The 2026 APRA Music Awards celebrated 100 years of APRA at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion, with Amyl and The Sniffers taking home three awards, including Song of the Year.
Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion played host to a landmark night for Australian music on Wednesday 29 April, as the 2026 APRA Music Awards brought together the country’s biggest songwriting talent to mark 100 years of APRA.
Amyl and The Sniffers were the standout winners of the evening, taking home three awards: the peer-voted Song of the Year, Most Performed Rock Work and Songwriter of the Year, all for “Jerkin'”. It’s the second consecutive Song of the Year win for the Melbourne four-piece, who took out the same award in 2025 for “U Should Not Be Doing That”.
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Sia extended her own record as APRA’s most-awarded writer member, claiming Most Performed Australian Work Overseas for the third year running with “Unstoppable” – bringing her total to 14 APRA Awards. Guy Sebastian, alongside co-writers Ned Houston and Robby De Sa, picked up two awards for “Maybe”: Most Performed Australian Work and Most Performed Pop Work.
Emerging Songwriter of the Year: Emily Wurramara
Photo credit: rcstills
Sarah Aarons received the International Recognition Award, acknowledging her remarkable run of global co-writes for artists including BTS, Flume, Gracie Abrams, ROSÉ and Tame Impala. Emily Wurramara took out Emerging Songwriter of the Year, appointed by the APRA Board in recognition of her body of work over the past year.
The Most Performed categories delivered a strong night of debuts. Ball Park Music’s Sam Cromack won Most Performed Alternative Work for “Please Don’t Move to Melbourne”, ONEFOUR’s writers claimed Most Performed Hip Hop/Rap Work for “Spinnin'” and Ocean Grove’s “RAINDROP” took out Most Performed Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Work – all first APRA wins for those writers.
INXS were honoured with the Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music, presented by APRA Chair Jenny Morris. Punk powerhouse Ecca Vandal followed with a performance of “Just Keep Walking” that gave the classic a fresh edge.
The centenary celebrations shaped the night’s performances too. Christine Anu, Paul Kelly, The Presets and Peter Garrett, the latter appearing as a tribute to the late Rob Hirst, all took to the stage, alongside reimaginings of the top five Song of the Year nominees by BARKAA, BOY SODA, Playlunch, Way Dynamic and Sarah Blasko.
2026 APRA Music Awards full winners list
Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year “Jerkin'” – Amyl and The Sniffers Written by Declan Mehrtens, Amy Taylor and Bryce Wilson
Songwriter of the Year Amyl and The Sniffers Declan Mehrtens, Fergus Romer, Amy Taylor and Bryce Wilson
Emerging Songwriter of the Year Emily Wurramara
International Recognition Award Sarah Aarons
Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music INXS
Licensee of the Year The Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre
Most Performed Australian Work “Maybe” – Guy Sebastian Written by Guy Sebastian, Robby De Sa and Ned Houston
Most Performed Australian Work Overseas “Unstoppable” – Sia Written by Sia Furler and Christopher Braide
Most Performed Alternative Work “Please Don’t Move to Melbourne” – Ball Park Music Written by Sam Cromack
Most Performed Blues & Roots Work “Survival” – Karen Lee Andrews Written by Daniel March and Adam Ventoura
Most Performed Country Work “Who You Are” – Rachael Fahim Written by Rachael Fahim, Shawn Mayer, Liam Quinn, Vlado Saric and Keenan Te
Most Performed Dance/Electronic Work “Tell Me” – Sonny Fodera & Clementine Douglas Written by Stuart Crichton, Sonny Fodera, Clementine Douglas and Ruth Cunningham
Most Performed Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Work “RAINDROP” – Ocean Grove Written by Samuel Bassal, Brent Hunter and Luke Holmes
Most Performed Hip Hop/Rap Work “Spinnin'” – ONEFOUR & Nemzzz Written by Jerome Misa, Salec Su’a, Hoi Tang, Nemiah Simms and Robin Turrini
Most Performed International Work “Timeless” – The Weeknd & Playboi Carti Written by Abel Tesfaye, Jordan Carter, Raul Cubina, Mike Dean, Evan Hood, Jarrod Morgan, Chisolm Petty, Tariq Sharrieff, Mark Williams and Pharrell Williams
Most Performed Pop Work “Maybe” – Guy Sebastian Written by Guy Sebastian, Robby De Sa and Ned Houston
Most Performed R&B/Soul Work “Pity Party” – PANIA Written by Pania Hika, Jake Amy, Chelsea Warner and Sam Verghese
Most Performed Rock Work “Jerkin'” – Amyl and The Sniffers Written by Declan Mehrtens, Amy Taylor and Bryce Wilson
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