ARIA Award nominations 2025: Ninajirachi, Dom Dolla, Amyl & The Sniffers lead the pack

Nominations for the 39th annual ARIA Awards have been revealed, with a host of Australian musicians and artists in the running to take home a pointy trophy. 

With 29 categories spanning multiple genres and disciplines, it once again reflects the strength and diversity of the local industry over the past year. 

Who’s got the most ARIA nominations?

Leading the nominees, with a whopping eight nods, is Central Coast producer Ninajirachi. Her debut album I Love My Computer is vying in major categories like Album of the Year, Best Solo Artist, Best Independent and Electronic Release. 

A two-time triple j Unearthed High finalist, Nina Wilson has been making music since she was 12 years old. She brands her sound as "girl EDM"— a playful update on the 2010s electronic dance music genre dominated by men. 

We hailed I Love My Computer as an "instant classic that rewires nostalgia into a deliriously fun, addictive, innovative rush of rave-ready electro-pop". 

Just behind Ninajirachi is Dom Dolla, with seven nominations. An ARIA favourite, the globally revered DJ and producer is in the running for Best Solo Artist, Best Australian Live Act, Best Video, Song of the Year, Best Engineer and Producer, and is the one to beat for Best Dance/Electronic Release – the category he’s conquered three times before.

Amyl and the Sniffers have six nominations, making a strong return to the ARIAs from the Melbourne pub-punks. After taking two ARIA wins in 2022, the enigmatic, electric band have torn across the globe including performances at Glastonbury, Coachella and Reading & Leeds festivals.

With their third album Cartoon Darkness under their belts, Amyl and The Sniffers have now matched their previous ARIAs nominations record. This year they’re vying to take home the pointy award for Best Australian Live Act, Best Group, Best Rock Album, Best Video, Best Video, Best Cover Art and the coveted Album of the Year.

Who else is hoping for ARIAs glory?

Next up, each securing five nominations, is Hilltop Hoods and Thelma Plum. 

The former trailblazing Adelaide hip hop trio are contenders for Best Group, Best Australian Live Act and Best Hip Hop/Rap Release for their chart-topping ninth album Fall From The Light, looking to add to their 10 previous ARIA trophies.

Gamilaraay singer-songwriter Thelma Plum is competing for Best Solo Artist, Album of the Year, and Best Pop Release behind second album I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back. She’s only won one ARIA previously: Best Cover Art back in 2019.

It’s a four-way tie for those in competition to take home four ARIA awards each. Vibe-setting electronic trio RÜFÜS DU SOL (who will be in town on their huge homecoming tour), beloved songwriter (and #4 in the Hottest 100 of Australian Songs), Missy Higgins, Like A Version-dominating duo Royel Otis, and Folk Bitch Trio, an emerging group known for their breathtaking vocal harmonies.

Squaring off in the newly minted Best Music Festival category is Dylan Alcott’s all-inclusive Ability Fest; Victorian NYE event Beyond the Valley; NSW coastal favourites Yours and Owls and controversial Bluesfest, plus, summer touring staple Laneway Festival (fresh from dropping a 2026 line-up topped by Chappell Roan).

Australian rock and roll luminaries You Am I are being inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining icons including Yothu Yindi, Kylie Minogue, John Farnham and last year’s inductee Missy Higgins.

"We are bemused, flattered and surprised to be asked to sit at the parents’ table," frontman Tim Rogers joked of the induction.

The winners will be revealed on Wednesday, November 19 at the ARIA Awards ceremony, hosted at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Gadigal Land.

2025 ARIA Awards Nominees

Album of the Year

Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group]

Missy Higgins – The Second Act [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]

Thelma Plum – I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back [Warner Music Australasia]

Best Solo Artist

BARKAA – Big Tidda [Big Apples Music / Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Dom Dolla – DREAMIN’ [Good Fortune Records]

Kylie Minogue – Tension II [Mushroom Music]

Mallrat – Light hit my face like a straight right [Dew Process / Universal Music Australia]

Missy Higgins – The Second Act [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Paul Kelly – Fever Longing Still [EMI Music Australia]

The Kid LAROI – How Does It Feel? [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Thelma Plum – I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back [Warner Music Australasia]

Young Franco – it's Franky baby! [Neon Records]

Best Group

Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group]

Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]

Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Royel Otis – hickey [Ourness / Capitol Records]

RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]

Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist 

Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]

Gut Health – Stiletto [AWAL Recordings]

Mia Wray – Hi, It’s Nice To Meet Me [Mushroom Music]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Young Franco – it's Franky baby! [Neon Records]

Best Pop Release

G Flip – Disco Cowgirl [AWAL Recordings]

Kita Alexander – Press Pause [Warner Music Australasia]

Kylie Minogue – Tension II [Mushroom Music]

Mallrat – Light hit my face like a straight right [Dew Process / Universal Music Australia]

Thelma Plum – I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back [Warner Music Australasia]

Best Dance / Electronic Release

Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA) [I OH YOU / Mushroom Music]

Dom Dolla – DREAMIN' [Good Fortune Records]

FISHER – Stay [etcetc Music Pty Ltd]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Sonny Fodera, D.O.D & Jazzy – Somedays [Solotoka / ADA]

