ARIA Introduces 'Best Music Festival' Award

A new award will be presented at this year’s ARIA Awards: the inaugural Best Music Festival award.

Supported by Tixel and developed closely with the Australian Festival Association, the award will acknowledge festivals that transform the careers of local artists by connecting them with broader audiences at music festivals.

To be eligible, the music festival must have featured either an Australian headline act or a line-up that comprised at least 50% Australian artists within the eligibility period of 1 September 2024 - 31 August 2025. Festival organisers will nominate their events and the entries will be judged by the ARIA Voting Academy.

Entries are now open and close at 5 pm AEST on Monday, 18 August. There’s an entry fee of $400 (ex GST), and discounts will be available for not-for-profit festivals. The events must be members of the Australian Festival Association to be eligible for entry. You can enter here.

While no date for this year’s awards has been confirmed, the ARIA Awards usually take place in November and are held in Sydney.

In a statement, ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd described music festivals as “absolutely essential” to the broader music ecosystem in Australia, as they connect artists with new audiences and create new development opportunities.

Herd continued, “By introducing the ARIA Best Music Festival Award, we’re recognising those festivals that actively prioritise and champion Australian talent. Festivals shape our music culture, drive industry growth, and play a pivotal role in showcasing the diversity and strength of our local music community.”

Tixel CEO and co-founder, Zac Leigh, added: “There’s a huge swell of support for Aussie artists and we’re proud to back the ARIAs in recognising the Australian festivals that are helping our homegrown talent reach new fans and access career-making opportunities.

“Over half of Aussie event goers reported attending a music festival in the past year, and more than 70% still see them as a rite of passage for young Australians. Connecting more of our artists with this love of the festival experience is essential to sustain the Australian music ecosystem now and into the future.”

Australian Festival Association Managing Director, Olly Arkins, commented: “We are so excited that music festivals will be honoured at the Australian music industry’s night of nights. We’ve been proud to work with ARIA to bring this award to life.

“This award celebrates the role festivals play in launching careers, building culture and helping Australian music reach new audiences. Festivals are often the first big stage for emerging artists and remain one of the most powerful platforms for artist discovery in the country.”

Additional members of the Australian Festival Association also shared statements about the introduction of the Best Music Festival award.

Adelle Robinson, Chair of the Australian Festival Association and Managing Director of Fuzzy Operations (Listen Out, Field Day, Harbourlife), said, “This award is a huge win for the live sector and a great example of what can be achieved when different parts of the industry work together. Recognising the role festivals play in artist development is not just timely, it’s essential to shaping a stronger future for Australian music.”

Ryan Sabet, Board Member of the Australian Festival Association and Co-CEO of Kicks Entertainment (Spilt Milk, Harvest Rock) concluded, “Live music has always been pivotal to Australian culture, especially for young people – with festivals at the very heart of that experience.

“The introduction of this award recognises the vital role festivals play in shaping our national musical identity, while supporting not only the careers of Australian artists, but also the thousands of passionate people working behind the scenes to bring these events to life.”