Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Image: Namila Benson  

APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre (AMC) have announced the 2026 Art Music Awards will take place on Wednesday 19 August at The Timber Yard, Port Melbourne.

The Art Music Awards bring together the national art music community to celebrate outstanding achievements across 16 categories, alongside the Richard Gill Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music, recognising excellence in contemporary classical music, jazz, improvised music, sound art and experimental practices.

A key date on the industry calendar, the annual event celebrates Australia's leading creators, performers and leaders, and in 2026 is taking place in APRA's centenary year.

This year's Awards will be hosted by acclaimed arts journalist, broadcaster and television presenter Namila Benson. She will be joined by guest presenters - concert pianist, curator and educator Aura Go and composer, classical singer and producer Connor D'Netto.

The evening will feature live performances showcasing some of Australia's most exciting art music, curated by returning programmer, Sia Ahmad. A Canberra-based music creator and facilitator, Ahmad is known for bringing a distinctive "DIY punk aesthetic" and a broad perspective of the Australian art music landscape to the stage.


Image: Namila Benson, Connor D'Netto, Aura Go, Sia Ahmad.

AMC CEO, Catherine Haridy, says: "The Art Music Awards are one of the highlights of the year for the AMC, and for the art music community as a whole. The projects we are seeing are a genuine testament to the ambition, range and resilience of Australian art music right now. It is a sector that continues to produce work of real consequence, and the Awards exist to make sure that work is seen and celebrated. We are so pleased to be bringing everyone together at The Timber Yard in August, alongside our partners APRA AMCOS in their special 100th year, to do exactly that."

Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS, adds: "The Art Music Awards celebrate the extraordinary creativity and ambition of Australia's music community. These works challenge, inspire and deepen how we experience music, while reminding us of the vital role creators play in shaping our cultural identity. As we grapple with the opportunity and risk of AI, it's never been more important to celebrate the breadth of human creativity. We're proud to recognise and support Australia's art music community and look forward to celebrating with them in our 100th year."

Finalists for the 2026 Art Music Awards will be announced on Thursday 16 July. The Awards recognise outstanding achievements across 16 categories, including Works of the Year and Performance of the Year, alongside excellence in music education, regional activity and experimental practice. Luminary Awards will be presented to individuals and organisations who have made a significant impact on national or local community.

The APRA and AMC Boards of Directors will also jointly present the Richard Gill Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music. This prestigious honour recognises individuals or groups who have made a sustained and impactful contribution to Australian art music. Previous recipients include Jon Rose and Hollis Taylor for their boundary-pushing sonic explorations; William Barton for broadening horizons for the yidaki and the culture and landscape it represents; and Lyn Williams AM for her decades-long dedication to choral performance and music development.

2026 ART MUSIC AWARDS
5.30pm, Wednesday 19 August
The Timber Yard
351 Plummer St, Port Melbourne, VIC
Hosted by Namila Benson with guest presenters Auro Go and Connor D'Netto, with music curation by Sia Ahmad