The finalists for the 2026 NSW Music Prize have been revealed today, with Keli Holiday, DON WEST and Ninajirachi among those in contention for Australia's most lucrative prize pool.
Now in its second year, the prize was inaugurated by the Minns Labor Government to help inspire the next wave of artists in NSW, which until last year was the only state without a dedicated music prize.
Local artists have been under increasing pressure due to cost-of-living pressures and the dominance of overseas artists on streaming platforms. This prize is designed to give them recognition, and momentum.
The prize pool is offered across three categories: NSW Music Prize for the NSW artist or act whose release has had the most significant impact, NSW First Nations Music Prize for the NSW-based Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander artist or act whose release has had significant and meaningful impact, and NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year for an emerging NSW artist or act who has had a groundbreaking year.
The finalists for the 2026 NSW Music Prize are:
NSW Music Prize ($80,000)
- BOY SODA - SOULSTAR
- DON WEST - GIVE ME ALL YOUR LOVE
- Esha Tewari - What Makes A Girl A Girl
- Keli Holiday - Capital Fiction
- MAY-A - Goodbye (If You Can Call That Gone)
- Ninajirachi - I Love My Computer
- Parcels - LOVED
- SPEED - ALL MY ANGELS
- The Rions - Everything Every Single Day
- ZIPPORAH - Naungu Urui
NSW First Nations Music Prize ($40,000)
- 3% - These Days, Running Through My Head, Our Greats
- KYARNA - Lost Soul Love Letters
- ROX LAVI - Blah Blah about the Blah
- THOM - Everything That Hurts Is Human
- Velvet Trip - Glimmers Continued
NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year ($40,000)
- BOY SODA
- Esha Tewari
- Keli Holiday
- RAGEFLOWER
- Velvet Trip
Finalists were selected by expert Nominations Committees made up of artists and industry leaders across the spectrum of music publishing, artist management, media and broadcasting, academia and cultural advocates, reflecting the depth and breadth of NSW's music sector.
The winners of the NSW Music Prize and the NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year will be decided by a five-person judging panel and the winner of the NSW First Nations Music Prize will be decided by a three-person First Nations Judging Panel.
All winners will be announced at a formal ceremony at the Museum of Contemporary Art's Foundation Hall in Sydney on Monday 9 November, kicking off Ausmusic Month.
Last year's inaugural NSW Music Prize was won by SPEED for their album Only One Mode, the NSW First Nations Music Prize went to BARKAA for her EP Big Tidda and the NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year was awarded to Ninajirachi.
For more information on the NSW Music Prize head to the Sound NSW website.
Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:
"Congratulations to all of finalists, this is recognition of your creativity and hard work.
"AC/DC were right when they said it's a long way to the top. This prize is about helping our artists stay the course and become the next big NSW icons.
"Our musicians have been under so much pressure since the pandemic. If we lose them, we lose our local sound with it. That's why we're backing them with targeted support and celebrating them with this prize."
Head of Sound NSW Emily Collins said:
"All these artists are shaping the sound of contemporary Australia and showcasing the incredible creativity that exists across our state. From emerging talent making their mark to established acts reaching new heights, the NSW Music Prize celebrates the people and stories that make our music industry so special.
"The calibre of this year's finalists is exceptional. One of the most rewarding things to see in only the second year of the NSW Music Prize is artists who were recognised in our Breakthrough Artist category last year now being shortlisted for the NSW Music Prize itself. It's a powerful reflection of the depth of talent in NSW and the role the Prize can play in championing artists at every stage of their careers."
BOY SODA said:
"It's always such an honour to be recognised for the music I make. One never knows how your creative endeavours will be received so to have any recognition in this manner is so reaffirming and certainly something I don't take for granted."
Keli Holiday said:
"New South Wales is where my love for music blossomed to the full blown garden of infatuation it is now. Thanks to Sydney's night life and culture I've felt encouraged and inspired to keep creating and sharing ideas from this beautiful city. With that said it truly is beyond an honour to be considered for the Sound NSW music prize."
RAGEFLOWER said:
"To be nominated for NSW Breakthrough Artist of The Year means the world to me. As an artist who released their first body of work just over a year ago, I feel exceptionally blessed to have found an audience in such a short amount of time. As a woman in her early 30s, the idea of "breaking through" has often felt like an impossible feat for me, something that I was told should have happened before 25, and so I feel immensely proud and grateful to be recognised by the industry and by the NSW government in such a profound way. I am hopeful for the future of my own music career, for music in NSW and honoured to be nominated for this award."
ZIPPORAH said:
"Naungu Urui is a project I have dreamed of for years. Seeing it embraced so deeply means the world to me. Being recognized as a NSW finalist is a milestone I share entirely with my community and early supporters. I am incredibly grateful, and I am just getting started."
