Tame Impala, Sia, Amyl and The Sniffers, Ninajirachi, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers and 20 other acts will duke it out for the peer-voted APRA Song of the Year, the top honor at the annual APRA Music Awards.
Announced this week, the top 25 songs in the peer-voted category include a slew of debutant shortlisted artists including Ecca Vandal, Emily Wurramara, Folk Bitch Trio, Liam Bell (Playlunch), and Ocean Alley.
They join shortlist alumni Angie McMahon, Bernard Fanning, Hiatus Kaiyote, Kasey Chambers, Missy Higgins, Nick Cave, Troye Sivan, Genesis Owusu and others. Ahead of the big night, the top 25 is whittled down to five nominees, with each of those songs performed — and often reinvented — by another artist.
As previously reported, APRA is this year celebrating its 100th anniversary. The celebrations will get underway at the APRAs for a ceremony that should be “the biggest yet,” organizers say, and will be presented for the very first time at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday, April 29.
For its milestone anniversary, the awards has tallied its highest ever number of votes cast by APRA members.
Formed by six music publishers a century ago this month, the Australasian Performing Right Association now represents over 128,000 music creators. The APRA Music Awards is heading into its 44th edition, and is one of the most beloved events on the Australian industry calendar, celebrating excellence in contemporary music, and those songwriters and publishers who have achieved artistic excellence and outstanding success in their fields.
For more information, visit apraamcos.com.au/apramusicawards2026 and check out the song of the year shortlist here.