Fresh Wave of Global Stars Lead the 2025 ARIA Awards Nominations – Meet the new vanguard of Aussie musicians taking centre stage on the global circuit, as the 2025 ARIA Awards in partnership with Spotify gear up to celebrate the artists blurring genres, breaking records, and commanding international stages from Coachella to Madison Square Garden.
From long-standing heroes to exciting up-and-comers, artists will be celebrated across 29 categories, including the 2025 ARIA Hall of Fame inductee: You Am I. Winners will be crowned on Wednesday, 19 November at the iconic Hordern Pavilion on Gadigal land.
The ARIA Awards will be live on Paramount+ and broadcast on 10. Performances and moments also available on @ARIA.official socials.
Leading this year’s ARIA Awards with eight nominations, Ninajirachi has cemented herself as one of Australia’s most visionary forces in electronic music, contending for Album of the Year, Best Solo Artist, Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist presented by Spotify, Best Independent Release presented by PPCA, Best Dance/Electronic Release, Best Cover Art (Nina Wilson, John You, Aria Zarzycki), Engineer – Best Engineered Release (Thomas Purcell p/k/a Wave Racer) and Producer – Best Produced Release (Nina Wilson p/k/a Ninajirachi).
Known for her genre-blurring sound and innovative production, Ninajirachi’s global reputation has earned her sold-out shows across three continents, collaborations with Daine, Kota Banks and MGNA Crrrta, and praise from Billboard, Rolling Stone, and The Guardian. Her acclaimed debut album I Love My Computer was described by Rolling Stone as “a poignant tribute to 2010s EDM” and has positioned her at the forefront of a new wave of Australian talent redefining pop and club music. Straight off the back of her Coachella 2026 billing, this year’s ARIAs are shaping up to be a watershed moment for the young artist.
Global export Dom Dolla continues his meteoric rise as one of the world’s most in-demand EDM artists, securing seven nominations at the 2025 ARIA Awards, including Best Solo Artist, Best Dance/Electronic Release, Best Australian Live Act presented by Destination NSW, Best Video (Kyle Caulfield & Shevin Dissanayake), Song of the Year, Engineer – Best Engineered Release (Dom Dolla) and Producer – Best Produced Release (Dom Dolla).
Having just become the first solo electronic act to headline a stadium in Australia, with his sold-out debut at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, Dom has also sold out headline shows from Madison Square Garden to LA State Historic Park and DRUMSHEDS London. On top of that, he has dominated the world’s biggest festivals, including Coachella and Lollapalooza. With over 1.3 billion streams and multiple Platinum ARIA accreditations for global anthems Saving Up, girl$, Eat Your Man, and Dreamin, he is a cultural force to be reckoned with as he looks to build on his current three ARIA Awards.
Amyl and the Sniffers have cemented their status as one of Australia’s most electrifying live acts following a landmark year that included a triumphant 2025 European festival tour and a coveted support act on Foo Fighters’ US stadium run. The band’s momentum has translated into six ARIA Award nominations, including Best Australian Live Act presented by Destination NSW, Best Group, Best Rock Album presented by Tooheys, Best Video (John Stewart), Best Cover Art (John Stewart) and the prestigious Album of the Year. They join an acclaimed shortlist for Album of the Year alongside Missy Higgins (The Second Act), Ninajirachi (I Love My Computer), RÜFÜS DU SOL (Inhale/Exhale), and Thelma Plum (I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back).
Hilltop Hoods’ ninth studio album Fall From The Light has skyrocketed to the top of the charts, landing them five nominations, including Best Group, Best Hip Hop/Rap Release, Best Video (Roman Anastasios and Jordan Ruyi Blanch), Best Australian Live Act presented by Destination NSW and Best Cover Art (Sarah McCloskey).
