19 October 2026New Music
News · 19 October 2026
SA Music Awards 2026 Finalist Revealed
Swapmeet leads the way with a massive six nominations.
The South Australian Music Awards (SA Music Awards) have revealed the 2026 finalists, with Swapmeet leading the way with six nominations, including Best Song, Best Group and Best Release (EP/Album).
Presented by MusicSA, the Awards cover three categories – People’s Choice, Industry, and Major Award – and return to the AEC Theatre on Tuesday 10 November.
Hot on the heels of Swapmeet are DEM MOB, My Chérie and The Tullamarines, with all three up for five awards.
First Nations hip hop outfit DEM MOB are nominated for Best Regional Artist, Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist, Best Music Educator and Best Hip Hop Artist, with manager, DJ/MC Gully also recognised in the Best Manager award, while My Chérie is competing for Best Song, Best Release (EP/Album), Best Music Video, Best Studio Engineer/Producer and Best Pop Artist.
The Tullamarines are in contention for Best New Artist, Best Group, Best Release (EP/Album), Best Cover Art and Best Pop Artist.
Other artists nominated include Ella Ion, with four nods, including Best Song and Best Folk Artist, and Any Young Mechanic, Sacrificial Larynx, Elsy Wameyo, Marlon and Ryan Martin John, who are all up for three awards.
READ MORE: Good Music Month Returns This November With Over 150 Events Across South Australia
"Presenting the South Australian Music Awards every November is a highlight for MusicSA," says MusicSA CEO, Christine Schloithe. "It is a night of celebration acknowledging the incredible depth and talent across our contemporary music industry. The Awards spotlight SA’s artists, the professionals that surround them, and the infrastructure that elevates them. It’s terrific to see familiar names nominated in successive years with exciting new names coming through and we wish all 2026 Award Nominees every success on the night!"
South Australian Deputy Premier and Minister for Arts, Kyam Maher MLC adds, "Congratulations to all our 2026 South Australian Music Awards finalists. This recognition is well deserved. Our state's music community is built on talent, hard work and passion, and you represent the very best of it. We can't wait to celebrate with you."
The night will also see Adelaide rockers Bad//Dreems inducted into the SA Music Hall of Fame, with the band performing on the night alongside Western Arrernte multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Rob Edwards, indie-folk songstress Ella Ion, multi-hyphenate singer Nat Luna and art-folkers Any Young Mechanic.
The evening will see the return of beloved SA Music Awards MCs Troy Sincock and Sosefina Fuamoli, with a Welcome to Country delivered by Cliffy Wilson.
SA Music Awards 2026 takes place at AEC Theatre on Tuesday 10 November. Tickets are on sale now at southaustralianmusicawards.com.au.
MAJOR AWARDS
Presented by Moshtix
Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist
SPONSORED BY NOVATECH
A. Ware & Jusst
BOUSTA
DEM MOB
Marlon
Rob Edwards
Best Group
SPONSORED BY MOSHTIX
Lola
Sacrificial Larynx
Swapmeet
The Empty Threats
The Tullamarines
Best New Artist
SPONSORED BY WOMADELAIDE
Any Young Mechanic
Pash
Praise Mangena
Sacrificial Larynx
The Hazys
The Tullamarines
Best Regional Artist
SPONSORED BY COUNTRY ARTS SA
Alison Newman & the Tassels
DEM MOB
Erin Buku
Gernz
Rob Edwards
Sexy As Shit
Best Release (EP / Album)
SPONSORED BY AGAINST THE GRAIN
Any Young Mechanic – The Modern Shoe Is Ruining The Foot
Ella Ion – Liminal Archive
Molly Rocket – The Dogs Are Barking
My Chérie – Life is Short and Life is Long
Swapmeet – Mount Zero
The Tullamarines – Safety Blanket
Best Solo Artist
SPONSORED BY GA ENTERTAINMENT
Ella Ion
Elsy Wameyo
Erin Buku
LILLI
Nat Luna
Best Song
SPONSORED BY THREE D
effie isobel – Hidden Treasure
Ella Ion – My Love
My Chérie – 5 years
Oscar the Wild – Sunrise
Swapmeet – I Know!
