Nominations Now Open for the 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards

This is your chance to nominate your favourite First Nations artists for a slew of awesome awards.

Nominations are now open for the 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs), with the 22nd edition returning to Darwin Amphitheatre in Garamilla/Darwin on Saturday 8 August.

First Nations artists from across the country are encouraged to submit their music for the chance to be honoured across six categories - Artist of the Year, Best New Talent, Album of the Year, Film Clip of the Year, Community Clip of the Year and Song of the Year.

To nominate your favourite First Nations artists and releases from the past year, head to
nima-nominations.au, with submission closing Friday 19 June.

Catherine Satour, Chairperson of MusicNT, shares, “The National Indigenous Music Awards are a powerful celebration of First Nations music, culture and community. On behalf of MusicNT, we are proud to see the NIMAs return to Garramilla/Darwin in 2026, shining a national spotlight on the talent and leadership of Indigenous artists across the country.”

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The NIMAs are one of the most significant nights on the national music calendar that celebrates First Nations artistry and community.

Last year’s ceremony was hosted by Elanie Crombie and Ben Graetz and included powerful live performances from Drifting Clouds, Eleanor Jawurlngali, Kankawa Nagarra, Miss Kaninna and Emma Donova.

On the winners’ front, Emily Wurramara and Andrew Gurruwiwi Band won two awards each, with Wurramara taking home the coveted Artist of the Year and Film Clip of the Year for her song ‘Lordy Lordy’ and Andrew Gurruwiwi Band walking away with Best New Talent and Song of the Year for ‘Once Upon a Time’.

The NIMAs are just one of several huge events celebrating First Nations artists between Wednesday 5 and Tuesday 11 August, with Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF), the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards (NATSIAA’s) and National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA) also held across the week.

The 2026 NIMAs take place at Garamilla/Darwin’s Darwin Amphitheatre on Saturday 8 August. Nominations are open from now until Friday 19 June. Cast your nominations now via nima.musicnt.com.au.