Thelma Plum continues her incredible run this year, with five ARIA Award nominations including Album of the Year, Best Pop Release, Best Cover Art (Kira Puru, Em Jesen), Producer – Best Produced Release (Alex Burnett), and Best Solo Artist. In the coveted Best Solo Artist category, she joins a powerhouse line-up featuring BARKAA, Dom Dolla, Kylie Minogue, Mallrat, Missy Higgins, Ninajirachi, Paul Kelly, The Kid LAROI, and Young Franco, making it one of the most exciting and competitive fields of 2025.
RÜFÜS DU SOL have landed themselves four nominations this year after the release of their fifth studio album Inhale / Exhale and a monumental world tour that saw them sell over 700,000 tickets and headline and sell out Rose Bowl Stadium, making them the second act after AC/DC to headline at the venue. Joining them in the line up of four nominations is also Folk Bitch Trio, Missy Higgins and Royel Otis.
To acknowledge the importance of the ecosystem that makes it possible for outstanding Australian talent to achieve new heights and build sustainable careers, this year’s ARIA Awards will recognise the festivals that create breakthrough moments for local artists with a new award: Best Music Festival presented by Tixel. The inaugural nominees include Ability Fest, Beyond The Valley, Bluesfest Byron Bay, Laneway Festival, and Yours and Owls Festival.
Continuing the spotlight on live music, Ball Park Music, BARKAA, Confidence Man, Dom Dolla, Hilltop Hoods, Kylie Minogue, Miss Kaninna, SPEED, Troye Sivan and Amyl and the Sniffers will duke it out as nominees for a hotly contested Best Australian Live Act presented by Destination NSW.
For the first time, ARIA publicly voted Awards will be integrated into Spotify, enabling fans to cast daily votes for their favourite artists directly within the app across four publicly decided categories: Best Australian Live Act presented by Destination NSW, Song of the Year, Best Video, and Most Popular International Artist. Public voting runs from 25 September to 10 November, and is open across Spotify and the ARIA website. With over half of Australia using the platform, the partnership with Spotify promises to be a game-changer for nominated artists.
ARIA CEO, Annabelle Herd, said:
“The ARIA Awards are always a celebration of the moments that have defined Australian music over the past year, and 2025 has been extraordinary. This year’s nominees are living proof that Australian artists are shaping the global cultural narrative in real time. There’s no longer a singular image of what success looks like for an artist, and the stories set to be celebrated in November are absolute proof of that.
“Be it a career-shifting sync, global collaboration, sold-out headline slot or an unforgettable live tour across the world, the achievements of our 2025 nominees show just how far our music has travelled this year, and how many different ways Australian artists are making their mark. The ARIAs are where all of that comes together: a night to celebrate not just the winners, but the incredible breadth of talent that makes Australian music such a powerful force at home and abroad. We cannot wait.”
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Steve Kamper, said:
“I’m thrilled to join ARIA in congratulating all the outstanding nominees for the 2025 ARIA Awards. It is fantastic to see such a high calibre of Australian music talent across so many genres and communities being celebrated. Music is a huge part of the cultural fabric of Sydney and NSW. We have some incredibly talented artists who contribute to our state’s world-class mix of cultural experiences, which is showcased each year through the prism of the ARIA Awards.”
Spotify AUNZ Managing Director, Mikaela Lancaster, said:
“The ARIA Awards are the pinnacle celebration of Australian music, and we’re proud to partner with ARIA to put this year’s incredible nominees centre stage. This partnership is about bringing fans closer to the nominees they love, while also helping their music travel further on the local and global stage. From in-app voting and curated playlists to marketing campaigns, we’re excited to champion the creativity and excellence of this year’s nominees and showcase their talent to the world”.
The 39th 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 2025, 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 2025 ARIA Awards Presents will be released at a later date.
