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ARIA Awards Reintroduce Best Music Festival Category for 2026
The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) has announced that the Best Music Festival award will return for a second year at the 2026 ARIA Awards. The category, first introduced in 2025, recognises festivals that give Australian artists a prominent place in their line‑ups. The award will be presented on 18 November 2026 at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, the same venue that hosted the ARIA ceremony in 2025.
Eligibility for the award is defined by two main criteria. A festival must either feature an Australian headline act or have a line‑up that is at least 50 percent Australian. In addition, the event must be a member of the Australian Festival Association (AFA). The AFA is a peak industry body that represents festivals that have operated for at least three years, are ticketed and licensed to sell alcohol, have a capacity of 2,000 patrons or more, and comply with best‑practice guidelines. Entries for the 2026 award opened on 7 September and will close on 18 September.
Laneway Festival was the inaugural winner of the Best Music Festival award in 2025. The Melbourne‑based event, which has expanded to five Australian cities and two New Zealand locations, has built a reputation for showcasing emerging and established Australian talent. Other major Australian festivals were nominated in the first year, underscoring the breadth of the live‑music sector that the award seeks to honour.
The 2026 ARIA Awards will also celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ceremony. The event, organised by ARIA, has been held annually since 1987 and includes general, genre‑specific, fine‑arts, artisan and achievement awards. The 2026 ceremony will be presented in partnership with Spotify and broadcast on Network 10 and Paramount+. The partnership reflects ARIA’s ongoing effort to align with streaming platforms and broaden the reach of Australian music.
The return of the Best Music Festival category signals ARIA’s continued focus on the live‑music ecosystem. By setting clear eligibility rules that emphasise Australian representation and AFA membership, the award encourages festivals to invest in local talent and maintain industry standards. The award’s inclusion in the 2026 ceremony, alongside other high‑profile categories, highlights the importance of festivals in sustaining the Australian music economy.
In summary, the ARIA Awards will recognise the Best Music Festival for the second consecutive year, with eligibility tied to Australian headline acts, line‑up composition, and AFA membership. The award will be presented at the 40th‑anniversary ceremony on 18 November 2026 at Hordern Pavilion, in partnership with Spotify and broadcast on Network 10 and Paramount+. The decision reinforces ARIA’s commitment to supporting Australian festivals and the broader live‑music industry.
Eligibility for the award is defined by two main criteria. A festival must either feature an Australian headline act or have a line‑up that is at least 50 percent Australian. In addition, the event must be a member of the Australian Festival Association (AFA). The AFA is a peak industry body that represents festivals that have operated for at least three years, are ticketed and licensed to sell alcohol, have a capacity of 2,000 patrons or more, and comply with best‑practice guidelines. Entries for the 2026 award opened on 7 September and will close on 18 September.
Laneway Festival was the inaugural winner of the Best Music Festival award in 2025. The Melbourne‑based event, which has expanded to five Australian cities and two New Zealand locations, has built a reputation for showcasing emerging and established Australian talent. Other major Australian festivals were nominated in the first year, underscoring the breadth of the live‑music sector that the award seeks to honour.
The 2026 ARIA Awards will also celebrate the 40th anniversary of the ceremony. The event, organised by ARIA, has been held annually since 1987 and includes general, genre‑specific, fine‑arts, artisan and achievement awards. The 2026 ceremony will be presented in partnership with Spotify and broadcast on Network 10 and Paramount+. The partnership reflects ARIA’s ongoing effort to align with streaming platforms and broaden the reach of Australian music.
The return of the Best Music Festival category signals ARIA’s continued focus on the live‑music ecosystem. By setting clear eligibility rules that emphasise Australian representation and AFA membership, the award encourages festivals to invest in local talent and maintain industry standards. The award’s inclusion in the 2026 ceremony, alongside other high‑profile categories, highlights the importance of festivals in sustaining the Australian music economy.
In summary, the ARIA Awards will recognise the Best Music Festival for the second consecutive year, with eligibility tied to Australian headline acts, line‑up composition, and AFA membership. The award will be presented at the 40th‑anniversary ceremony on 18 November 2026 at Hordern Pavilion, in partnership with Spotify and broadcast on Network 10 and Paramount+. The decision reinforces ARIA’s commitment to supporting Australian festivals and the broader live‑music industry.