THE 2025 ARIA AWARD NOMINATIONS ARE IN

Watch our interview with Ninajirachi below!

As the 2025 ARIA Awards draw near, it's clear that this year's ceremony is more than just a celebration of local success. It’s a powerful reminder that Australian music has found its voice on the world stage.

This year’s nominations reveal a thrilling shift. Genre boundaries are fading, international stages are becoming familiar territory, and a bold new wave of artists is defining what it means to make music in and from Australia. Whether it’s sold-out stadiums, Coachella appearances, or billion-stream careers, the 2025 ARIAs are set to honour an industry in full bloom.

Topping the nominations with a staggering eight nods, Ninajirachi stands out not just for her technical savvy but for her cultural relevance. Her debut album I Love My Computer is more than a tribute to early 2010s EDM. It’s a carefully crafted reinvention. She is up for Album of the Year, Best Solo Artist, and both production and engineering categories, to name a few. Hot off a Coachella 2026 slot and collaborations with some of the freshest names in alt-pop and electronic music, she represents a new archetype: globally minded, boundary-less, and unapologetically innovative.

Right behind her is Dom Dolla, who’s up for seven ARIA Awards, and it’s no surprise. His music has already infiltrated clubs and charts around the world, but 2025 has marked his move into arena dominance. Becoming the first solo electronic act to headline a stadium in Australia, Dom has turned dance music into a full-scale cultural phenomenon. With hits like Saving Up and Dreamin racking up billions of streams, his nominations, including Best Solo Artist to Song of the Year, recognise both the scope and the substance of his success.

Elsewhere, Amyl and the Sniffers continue to fly the flag for gritty, unapologetic Australian rock. They've picked up six nominations off the back of a thunderous year that included European festivals and supporting the Foo Fighters in the U.S. Their Album of the Year nod places them alongside a heavy-hitting shortlist including Missy Higgins, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Thelma Plum, and Ninajirachi. Each artist offers a different take on what Australian music can sound like. The Hilltop Hoods also returned in force. Their ninth album Fall From The Light earned five nominations and reminded everyone why they remain titans of Australian hip hop.

Five nominations also go to Thelma Plum, whose deeply personal album I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back showcases her as one of the country’s most compelling songwriters. Her work, alongside nominees like Missy Higgins and BARKAA, demonstrates how storytelling remains at the heart of Australia’s musical identity, even in an age defined by digital virality and sonic experimentation.

The Best Solo Artist category may be the most telling reflection of the scene’s diversity and ambition. This year’s nominees include icons like Kylie Minogue and Paul Kelly, global chart-toppers like The Kid LAROI, cutting-edge names like Mallrat and Young Franco, and breakout stars like BARKAA and Ninajirachi. It’s not just a competition. It’s a cross-section of an industry refusing to be boxed in.

With the live sector bouncing back bigger than ever, the ARIAs are turning their attention to the energy of the stage. The Best Australian Live Act category, presented by Destination NSW, features a stacked line-up including Ball Park Music, SPEED, Troye Sivan, Confidence Man, and Kylie Minogue. These acts are redefining what a live show means, from intimate emotional sets to bombastic pop spectacles.

A new award category, Best Music Festival presented by Tixel, also recognises the crucial role festivals play in launching careers and sustaining Australia’s rich music ecosystem. With nominees like Bluesfest Byron Bay, Laneway Festival, and Yours and Owls, this new addition is a long-overdue nod to the stages that help artists grow from local favourites to global names.

The ARIAs have teamed up with Spotify to bring public voting directly into the app. This marks a major step in accessibility and fan engagement. From now until 10 November, Australians can vote daily in four categories, including Song of the Year and Most Popular International Artist. With over half the country using Spotify, this new integration gives fans a louder voice than ever before.

Among all the buzz and emerging stars, the ARIAs are also taking a moment to honour legacy. Alt-rock trailblazers You Am I will be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, recognising their lasting impact on the Australian music canon and influence on generations of musicians.

As ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd aptly shares, “There’s no longer a singular image of what success looks like for an artist.” Whether it’s global sync deals, festival headlines, or hard-fought indie careers, the 2025 nominees prove that Australian music is no longer defined by geography. It’s defined by vision. In celebrating these artists, the ARIAs aren’t just handing out trophies. They’re making a statement. The future of music isn’t coming. It’s already here, and Australia is helping to write it.

The 2025 ARIA Awards will unfold at Sydney’s iconic Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday, 19 November, streaming live on Paramount+ and broadcast on 10, with highlights available on @ARIA.official socials. 

2025 ARIA AWARDS NOMINATED ARTISTS

Album of the Year

Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group]

Missy Higgins – The Second Act [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]

Thelma Plum – I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back [Warner Music Australasia]

Best Solo Artist

BARKAA – Big Tidda [Big Apples Music / Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Dom Dolla – DREAMIN’ [Good Fortune Records]

Kylie Minogue – Tension II [Mushroom Music]

Mallrat – Light Hit My Face Like A Straight Right [Dew Process / Universal Music Australia]

Missy Higgins – The Second Act [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Paul Kelly – Fever Longing Still [EMI Music Australia]

The Kid LAROI – How Does It Feel? [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Thelma Plum – I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back [Warner Music Australasia]

Young Franco – it's Franky baby! [Neon Records]

Best Group

Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group]

Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]

Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Royel Otis – hickey [Ourness / Capitol Records]

RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]

Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist presented by Spotify

Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]

Gut Health – Stiletto [AWAL Recordings]

Mia Wray – hi, it’s nice to meet me [Mushroom Music]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Young Franco – it's Franky baby! [Neon Records]

Best Pop Release

G Flip – Disco Cowgirl [AWAL Recordings]

Kita Alexander – Press Pause [Warner Music Australasia]

Kylie Minogue – Tension II [Mushroom Music]

Mallrat – Light Hit My Face Like A Straight Right [Dew Process / Universal Music Australia]

Thelma Plum – I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back [Warner Music Australasia]

Best Dance / Electronic Release

Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA) [I OH YOU / Mushroom Music]

Dom Dolla – DREAMIN' [Good Fortune Records]

FISHER – Stay [etcetc Music Pty Ltd]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Sonny Fodera, D.O.D & Jazzy – Somedays [Solotoka / ADA]

Best Hip Hop / Rap Release

BARKAA – Big Tidda [Big Apples Music / Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Miss Kaninna – Kaninna EP [Soul Has No Tempo]

ONEFOUR – Look At Me Now [ONEFOUR Records / The Orchard]

The Kid LAROI – Baby I’m Back [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Best Soul / R&B Release

BOY SODA – Lil Obsession [Warner Music Australasia]

JACOTÉNE - Why’d You Do That? [Epic Records / Sony Music]

Jerome Farah – CHLORINE [Sony Music]

Larissa Lambert – Cardio [New Levels / Virgin Music Group]

PANIA – Pity Party [Warner Music Australasia / Say Less]

Best Independent Release presented by PPCA

Ball Park Music – Like Love [Prawn Records / Inertia Music]

Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA) [I OH YOU / Mushroom Music]

Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]

Miss Kaninna – Kaninna EP [Soul Has No Tempo]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Best Rock Album presented by Tooheys

Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group]

Ball Park Music – Like Love [Prawn Records / Inertia Music]

King Stingray – For The Dreams [Civilians / The Orchard]

Royel Otis – hickey [Ourness / Capitol Records]

Spacey Jane – If That Makes Sense [AWAL Recordings]

Best Adult Contemporary Album

Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]

Gordi – Like Plasticine [Mushroom Music]

Meg Washington – GEM [OriGiN Distribution / ADA]

Missy Higgins – The Second Act [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia]

Paul Kelly – Fever Longing Still [EMI Music Australia]

Best Country Album

Dylan Wright – Half a World Away [Sony Music]

Imogen Clark – Choking on Fuel [Potts Entertainment / MGM]

Kasey Chambers – Backbone [Essence Music Group / MGM]

Keith Urban – High [CAPITOL – NASHVILLE / EMI Music Australia]