Album of the Year
Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group] Missy Higgins – The Second Act [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia] Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records] RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia] Thelma Plum – I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back [Warner Music Australasia]
Best Solo Artist
BARKAA – Big Tidda [Big Apples Music / Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]
Dom Dolla – DREAMIN’ [Good Fortune Records]
Kylie Minogue – Tension II [Mushroom Music]
Mallrat – Light Hit My Face Like A Straight Right [Dew Process / Universal Music Australia]
Missy Higgins – The Second Act [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia]
Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]
Paul Kelly – Fever Longing Still [EMI Music Australia]
The Kid LAROI – How Does It Feel? [Columbia Records / Sony Music]
Thelma Plum – I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back [Warner Music Australasia]
Young Franco – it’s Franky baby! [Neon Records]
Best Group
Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group]
Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]
Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]
Royel Otis – hickey [Ourness / Capitol Records]
RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]
Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist presented by Spotify Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar] Gut Health – Stiletto [AWAL Recordings] Mia Wray – hi, it’s nice to meet me [Mushroom Music] Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records] Young Franco – it’s Franky baby! [Neon Records]
Best Pop Release
G Flip – Disco Cowgirl [AWAL Recordings]
Kita Alexander – Press Pause [Warner Music Australasia]
Kylie Minogue – Tension II [Mushroom Music]
Mallrat – Light Hit My Face Like A Straight Right [Dew Process / Universal Music Australia]
Thelma Plum – I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back [Warner Music Australasia]
Best Dance / Electronic Release
Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA) [I OH YOU / Mushroom Music]
Dom Dolla – DREAMIN’ [Good Fortune Records]
FISHER – Stay [etcetc Music Pty Ltd]
Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]
Sonny Fodera, D.O.D & Jazzy – Somedays [Solotoka / ADA]
Best Hip Hop / Rap Release
BARKAA – Big Tidda [Big Apples Music / Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia] Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia] Miss Kaninna – Kaninna EP [Soul Has No Tempo]
ONEFOUR – Look At Me Now [ONEFOUR Records / The Orchard]
The Kid LAROI – Baby I’m Back [Columbia Records / Sony Music]
Best Soul / R&B Release
BOY SODA – Lil Obsession [Warner Music Australasia] JACOTÉNE – Why’d You Do That? [Epic Records / Sony Music] Jerome Farah – CHLORINE [Sony Music] Larissa Lambert – Cardio [New Levels / Virgin Music Group] PANIA – Pity Party [Warner Music Australasia / Say Less]
Best Independent Release presented by PPCA Ball Park Music – Like Love [Prawn Records / Inertia Music] Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA) [I OH YOU / Mushroom Music] Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar] Miss Kaninna – Kaninna EP [Soul Has No Tempo] Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]
Best Rock Album presented by Tooheys
Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group]
Ball Park Music – Like Love [Prawn Records / Inertia Music]
King Stingray – For The Dreams [Civilians / The Orchard]
Royel Otis – hickey [Ourness / Capitol Records]
Spacey Jane – If That Makes Sense [AWAL Recordings]
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]
Gordi – Like Plasticine [Mushroom Music]
Meg Washington – GEM [OriGiN Distribution / ADA]
Missy Higgins – The Second Act [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia]
Paul Kelly – Fever Longing Still [EMI Music Australia]
Best Country Album
