Celebrating the best from each genre as voted by more than 100 industry professionals.
2026 Finalists
#Finalist & Shortlist Quick Links
#Genre Awards
Presented by ARUGA
#Pop
Pop
Pop
Pop
Jem Cassar-Daley
Kiss Me Like You're Leaving
Jem Cassar-Daley, MICHAEL JAMES DELORENZIS , MICHAEL CHARLES PAYNTER, JON MARK NITE
Songwriters Pop
Presented by TEG
#Country
Country
Country
Country
Tori Darke
Remember Me Like That
Tori Darke , Trannie Anderson, Emily Landis, Jason Massey
Songwriters Country
#Blues & Roots
Country
Blues / Roots
Blues / Roots
Blues / Roots
Presented by Miami Marketta
#Rock
Rock
Rock
Rock
Rock
Presented by Comiskey Group
#Electronic
Electronic
Electronic
Electronic
Electronic
Young Franco
Lose Control
Joseph Da Rin De Barbera, Elian Parker, Olu Onyemachi, Dakarai Fann
Songwriters Presented by The Hidden Lanes Festival
#Heavy
Heavy
Citadel
Incomplete
Liam Kelly, Nathaniel Patterson, Russell Miller, Lewis Blakey, Dane Pulvirenti, Monique Pym
Songwriters Heavy
SLOWCUT
threaded
Benjamin Gibson, Jeremy Wittkopp, Tim Goulding , John Northwood, Lee Clark
Songwriters Heavy
Heavy
#Folk
Folk
Folk
Folk
Folk
Presented by Queensland Conservatorium
#Contemporary Classical
Contemporary Classical
Abigail Lui & Camerata - Queensland's Chamber Orchestra
Memory in the Distant Hills
Abigail Lui
Songwriters Contemporary Classical
Contemporary Classical
Contemporary Classical
#Children's Music
Children's Music
Children's Music
Children's Music
Children's Music
#Hip Hop
Hip Hop
Hip Hop
Hip Hop
Hip Hop
Presented by Ghanem Group
#Jazz Award
Jazz
Jazz
Jazz
Jazz
#Soul | Funk | R'n'B
Soul / Funk / R’n’B
Soul / Funk / R’n’B
Soul / Funk / R’n’B
Soul / Funk / R’n’B
Presented by 612 ABC Radio Brisbane
#World
World
Jazz
World
World
#Music for Screen
Music for Screen (film and television)
Music for Screen (film and television)
Music for Screen (film and television)
Music for Screen (film and television)
#Video Award
Video
Adam Potts
Tongue - FELONY.
Video
Lawson Cross
L0W - Randy Thrill$
Video
Loki Liddle & Joshua Tate
Breaking Into Heaven - Selve
Video
Tom Carroll
Pavement - Mallrat
#People's Choice Awards
Celebrating the best from each genre as voted by more than 100 industry professionals.
Presented by Oztix & The Music
#Metro Venue of the Year
People's Choice Award
Fortitude Music Hall
People's Choice Award
The Cave Inn
People's Choice Award
The Princess Theatre
People's Choice Award
The Tivoli
Presented by Oztix & The Music
#Regional Venue of the Year
People's Choice Award
Miami Marketta
People's Choice Award
Mo's Desert Clubhouse
People's Choice Award
Tanks Arts Centre
People's Choice Award
Sandstone Point Hotel
Presented by The Music
#Festival of the Year
People's Choice Award
Airlie Beach Festival of Music
People's Choice Award
Gympie Music Muster Festival
People's Choice Award
Maleny Music Festival
People's Choice Award
Sundown
#Industry Excellence Awards
The top tier from Queensland industry for 2026. Additional awards and acknowledgements on the night include Indigenous Artist of the Year, Break Through Artist of the Year presented by SAE University College, Regional/Remote Artist of the Year, Export Artist of the Year presented by Sounds Australia and Highest Selling Single and Album of the Year presented by Invest Gold Coast.
Presented by APRA AMCOS
#Producer of the Year
Producer of the Year
Cody McWaters
Producer of the Year
Josh Beattie
Producer of the Year
Luke Palmer
Producer of the Year
Mallrat
Presented by Oztix
#Accessible & Inclusive Venue of the Year
Accessible & Inclusive Venue of the Year
Den Devine
Accessible & Inclusive Venue of the Year
Fortitude Music Hall
Accessible & Inclusive Venue of the Year
The Cave Inn
Accessible Venue of the Year
The Princess Theatre
#Scholarships Shortlists
Here Arts Queensland and QMusic Scholarships Shortlists for 2026. This suite of legacy scholarships provides $15k each to selected artists to pursue professional development opportunities and further their career in music. Each scholarship honour's a legend of Queensland Music.
Presented by Arts Queensland
#Billy Thorpe Scholarship
Billy Thorpe Scholarship
Frank and Louis
Billy Thorpe Scholarship
Mid Drift
Billy Thorpe Scholarship
Tear Drive
Billy Thorpe Scholarship
Tori Darke
Presented by Arts Queensland
#Carol Lloyd Award
Carol Lloyd Award
FELONY.
Carol Lloyd Award
Hayley Marsten
Carol Lloyd Award
Lyric
Carol Lloyd Award
Paulina
Presented by Arts Queensland
#Dennis 'Mop' Conlon Scholarship
Dennis 'Mop' Conlon Scholarship
BALA RONTU
Dennis 'Mop' Conlon Scholarship
Dubbzone
Dennis 'Mop' Conlon
Kaylah Truth
Dennis 'Mop' Conlon Scholarship
Sunny Luwe
Presented by Arts Queensland
#Grant McLennan Fellowship
Grant McLennan Fellowship
Banff
Grant McLennan Fellowship
Ella Fence
Grant McLennan Fellowship
Paulina
Grant McLennan Fellowship
Tessa Fleur
#Major Awards
There are three major awards up for grabs at the QMAs. These are the Lifetime Achievement presented by Hutchinson Builders, Song of the Year and Album of the Year Awards. These awards are determined by over 100 industry professionals from the full applicant pool for 2026. Winners are announced on the night.