Taylor Moss – Firecracker [Taylor Moss / Ditto Music]

Best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Album

Civic – Chrome Dipped [ATO Records / Inertia Music]

Press Club – To All The Ones I Love [Inertia Music]

RedHook – Mutation [RedHook Records]

The Amity Affliction – Let The Ocean Take Me Down (Redux) [GYROstream]

Thornhill – Bodies [UNFD / Community Music]

Best Blues & Roots Album

Dope Lemon – Golden Wolf [BMG]

Mama Kin Spender – Promises [Mama Kin Spender / MGM]

Sons Of The East – SONS [Sons Of The East Music / MGM]

Tash Sultana – Return to the Roots [Lonely Lands Records via Sony Music]

The Teskey Brothers – Live At The Hammersmith Apollo [Mushroom Music]

Best Children’s Album

Emma Memma – Dance Island Party [GYROstream]

Justine Clarke – Mimi's symphony [ABC Music / The Orchard]

Teeny Tiny Stevies – Brain Fart [Love Your Records / Xelon]

The Vegetable Plot – Season Three [ABC Music / The Orchard]

The Wiggles – Wiggle Up, Giddy Up! [ABC Music / The Orchard]

Best Music Festival presented by Tixel

Ability Fest – Dylan Alcott Foundation + Untitled Group

Beyond The Valley – Untitled Group / Beyond The Valley Music Festival

Bluesfest Byron Bay – Bluesfest Byron Bay

Laneway Festival – St Jerome’s Laneway / Laneway Festival

Yours and Owls Festival – Yours and Owls

PUBLIC VOTED AWARDS

Best Video

Break My Love - RÜFÜS DU SOL, Alexander George (Katzki) [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]

Craters – Missy Higgins, Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia]

Lordy Lordy – Emily Wurramara, Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore [ABC Music / The Orchard]

All the Noise – Spacey Jane, Dan Lesser [AWAL Recordings]

car – Royel Otis, Jamieson Kerr [Ourness / Capitol Records]

Big Dreams – Amyl and The Sniffers, John Stewart [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group]

DREAMIN’ - Dom Dolla, Kyle Caulfield & Shevin Dissanayake [Good Fortune Records]

Don’t Happy, Be Worry – Hilltop Hoods, Roman Anastasios and Jordan Ruyi Blanch [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Dancing2 – Keli Holiday, Ryan Sauer [Keli Holiday / GYROstream]

WASSA – Vv Pete, UTILITY, Formation Boyz, UTILITY [Trackwork]

Best Australian Live Act presented by Destination NSW

Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness World Tour

Ball Park Music – Like Love Tour

BARKAA – BIG TIDDA TOUR [Jackson Street & Bad Apples Music]

Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA) Tour [I OH YOU]

Dom Dolla – Dom Dolla Australia 2024 [Untitled Group]

Hilltop Hoods – Hilltop Hoods 2025

Kylie Minogue – Tension Tour 2025

Miss Kaninna – Dawg In Me Tour [Astral People]

SPEED – SPEED AUSTRALIA TOUR ‘25

Troye Sivan – Something To Give Each Other Tour [Live Nation]

Song of the Year

Cyril, Maryjo – Still Into You [Warner Music Australasia / Spinnin Records]

Dean Lewis – With You [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Dom Dolla Feat. Daya – Dreamin [Good Fortune Records]

FISHER – Stay [etcetc Music Pty Ltd]

Gotye, FISHER, Chris Lake Feat. Kimbra, Sante Sansone – Somebody [Eleven: A Music Company / EMI Music Australia]

OneFour, Nemzzz – Spinnin [ONEFOUR RECORDS / THE ORCHARD]

Royel Otis – Linger (SiriusXM Session) [Ourness]

Sonny Fodera, D.O.D & Jazzy – Somedays [Solotoko / ADA]

The Kid LAROI – Girls [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Tobiahs – Angel of Mine [Mushroom Music]

Most Popular International Artist

Alex Warren – [Atlantic Records / Warner Music Australasia]