INDUSTRY AWARDS
Presented by The Music
Best Cover Art
SPONSORED BY VISUALCOM
Maryam Rahmani – Kamand by Kaspar Schmidt Mumm
Marlon – Blood In The Water
The Dandy Buzzkills – The Dandy Buzzkills (I Presume)
The Empty Threats – Happy Birthday by Emmaline Zanelli
The Tullamarines – Safety Blanket
Best Large Music Festival
SPONSORED BY EVENT RIGGING SOLUTIONS
Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival
Adelaide Guitar Festival
Gather Sounds
Side By Side
WOMADelaide
Best Live Music Photograph
SPONSORED BY THE AUSTRAL
Deb Kloeden – Yungblud
Elise De Simoni – Oscar the Wild
Henry Maurin – LOLA
Justin White – I Killed the Prom Queen
Neasan McGuiness – My Chérie
Best Live Music Venue
SPONSORED BY AHA
Hindley Street Music Hall
Lion Arts Factory
Lowlife Basement Bar
UniBar Adelaide
Wheatsheaf Hotel
Best Live Production Crew
SPONSORED BY ALMBC
David Musch
Letisha Ackland
Luke Hancock
Nathan Smith
Ryan Martin John
Best Manager
SPONSORED BY ADELAIDE VENUE MANAGEMENT
Gully
Hannah Louise
Rachel Whitford
Sebastion James
Tayla Carlaw
Best Music Educator
SPONSORED BY CARCLEW
DEM MOB
Jennifer Trijo
Joseph Cheek
Keith Crellin
Martin Butler
Best Music Video
SPONSORED BY JC DECAUX
Bryce Kraehenbuehl – My Cherie (Box of Pencils)
Elsy Wameyo – Elsy Wameyo (WAMEYO)
Liam Woolcock / Rachel Whitford – TOWNS (Magnificent)
Mayah Salter – Swapmeet (Halfway)
Richie Coburn – Marlon (Blood In The Water)
Best Regional Music Venue
SPONSORED BY AHA
Caltowie Chilled Out ’n’ Fired Up Music Festival
OC Soundfest
On The Road – Adelaide Guitar Festival
She Bop Festival
Space Jams
Best Small Festival
SPONSORED BY WOODVILLE TOWN HALL
Caltowie Chilled Out ’n’ Fired Up Music Festival
Coastal Sounds
Dougstock
Porch & Recreation
Space Jams
Best Studio
SPONSORED BY SAE
Cactus Cactus Sound
Island Recording Studios
Songbird Society
Wizard Tone Studios
Wundenberg’s Recording Studio
Best Studio Engineer / Producer
SPONSORED BY ADELAIDE BACKLINE AND PRODUCTION HIRE
James Brown
Mario Spate
My Chérie
Ryan Martin John
Swapmeet
PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS
Presented by The Note
Blues & Roots
SPONSORED BY DERRINGERS
Amin & Lachlan
Badland Caravan
Lucas Day
The Dead Regulars
The Sundials
Country
SPONSORED BY THE NOTE
Brad Chicken & the Bootstraps
Caressa
Jo Page
Motorcycle Jones
Ryan Martin John
Electronic
SPONSORED BY STOREDJ
Lizzie Bradley & Inkswell
Seek N Destroy
Sexy As Shit
TONIX
V O E
Experimental & Art
SPONSORED BY ADELAIDE FESTIVAL
Awnings
Chemistry Music
Maajela
Praise Mangena
Rakali
Folk
SPONSORED BY NOVATECH
Any Young Mechanic
Bromham
Ella Ion
Meg Carlin
Sienna Hart
Heavy
SPONSORED BY FROTH AND FURY FESTIVAL
Heartline
MACËY
Sacrificial Larynx
xGemmini
Hip Hop
SPONSORED BY THE GOV
A.Ware & Jusst
DEM MOB
Elsy Wameyo
LIL CUE
Tommy Marsh
Jazz
SPONSORED BY ODDIO
JT Sextet
Live Slug Reaction
Tiffany Gaze
The Jackson Mack Big Band
Pop
SPONSORED BY HINDLEY ST MUSIC HALL
Ben Sutto
effie isobel
My Chérie
RENAÉ
The Tullamarines
Punk
SPONSORED BY PIRATELIFE
Donni Heat
Lola
Molly Rocket
Stormy-Lou
TOWNS
Rock
SPONSORED BY UNIBAR
Greasy
Oscar The Wild
Swapmeet
The Dandy Buzzkills
The Genevieves
Soul / Funk / RnB
SPONSORED BY NEXSTAGE
Elizabeth Ruyi
Maybe Hugo
Nat Luna
OPULENCE
San Dragan
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