomas Purcell pka Wave Racer - Ninajirachi, 'I Love My Computer'
