The 2026 Art Music Awards will head to Melbourne’s The Timber Yard on 19 August, co-presenters APRA AMCOS and the Australian Music Centre have announced today.

Hosted by arts journalist and broadcaster Namila Benson, the ceremony will also feature guest presenters composer Connor D’Netto and pianist Aura Go with a string of performances curated by Canberra-based composer-performer Sia Ahmad.

Namila Benson, Connor D’Netto, Sia Ahmad and Aura Go. Photos supplied

The Awards celebrate the accomplishments of the Australian art music community across the fields of contemporary classical music, jazz, improvised music, sound art and experimental practice. Across 16 categories, the awards recognise outstanding compositions and performances, as well as the contributions of organisations and individuals in national and state-based Luminary Awards.

2026 also marks the centenary of APRA AMCOS; CEO Dean Ormston said that the company was “proud to recognise and support Australia’s art music community and look forward to celebrating with them in our 100th year.”

The Richard Gill Award for Distinguished Services to Australian Music will be announced prior to the ceremony. The award honours an outstanding figure or organisation who has made a sustained and impactful contribution to Australian music. Previous winners include joint recipients Jon Rose and Hollis Taylor, William Barton and Lyn Williams.

“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,” said Australian Music Centre CEO Catherine Haridy.

“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.”

More about the 2026 Art Music Awards can be found here.