Dylan Wright – Half a World Away [Sony Music]
Imogen Clark – Choking on Fuel [Potts Entertainment / MGM]
Kasey Chambers – Backbone [Essence Music Group / MGM]
Keith Urban – High [CAPITOL – NASHVILLE / EMI Music Australia]
Taylor Moss – Firecracker [Taylor Moss / Ditto Music]
Best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Album Civic – Chrome Dipped [ATO Records / Inertia Music] Press Club – To All The Ones I Love [Inertia Music] RedHook – Mutation [RedHook Records] The Amity Affliction – Let The Ocean Take Me Down (Redux) [GYROstream] Thornhill – Bodies [UNFD / Community Music]
Best Blues & Roots Album
Dope Lemon – Golden Wolf [BMG]
Mama Kin Spender – Promises [Mama Kin Spender / MGM]
Sons Of The East – SONS [Sons Of The East Music / MGM]
Tash Sultana – Return to the Roots [Lonely Lands Records via Sony Music]
The Teskey Brothers – Live At The Hammersmith Apollo [Mushroom Music]
Best Children’s Album
Emma Memma – Dance Island Party [GYROstream]
Justine Clarke – Mimi’s symphony [ABC Music / The Orchard]
Teeny Tiny Stevies – Brain Fart [Love Your Records / Xelon]
The Vegetable Plot – Season Three [ABC Music / The Orchard]
The Wiggles – Wiggle Up, Giddy Up! [ABC Music / The Orchard]
Best Music Festival presented by Tixel Ability Fest – Dylan Alcott Foundation + Untitled Group Beyond The Valley – Untitled Group / Beyond The Valley Music Festival Bluesfest Byron Bay – Bluesfest Byron Bay Laneway Festival – St Jerome’s Laneway / Laneway Festival Yours and Owls Festival – Yours and Owls
PUBLIC VOTED AWARDS
Best Video
Break My Love – RÜFÜS DU SOL, Alexander George (Katzki) [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music
Australasia]
Craters – Missy Higgins, Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia] Lordy Lordy – Emily Wurramara, Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore [ABC Music / The Orchard] All the Noise – Spacey Jane, Dan Lesser [AWAL Recordings] car – Royel Otis, Jamieson Kerr [Ourness / Capitol Records]
Big Dreams – Amyl and The Sniffers, John Stewart [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group]
DREAMIN’ – Dom Dolla, Kyle Caulfield & Shevin Dissanayake [Good Fortune Records]
Don’t Happy, Be Worry – Hilltop Hoods, Roman Anastasios and Jordan Ruyi Blanch [Island Records
Australia / Universal Music Australia]
Dancing2 – Keli Holiday, Ryan Sauer [Keli Holiday / GYROstream]
WASSA – Vv Pete, UTILITY, Formation Boyz, UTILITY [Trackwork]
Best Australian Live Act presented by Destination NSW Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness World Tour Ball Park Music – Like Love Tour BARKAA – BIG TIDDA TOUR [Jackson Street & Bad Apples Music] Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA) Tour [I OH YOU] Dom Dolla – Dom Dolla Australia 2024 [Untitled Group] Hilltop Hoods – Hilltop Hoods 2025 Kylie Minogue – Tension Tour 2025
Miss Kaninna – Dawg In Me Tour [Astral People] SPEED – SPEED AUSTRALIA TOUR ‘25 Troye Sivan – Something To Give Each Other Tour [Live Nation]
Song of the Year
Cyril, Maryjo – Still Into You [Warner Music Australasia / Spinnin Records]
Dean Lewis – With You [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]
Dom Dolla Feat. Daya – Dreamin [Good Fortune Records]
FISHER – Stay [etcetc Music Pty Ltd]
Gotye, FISHER, Chris Lake Feat. Kimbra, Sante Sansone – Somebody [Eleven: A Music Company / EMI
Music Australia]
OneFour, Nemzzz – Spinnin [ONEFOUR RECORDS / THE ORCHARD]
Royel Otis – Linger (SiriusXM Session) [Ourness]
Sonny Fodera, D.O.D & Jazzy – Somedays [Solotoko / ADA]
The Kid LAROI – Girls [Columbia Records / Sony Music]
Tobiahs – Angel of Mine [Mushroom Music]
Most Popular International Artist
Alex Warren – [Atlantic Records / Warner Music Australasia]
Calvin Harris – [Columbia Records / Sony Music]
Gracie Abrams – [Interscope / Universal Music Australia]
Kendrick Lamar – [Interscope / Universal Music Australia]
Noah Kahan – [Republic Records / Universal Music Australia]
Post Malone – [Republic Records / Universal Music Australia]
