ARIA Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees for Landmark 40th Anniversary Celebration
The names announced include Gurrumul, The Living End, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait and more.
Image Chloe Paul
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Awards, and to commemorate the occasion, six legendary artists are being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
A special standalone event is being held on Thursday 11 June at Carriageworks in Sydney to welcome Gurrumul, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait, The Living End and Vika & Linda into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
These six artists, who have all achieved incredible things over their careers, join a long list of distinguished inductees that include You Am I, Jet, Missy Higgins, AC/DC, Molly Meldrum, Tina Arena, Cold Chisel, Kylie MInogue, Yothu Yindi, Jimmy Barnes, Kasey Chambers, Olivia Newton John, INXS, Crowded House, Archie Roach, Human Nature and many more.
Established in 1987, the ARIA Awards represent the pinnacle of the Australian music industry, with the annual ceremony celebrating local artists making an impact both nationally and internationally.
As for the official 2026 ARIA Awards, they will return Wednesday 18 November in partnership with Spotify at Sydney’s Horden Pavilion, on Gadigal land, with the ceremony also returning to 10 and streaming live on Paramount+.
“This year’s Hall of Fame inductees represent the depth, diversity and enduring influence of Australian music across generations,” says ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd.
“Each of these artists has shaped how Australian music is heard and understood at home and around the world. As we mark 40 years of the ARIA Awards, it feels especially meaningful to honour these artists whose work has defined moments in time and continues to resonate with audiences today. This is a celebration of legacy and their continued success but also the ongoing influence these artists have on Australian music. This is going to be a very special night and I am super excited to be a part of it.”
Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, The Hon. John Graham, adds, “These incredible artists have defined the Australian sound, taken it to the world, and inspired the next generation. This is such a fitting way to recognise their service to Australian music. The work of these artists shows that Australian music has sounds and stories you won’t hear anywhere else in the world. As the global music scene changes, we have to keep supporting the next wave of talent to carry on that legacy.”
Federal Minister for the Arts, Hon Tony Burke MP, says, “You can’t imagine the soundtrack to life in Australia without these artists. And yeah, I know Jenny was born in New Zealand but we’re claiming her too.”
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Blind Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter Gurrumul had an incredible career, winning 10 ARIA Awards and 16 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA), while also releasing four albums that all made the Top three of the ARIA Albums Chart.
Breaking through with his 2008 self-titled debut album, Gurrumul sold more than 500,000 albums worldwide and went on to perform for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, US President Barack Obama, Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark.
Passing away at age 46 in 2017, his legacy endures not only through his music but through the lasting cultural impact of his music and the work of the Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation.
Jenny Morris was a huge star in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, releasing multiple platinum albums and winning back-to-back ARIA Awards in 1987 and 1988 for Best Female Artist. She’s performed alongside the likes of Prince, INXS and Paul McCartney and been involved in shaping Australian music in several ways, including as a board member and then chair of the board of APRA.
With a career spanning more than four decades, Kate Ceberano is one of Australia’s favourite performers. She’s released an incredible 31 albums, 57 singles and won five ARIA Awards. Ceberano holds the rare distinction of being one of only four Australian artists, alongside AC/DC, Midnight Oil, and Kylie Minogue, to achieve Top 10 albums across five consecutive decades.
When it comes to the bands being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, Spiderbait have been a dominant force in the alt-rock world for more than 30 years and have released seven studio albums, six of which have debuted in the ARIA Top 40, and earned two ARIA Awards from 19 nominations, while The Living End have two #1 albums, five ARIA Awards and multiple platinum albums to their name.
Last but not least are Vika & Linda, the sibling duo who are among Australia’s most revered and enduring voices. Beginning as members of The Black Sorrows, the two stuck out on their own in the mid-90s and haven’t looked back. Gearing up for the release of their ninth album, Where Do You Come From?, Vika & Linda have won countless awards and collaborated with artists including Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers, Archie Roach, Renee Geyer, and Mark Seymour, and have become one of the country’s most beloved live acts.
The ARIA Hall of Fame Anniversary event takes place on Thursday 11 June at Carriageworks in Sydney. The 2026 ARIA Awards return on Wednesday 18 November at Sydney’s Horden Pavilion, on Gadigal land. More information available at aria.com.au.
