NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR 2026 QUEENSLAND MUSIC AWARDS
SELF NOMINATE FOR GENRES, FESTIVAL & VENUE OF THE YEAR NOW
Image: JUNO, Soul, Funk & RNB Award Recipient
What do Amy Shark, Violent Soho, Troy Cassar-Daley, Kate Miller-Heidke, Sycco and Thelma Plum all have in common? They’ve been recognised by the Queensland Music Awards – that's what!
Nominations are now open for the 20th Queensland Music Awards (QMAs) set to celebrate the best and brightest in Queensland’s music scene during the annual awards ceremony to take place in April 2026.
Produced by QMusic with support from the Queensland Government via Arts Queensland, the QMAs are an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the Queensland music industry. Queensland based artists, filmmakers, producers, venues and festivals are invited to self-nominate for the suite of 20 genre and excellence awards, with submissions closing Monday, 1 December 2025, 11.59pm – there will be NO EXTENSIONS.
Judged by over 100 Australian based industry professionals, the Awards have long celebrated early career artists, acting as a launch pad for many who’ve become household names. Past winners include lauded artist and judge on The Voice Australia, Kate Miller-Heidke, who took home the Pop award in 2006 at the then Q Song Awards, a year before the release of her debut album Little Eve.
Last year’s Electronic, Export and Song of the Year winner, Young Franco fresh off his North American tour encourages artists to get their nominations in saying,
“Being a part of the QMAs is so great, it really feels like a community and has always felt that way. Don't forget to nominate yourself!"
The People's Choice Awards are also back in 2026, thanks to long-time supporters The Music. Live music venues and festivals as invited to nominate from today (Thursday, 30 October 2025) for their chance to be crowned Festival of the Year, Regional Venue of the Year, Metro Venue of the Year or Accessible and Inclusive Venue of the Year. Once eligible finalists are selected fans will be invited to vote for the venue and festival of the year categories via The Music’s website in early 2026.
As the music industry evolves - so do we! Here is what’s new in 2026:
Producer of the Year: this self-nominating award will recognise outstanding work by a Queensland music producer over the past year.
Breakthrough Artist of the Year: this Industry Excellence Award determined by an expert judging panel recognises a breakthrough artist from Queensland.
Indigenous Artist of the Year: replacing the historical song genre category, any First Nations artists who enters the self-nomination awards and identifies as Indigenous will automatically be eligible for this award.
Accessible and Inclusive Venue of the Year: Updated to recognise that accessibility goes beyond physical facilities. This award celebrates venues that champion both physical accessibility and efforts to foster diversity and inclusivity in their programming and audiences.
In addition to the Self-nomination, Major, Industry Excellence and People’s Choice awards the full suite of QMusic Scholarships and Prizes, supported by Arts Queensland will be presented at the QMAs ceremony. Applications for the Dennis ‘Mop’ Conlon Scholarship, Billy Thorpe Scholarship, Carol Lloyd Award and Grant McLennan Fellowship are open from Wednesday, 22 October 2025 to Thursday, 8 January 2026.
Download the full media release.
