APRA AMCOS has revealed the Top 25 tracks in the 2026 Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year, pulling from different genres and artists across the country for songs released last year.
The songs have been nominated by thousands of APRA members ahead of this year’s APRA Music Awards, taking place at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday, 29 April. The 2026 award ceremony coincides with APRA’s 100th anniversary milestone and marks the event’s biggest year to date.
For the centenary year, APRA received the highest number of votes in its history, with members voting for hits such as Genesis Owusu’s PIRATE RADIO, Amyl And The Sniffers’ Jerkin’, Keli Holiday’s Dancing2, Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers’ BALCONY and many others.
Last year, Amyl And The Sniffers took home the coveted Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year for U Should Not Be Doing That.
The 2026 shortlist also features Paul Kelly’s sequel to How To Make Gravy, Rita Wrote A Letter, Ninajirachi’s iPod Touch, King Stingray’s Light Up The Path, and Tame Impala with two songs—End Of Summer and Loser.
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Coming into 2026 with a bang, the 2026 list features over 40 debutant shortlisted artists, including Ninajirachi, Playlunch’s Liam Bell, Ecca Vandal, Emily Wurramara, Folk Bitch Trio, and Ocean Alley.
To celebrate this year’s shortlisted artists, a playlist starring the Top 25 is now available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music.
The final five nominees for this year’s Peer-Voted Song of the Year, plus all genre category nominees, will be revealed on Tuesday, 31 March. Winners across all categories will be announced at this year’s award ceremony on Wednesday, 29 April. Head here to find out more about this year’s APRA Music Awards.
2026 Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year Top 25:
Title: Adore Me
Artist: Emily Wurramara
Written by: Emily Wurramara* / Caiti Baker
Published by: Mushroom Music Publishing*
Title: BALCONY
Artist: Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers
Written by: Scarlett McKahey / Anna Ryan / Jaida Stephenson / Neve van Boxsel / Charles Hole* / Harry O’Brien^
Published by: Warner Chappell Music / ORiGiN Music Publishing* / BMG^
Title: Beautiful People
Artist: David Guetta & Sia
Written by: Sia Furler / David Guetta* / Mikkel Eriksen / Tor Erik Hermansen / Timofey Reznikov
Published by: Sony Music Publishing / Peermusic*
Title: Bird in Paradise
Artist: The Cat Empire
Written by: Grace Barb’e / Ross Irwin / Oliver McGill / Lazaro Numa / Felix Riebl* / Richard Tedesco
Published by: BMG*
Title: Cathode Ray
Artist: Folk Bitch Trio
Written by: Heide Peverelle / Jeanie Pilkington / Grace Sinclair
Published by: Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: Coming Home
Artist: Liz Stringer
Written by: Liz Stringer
Title: CRUISING TO SELF SOOTHE
Artist: Ecca Vandal
Written by: Ecca Vandal / Richard Buxton
Published by: Universal Music Publishing
Title: Dancing2
Artist: Keli Holiday
Written by: Adam Hyde* / Alex Cameron^ / Konstantin Kersting
Published by: BMG* / Sony Music Publishing^
Title: End of Summer
Artist: Tame Impala
Written by: Kevin Parker
Published by: Sony Music Publishing
Title: Goon Show
Artist: Tropical Fuck Storm
Written by: Erica Dunn / Lauren Hammel / Fiona Kitschin / Gareth Liddiard
Published by: Gaga Music
Title: Hey You
Artist: The Belair Lip Bombs
Written by: Michael Bradvica / Daniel Devlin / James Droughton / Maisie Everett
Published by: Concord Music Publishing ANZ
Title: iPod Touch
Artist: Ninajirachi
Written by: Nina Wilson* / Darcy Baylis
Published by: Sony Music Publishing*
Title: Jerkin’
Artist: Amyl and The Sniffers
Written by: Declan Mehrtens / Amy Taylor / Bryce Wilson
Title: Keith
Artist: Playlunch
Written by: Liam Bell
Title: Light Up The Path
Artist: King Stingray
Written by: Theo Dimathaya Burarrwanga / Cameron Yimila Burarrwanga / Roy Kellaway* / Campbell Messer / Lewis Stiles / Yirrŋa Gotjiringu Yunupingu
Published by: Sony Music Publishing*
Title: Like Love
Artist: Ball Park Music
Written by: Sam Cromack
Published by: Sony Music Publishing
Title: Lil’ Obsession
Artist: BOY SODA
Written by: Brae Luafalealo* / Nikodimos Nick Millman Paleologoudias / Finbar Stuart
Published by: Sony Music Publishing*
Title: Loser
Artist: Tame Impala
Written by: Kevin Parker
Published by: Sony Music Publishing
Title: Never Coming Home
Artist: Hilltop Hoods (feat. SIX60)
Written by: Barry Francis (DJ Debris)* / Matthew Lambert (Suffa)* / Daniel Smith (MC Pressure)* / Andrew Burford / Marlon Gerbes^ / Chris Mac^ / Matiu Walters^
Published by: Sony Music Publishing* / Kobalt Music Publishing^
Title: Phantom Island
Artist: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
Written by: Michael Cavanagh / Nicholas Craig / Lucas Harwood / Ambrose Kenny-Smith / Stu Mackenzie / Joey Walker
Published by: Kobalt Music Publishing
Title: PIRATE RADIO
Artist: Genesis Owusu
Written by: Genesis Owusu / Dann Hume*
Published by: Kobalt Music Publishing obo Ourness Songs / Sony Music Publishing*
Title: Rita Wrote A Letter
Artist: Paul Kelly
Written by: Paul Kelly / Dan Kelly
Published by: Sony Music Publishing
Title: Tangerine
Artist: Ocean Alley
Written by: Nicholas Blom / Baden Donegal / Lachlan Galbraith / Angus Goodwin / Tom O’Brien/ Mitchell Galbraith
Published by: Warner Chappell Music
Title: Thick Skin
Artist: Baker Boy (feat. Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Kee’ahn & Jada Weazel)
Written by: Danzal Baker / Rob Amoruso* / Kee’ahn Bindol / Emma Donovan / Thelma Plum / Pip Norman* / Jada Weazel
Published by: Mushroom Music Publishing*
Title: While I Got Time
Artist: Jessica Mauboy
Written by: Jessica Mauboy / PJ Harding
Published by: Universal Music Publishing