Best Hip Hop / Rap Release

BARKAA – Big Tidda [Big Apples Music / Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Miss Kaninna – Kaninna EP [Soul Has No Tempo]

ONEFOUR – Look At Me Now [ONEFOUR Records / The Orchard]

The Kid LAROI – Baby I’m Back [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Best Soul / R&B Release

BOY SODA – Lil Obsession [Warner Music Australasia]

JACOTÉNE - Why’d You Do That? [Epic Records / Sony Music]

Jerome Farah – CHLORINE [Sony Music]

Larissa Lambert – Cardio [New Levels / Virgin Music Group]

PANIA – Pity Party [Warner Music Australasia / Say Less]

Best Independent Release

Ball Park Music – Like Love [Prawn Records / Inertia Music]

Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA) [I OH YOU / Mushroom Music]

Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]

Miss Kaninna – Kaninna EP [Soul Has No Tempo]

Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Best Rock Album

Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group]

Ball Park Music – Like Love [Prawn Records / Inertia Music]

King Stingray – For The Dreams [Civilians / The Orchard]

Royel Otis – hickey [Ourness / Capitol Records]

Spacey Jane – If That Makes Sense [AWAL Recordings]

Best Adult Contemporary Album

Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time [Jagjaguwar]

Gordi – Like Plasticine [Mushroom Music]

Meg Washington – GEM [OriGiN Distribution / ADA]

Missy Higgins – The Second Act [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia]

Paul Kelly – Fever Longing Still [EMI Music Australia]

Best Country Album

Dylan Wright – Half a World Away [Sony Music]

Imogen Clark – Choking on Fuel [Potts Entertainment / MGM]

Kasey Chambers – Backbone [Essence Music Group / MGM]

Keith Urban – High [CAPITOL – NASHVILLE / EMI Music Australia]

Taylor Moss – Firecracker [Taylor Moss / Ditto Music]

Best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Album

Civic – Chrome Dipped [ATO Records / Inertia Music]

Press Club – To All The Ones I Love [Inertia Music]

RedHook – Mutation [RedHook Records]

The Amity Affliction – Let The Ocean Take Me Down (Redux) [GYROstream]

Thornhill – Bodies [UNFD / Community Music]

Best Blues & Roots Album

Dope Lemon – Golden Wolf [BMG]

Mama Kin Spender – Promises [Mama Kin Spender / MGM]

Sons Of The East – SONS [Sons Of The East Music / MGM]

Tash Sultana – Return to the Roots [Lonely Lands Records via Sony Music]

The Teskey Brothers – Live At The Hammersmith Apollo [Mushroom Music]

Best Children’s Album

Emma Memma – Dance Island Party [GYROstream]

Justine Clarke – Mimi's Symphony [ABC Music / The Orchard]

Teeny Tiny Stevies – Brain Fart [Love Your Records / Xelon]

The Vegetable Plot – Season Three [ABC Music / The Orchard]

The Wiggles – Wiggle Up, Giddy Up! [ABC Music / The Orchard]

Best Music Festival

Ability Fest – Dylan Alcott Foundation + Untitled Group

Beyond The Valley – Untitled Group / Beyond The Valley Music Festival

Bluesfest Byron Bay – Bluesfest Byron Bay

Laneway Festival – St Jerome’s Laneway / Laneway Festival

Yours and Owls Festival – Yours and Owls

Public Voted Awards

Best Video

Break My Love - RÜFÜS DU SOL, Alexander George (Katzki) [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]

Craters – Missy Higgins, Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore [Eleven Music / EMI Music Australia]

Lordy Lordy – Emily Wurramara, Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore [ABC Music / The Orchard]

All The Noise – Spacey Jane, Dan Lesser [AWAL Recordings]

Car – Royel Otis, Jamieson Kerr [Ourness / Capitol Records]

Big Dreams – Amyl and The Sniffers, John Stewart [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music Group]

Dreamin - Dom Dolla, Kyle Caulfield & Shevin Dissanayake [Good Fortune Records]

Don’t Happy, Be Worry – Hilltop Hoods, Roman Anastasios and Jordan Ruyi Blanch [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Dancing2 – Keli Holiday, Ryan Sauer [Keli Holiday / GYROstream]

WASSA – VV Pete, UTILITY, Formation Boyz, UTILITY [Trackwork]

Best Australian Live Act

Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness World Tour

Ball Park Music – Like Love Tour

BARKAA – BIG TIDDA TOUR [Jackson Street & Bad Apples Music]

Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA) Tour [I OH YOU]

Dom Dolla – Dom Dolla Australia 2024 [Untitled Group]

Hilltop Hoods – Hilltop Hoods 2025

Kylie Minogue – Tension Tour 2025

Miss Kaninna – Dawg In Me Tour [Astral People]

SPEED – SPEED Australia Tour ‘25

Troye Sivan – Something To Give Each Other Tour [Live Nation]

Song of the Year

Cyril, Maryjo – Still Into You [Warner Music Australasia / Spinnin Records]

Dean Lewis – With You [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Dom Dolla Feat. Daya – Dreamin [Good Fortune Records]