Sabrina Carpenter – [Island Records USA / Universal Music Australia]
Tate McRae – [RCA Records / Universal Music Australia]
Taylor Swift – [Republic Records / Universal Music Australia]
Tyler, The Creator – [Columbia Records / Sony Music]
ARTISAN AWARDS
Best Cover Art
Giulia McGauran for The Cat Empire – Bird in Paradise [BMG]
John Stewart for Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music
Group]
Kira Puru, Em Jensen for Thelma Plum – I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back [Waner Music Australasia] Nina Wilson, John You, Aria Zarzycki for Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]
Sarah McCloskey for Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]
Engineer – Best Engineered Release
Alice Ivy for Alice Ivy – Do What Makes You Happy [Kewpie Mayo Records / Independent]
Dom Dolla for Dom Dolla – DREAMIN’ [Good Fortune Records]
Eric J Dubowsky for Emma Louise & Flume – DUMB [Three Six Zero Recordings / ADA] Kevin Parker for Tame Impala – End of Summer [Columbia Records / Sony Music] Thomas Purcell p/k/a Wave Racer for Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]
Producer – Best Produced Release
Alex Burnett for Thelma Plum – I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back [Waner Music Australasia]
Dom Dolla for Dom Dolla – DREAMIN’ [Good Fortune Records]
Kevin Parker for Tame Impala – End of Summer [Columbia Records / Sony Music] Nina Wilson p/k/a Ninajirachi for Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]
RÜFÜS DU SOL for RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]
FINE ARTS AWARDS
Best Classical Album
Andrea Lam – Piano Diary [ABC Classic / The Orchard]
Australian Chamber Orchestra / Richard Tognetti – Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings and Andante
Cantabile / Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony in C minor [ABC Classic / The Orchard]
Nat Bartsch – Forever Changed [Amica Records]
Simone Young & Sydney Symphony Orchestra – Mahler: Symphony No.2; Barton: Of The Earth
[Deutsche Grammophon Australia / Universal Music]
Sophie Hutchings – Become The Sky [Universal Music Australia / Mercury KX]
Best Jazz Album
Evans Robson Quartet – Zenith [Lamplight Records]
Lachlan McKenzie – Departures [ABC Jazz / The Orchard]
Lucy Clifford – Between Spaces of Knowing [ABC Jazz / The Orchard]
TL; DR & Peter Knight – Too Long; Didn’t Read [Earshift Music / The Planet Company-MGM]
Touch Sensitive – In Paradise [Future Classic]
Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album
Australian Chamber Orchestra – Memoir of a Snail (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [ABC Classic /
The Orchard]
François Tétaz – The Surfer [Impressed Recordings / Rubber Music Pty Ltd]
Michael Cassel Group – Michael Cassel Group Presents A (Very) Musical Christmas [The Orchard]
Various Artists – How To Make Gravy [Origin Recordings]
Vidya Makan – The Lucky Country (Original Cast Album) [ORiGiN Distribution / ADA]
Best World Music Album
Electric Fields, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – Live In Concert [ABC Music / The Orchard]
Gurrumul – Banbirrngu – The Orchestral Sessions [Decca Australia & Skinnyfish / UMA] Joseph Tawadros – The Forgotten Path To Humanity [Independent / The Planet Company] Tenzin Choegyal – Snow Flower [Warner Music Australasia / Rainbow Valley Records] The Cat Empire – Bird in Paradise [BMG]
OUR SOUNDTRACK OUR ADS
Best Use of an Australian Recording in an Advertisement Fox League 2025: Our Greats – Fox Sports Australia, 3% Menulog: What’s Good in Your Hood – Thinkerbell, Bliss n Eso Paramount+ Australia: Ballad of the GOATS – Paramount+ Australia, Briggs Tooheys: I Feel Like a Tooheys – Thinkerbell, Dune Rats Tourism & Events Queensland: That Holiday Feeling – Publicis Worldwide, Kita Alexander
Media Release – ARIA
Link to ARIA HERE
TV Central 10 content HERE
Fresh Wave of Global Stars Lead the 2025 ARIA Awards Nominations
