National Indigenous Music Awards 2026
Edition of Australian music awards
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The 23rd National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAS) took place on 8 August 2026. Nominations were announced on 10 July 2026 during NAIDOC Week.[2]
Date8 August 2026
VenueDarwin Amphitheatre, Northern Territory, Australia
MostnominationsBaker Boy, Birdz and Fred Leone (4)
| National Indigenous Music Awards 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Date | 8 August 2026 |
| Venue | Darwin Amphitheatre, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Most wins | Baker Boy (3)[1] |
| Most nominations | Baker Boy, Birdz and Fred Leone (4) |
| Website | nima |
Performers
Performers at the event included[1]:
- Baker Boy
- Big Noter
- Bumpy
- Casii Williams
- Electric Fields
- Stiff Gins
- Zipporah
Hall of Fame inductee
- Marlene Cummins, a Guguyelandji and Woppaburra woman and a leading Indigenous female blues voice, broadcaster, activist, dancer and actress.[3]
- Saltwater Band, a reggae and ska-influenced pop group that sung mostly in Yolŋu languages. They were nominated for APRA Awards, ARIA Music Awards and won three National Indigenous Music Awards.[3]
Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Winner
- TooLa[4]
Awards
The nominations were revealed on 10 July 2026.[2] Winners indicated in boldface, with other nominees in plain.[1]
Artist of the Year
| Artist | Result |
|---|---|
| 3% | Nominated |
| Baker Boy | Nominated |
| Birdz and Fred Leone | Won |
| Bumpy | Nominated |
| Jem Cassar-Daley | Nominated |
| Miss Kaninna | Nominated |
| South Summit | Nominated |
Best New Talent of the Year
| Artist | Result |
|---|---|
| Drifting Clouds | Won |
| Inkabee | Nominated |
| Jet Cameron | Nominated |
| Say True God | Nominated |
| Voices of Resistance | Nominated |
| Zipporah | Nominated |
Album of the Year
| Artist and album | Result |
|---|---|
| Baker Boy - Djandjay | Won |
| Birdz & Fred Leone – Gira | Nominated |
| Say True God? – Blak | Nominated |
| Emma Donovan – Take Me to the River | Nominated |
| Stiff Gins – Crossroads | Nominated |
| Trials – Hendle | Nominated |
Film Clip of the Year
| Artist and song | Result |
|---|---|
| 3% – "Our Greats" | Nominated |
| Baker Boy (featuring Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Kee'Ahn & Jada Weazel) – "Thick Skin" | Won |
| Birdz & Fred Leone – "Wanya Nyin Yanmanj" | Nominated |
| Drifting Clouds – "Bawuypawuy" | Nominated |
| Kobie Dee – "Aim for the Stars" | Nominated |
| South Summit – "Top of the Hill" | Nominated |
Song of the Year
| Artist and song | Result |
|---|---|
| Baker Boy (featuring Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Kee'Ahn & Jada Weazel) – "Thick Skin" | Won |
| Birdz & Fred Leone – "Wanya Nyin Yanmanj" | Nominated |
| Drifting Clouds – "Bawupawuy" | Nominated |
| Jem Cassar-Daley – "Front Left Pocket" | Nominated |
| Yung Maynie - "Always Was" | Nominated |
| Zipporah - "Some Typa Way" | Nominated |
Community Clip of the Year
| Artist and song | Result |
|---|---|
| Bulman School & Community – "Lok Los Mah Burarr (Lizard & Goanna)" | Nominated |
| Geraldton - "(Barndi Yarraly) Vaping is Vicious – Not Delicious" | Nominated |
| K2 the B and CJR – "Barunga" | Nominated |
| Mossman Gorge – "Yundu Bama Yalada" | Nominated |
| Mossman Mob - "Still Believing" | Nominated |
| Northern Peninsula Area (NPA) - "All the Way from the NPA" | Won |
| Wujal Wujal - "Rainforest to the Sea" | Nominated |