Calvin Harris – [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Gracie Abrams – [Interscope / Universal Music Australia]

Kendrick Lamar – [Interscope / Universal Music Australia]

Noah Kahan – [Republic Records / Universal Music Australia]

Post Malone – [Republic Records / Universal Music Australia]

Sabrina Carpenter – [Island Records USA / Universal Music Australia]

Tate McRae – [RCA Records / Universal Music Australia]

Taylor Swift – [Republic Records / Universal Music Australia]

Tyler, The Creator – [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

ARTISAN AWARDS

Best Cover Art

Giulia McGauran for The Cat Empire – Bird in Paradise [BMG]

John Stewart for Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group]

Kira Puru, Em Jensen for Thelma Plum – I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back [Waner Music Australasia]

Nina Wilson, John You, Aria Zarzycki for Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Sarah McCloskey for Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Engineer - Best Engineered Release

Alice Ivy for Alice Ivy – Do What Makes You Happy [Kewpie Mayo Records / Independent]

Dom Dolla for Dom Dolla – DREAMIN' [Good Fortune Records]

Eric J Dubowsky for Emma Louise & Flume – DUMB [Three Six Zero Recordings / ADA]

Kevin Parker for Tame Impala – End of Summer [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Thomas Purcell p/k/a Wave Racer for Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Producer – Best Produced Release

Alex Burnett for Thelma Plum - I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back [Waner Music Australasia]

Dom Dolla for Dom Dolla – DREAMIN' [Good Fortune Records]

Kevin Parker for Tame Impala – End of Summer [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Nina Wilson p/k/a Ninajirachi for Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

RÜFÜS DU SOL for RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]

FINE ARTS AWARDS

Best Classical Album

Andrea Lam – Piano Diary [ABC Classic / The Orchard]

Australian Chamber Orchestra / Richard Tognetti – Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings and Andante Cantabile / Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony in C minor [ABC Classic / The Orchard]

Nat Bartsch – Forever Changed [Amica Records]

Simone Young & Sydney Symphony Orchestra – Mahler: Symphony No.2; Barton: Of The Earth [Deutsche Grammophon Australia / Universal Music]

Sophie Hutchings – Become The Sky [Universal Music Australia / Mercury KX]

Best Jazz Album

Evans Robson Quartet – Zenith [Lamplight Records]

Lachlan McKenzie – Departures [ABC Jazz / The Orchard]

Lucy Clifford – Between Spaces of Knowing [ABC Jazz / The Orchard]

TL; DR & Peter Knight – Too Long; Didn’t Read [Earshift Music / The Planet Company-MGM]

Touch Sensitive – In Paradise [Future Classic]

Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album

Australian Chamber Orchestra – Memoir of a Snail (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [ABC Classic / The Orchard]

François Tétaz - The Surfer [Impressed Recordings / Rubber Music Pty Ltd]

Michael Cassel Group – Michael Cassel Group Presents A (Very) Musical Christmas [The Orchard]

Various Artists – How To Make Gravy [Origin Recordings]

Vidya Makan – The Lucky Country (Original Cast Album) [ORiGiN Distribution / ADA]

Best World Music Album

Electric Fields, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – Live In Concert [ABC Music / The Orchard]

Gurrumul – Banbirrngu – The Orchestral Sessions [Decca Australia & Skinnyfish / UMA]

Joseph Tawadros – The Forgotten Path To Humanity [Independent / The Planet Company]

Tenzin Choegyal – Snow Flower [Warner Music Australasia / Rainbow Valley Records]

The Cat Empire – Bird in Paradise [BMG]

OUR SOUNDTRACK OUR ADS

Best Use of an Australian Recording in an Advertisement

Fox League 2025: Our Greats – Fox Sports Australia, 3%

Menulog: What’s Good in Your Hood – Thinkerbell, Bliss n Eso

Paramount+ Australia: Ballad of the GOATS – Paramount+ Australia, Briggs

Tooheys: I Feel Like a Tooheys – Thinkerbell, Dune Rats

Tourism & Events Queensland: That Holiday Feeling – Publicis Worldwide, Kita Alexander