NIMAs open 2026 nominations ahead of Darwin ceremony
Nominations are now open for the 22nd National Indigenous Music Awards, which will return to Garamilla / Darwin on Saturday, August 8. The ceremony will take place at the Darwin Amphitheatre, with tickets on sale this Friday.
The National Indigenous Music Awards are described as one of the key events on the national music calendar, recognising First Nations artists working across established, emerging and community music spaces.
Key Points
- NIMAs return to Garamilla / Darwin for their 22nd edition
- Ceremony set for Darwin Amphitheatre on Saturday, August 8
- Tickets for the event go on sale this Friday
- Nominations open across six national award categories
- Entries close on June 19, with submissions open now
- Event anchors a broader Top End arts and culture week
- Further announcements, including the line-up, due later this year
MusicNT Chairperson Catherine Satour said the platform remains central to celebrating and elevating Indigenous music and culture nationally.
“The National Indigenous Music Awards are a powerful celebration of First Nations music, culture and community,” she said.
The 2026 ceremony is set to feature live performances, awards presentations and cultural discussion. Organisers said First Nations music would again be placed at the centre of a broader program of arts and cultural events in the Top End throughout the week of the awards.
Categories and key dates
Nominations are open now across six categories:
- Artist of the Year
- Best New Talent
- Album of the Year
- Film Clip of the Year
- Community Clip of the Year
- Song of the Year
Recent NIMAs alumni include 2025 Hall of Fame inductee Jessica Mauboy, BARKAA and 3%. The awards have continued to highlight established artists while providing national visibility for new and community-driven music projects.
Part of Top End cultural week
The ceremony will take place during a broader week of arts and cultural programming in the Top End. The schedule includes the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards and the National Indigenous Fashion Awards, which will run between August 5 and 11. The NIMAs will sit within this timeframe, with the main event at the Darwin Amphitheatre on Saturday, August 8.
Satur said the return to Garamilla reflects the national standing of the awards and the role the city plays in hosting First Nations cultural showcases during the week.
“On behalf of MusicNT, we are proud to see the NIMAs return to Garramilla in 2026, shining a national spotlight on the talent and leadership of Indigenous artists across the country,” she said.