FISHER – Stay [etcetc Music Pty Ltd]

Gotye, FISHER, Chris Lake Feat. Kimbra, Sante Sansone – Somebody [Eleven: A Music Company / EMI Music Australia]

ONEFOUR, Nemzzz – Spinnin [ONEFOUR RECORDS / THE ORCHARD]

Royel Otis – Linger (SiriusXM Session) [Ourness]

Sonny Fodera, D.O.D & Jazzy – Somedays [Solotoko / ADA]

The Kid LAROI – Girls [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Tobiahs – Angel of Mine [Mushroom Music]

Most Popular International Artist

Alex Warren – You'll Be Alright Kid [Atlantic Records / Warner Music Australasia]

Calvin Harris – 96 Months [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Gracie Abrams – The Secret of Us [Interscope / Universal Music Australia]

Kendrick Lamar – GNX [Interscope / Universal Music Australia]

Noah Kahan – Stick Season [Republic Records / Universal Music Australia]

Post Malone – F-1Trillion [Republic Records / Universal Music Australia]

Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet [Island Records USA / Universal Music Australia]

Tate McRae – So Close To What [RCA Records / Universal Music Australia]

Taylor Swift – [Republic Records / Universal Music Australia]

Tyler, The Creator – Chromakopia [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Artisan Awards

Best Cover Art

Giulia McGauran for The Cat Empire – Bird in Paradise [BMG]

John Stewart for Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness [Amyl and The Sniffers / Virgin Music

Group]

Kira Puru, Em Jensen for Thelma Plum – I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back [Waner Music Australasia]

Nina Wilson, John You, Aria Zarzycki for Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Sarah McCloskey for Hilltop Hoods – Fall From The Light [Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia]

Engineer - Best Engineered Release

Alice Ivy for Alice Ivy – Do What Makes You Happy [Kewpie Mayo Records / Independent]

Dom Dolla for Dom Dolla – DREAMIN' [Good Fortune Records]

Eric J Dubowsky for Emma Louise & Flume – DUMB [Three Six Zero Recordings / ADA]

Kevin Parker for Tame Impala – End of Summer [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Thomas Purcell p/k/a Wave Racer for Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

Producer – Best Produced Release

Alex Burnett for Thelma Plum - I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back [Waner Music Australasia]

Dom Dolla for Dom Dolla – Dreamin [Good Fortune Records]

Kevin Parker for Tame Impala – End of Summer [Columbia Records / Sony Music]

Nina Wilson p/k/a Ninajirachi for Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer [NLV Records]

RÜFÜS DU SOL for RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale [Rose Avenue Records / Warner Music Australasia]

Fine Arts Awards

Best Classical Album

Andrea Lam – Piano Diary [ABC Classic / The Orchard]

Australian Chamber Orchestra / Richard Tognetti – Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings and Andante

Cantabile / Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony in C minor [ABC Classic / The Orchard]

Nat Bartsch – Forever Changed [Amica Records]

Simone Young & Sydney Symphony Orchestra – Mahler: Symphony No.2; Barton: Of The Earth

[Deutsche Grammophon Australia / Universal Music]

Sophie Hutchings – Become The Sky [Universal Music Australia / Mercury KX]

Best Jazz Album

Evans Robson Quartet – Zenith [Lamplight Records]

Lachlan McKenzie – Departures [ABC Jazz / The Orchard]

Lucy Clifford – Between Spaces of Knowing [ABC Jazz / The Orchard]

TL; DR & Peter Knight – Too Long; Didn’t Read [Earshift Music / The Planet Company-MGM]

Touch Sensitive – In Paradise [Future Classic]

Best Original Soundtrack or Musical Theatre Cast Album

Australian Chamber Orchestra – Memoir of a Snail (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) [ABC Classic / The Orchard]

François Tétaz - The Surfer [Impressed Recordings / Rubber Music Pty Ltd]

Michael Cassel Group – Michael Cassel Group Presents A (Very) Musical Christmas [The Orchard]

Various Artists – How To Make Gravy [Origin Recordings]

Vidya Makan – The Lucky Country (Original Cast Album) [ORiGiN Distribution / ADA]

Best World Music Album

Electric Fields, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – Live In Concert [ABC Music / The Orchard]

Gurrumul – Banbirrngu – The Orchestral Sessions [Decca Australia & Skinnyfish / UMA]

Joseph Tawadros – The Forgotten Path To Humanity [Independent / The Planet Company]

Tenzin Choegyal – Snow Flower [Warner Music Australasia / Rainbow Valley Records]

The Cat Empire – Bird in Paradise [BMG]

Our Soundtrack Our Ads

Best Use of an Australian Recording in an Advertisement

Fox League 2025: Our Greats – Fox Sports Australia, 3%

Menulog: What’s Good in Your Hood – Thinkerbell, Bliss n Eso

Paramount+ Australia: Ballad of the GOATS – Paramount+ Australia, Briggs

Tooheys: I Feel Like a Tooheys – Thinkerbell, Dune Rats

Tourism & Events Queensland: That Holiday Feeling – Publicis Worldwide, Kita Alexander