The 2025 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) took place in Larrakia Country tonight, taking over the Darwin Amphitheatre.

This year’s nominees traversed hip-hop, pop, rock, and soul. Emily Wurramara took home the coveted Artist of the Year award, with her music video for Lordy Lordy winning her a second award for Film Clip of the Year.

Andrew Gurruwiwi Band also enjoyed a big night, winning two awards: Best New Talent and Song of the Year for Once Upon a Time. Other winners throughout the evening included BARKAA, winning Album of the Year with BIG TIDDA, and Bulman School & Community won the Community Clip of the Year with Crocodile Style.

The evening also featured a stacked list of performers, offering tunes from across country, pop, hip-hop, and rock music genres.

Troy Cassar-Daley, Jessica Mauboy, Velvet Trip, Emma Donovan, BARKAA, Kankawa Nagarra, Drifting Clouds, and Kobie Dee performed throughout the night, while Eleanor Jawurlngali joined forces with Mick Turner of Dirty Three fame for a truly unique performance.

Jessica Mauboy didn’t just perform, but she was also inducted into the NIMAs Hall of Fame.

Mauboy’s induction into the Hall of Fame marked a moment that recognises her enduring career, influence on First Nations artists and communities, and her impact on the broader Australian music landscape.

A proud Kuku Yalanji and Wakaman woman, Mauboy has made a significant dent in the industry with six Top 10 charting albums, 16 Top 20 singles, and 31 ARIA Award nominations, making her one of the most-nominated artists in ARIA history.

In addition to having attendees at the award ceremony, the 2025 NIMAs were livestreamed on YouTube for the first time.

2025 NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MUSIC AWARDS

FULL LIST OF WINNERS:  

Artist of the Year presented by YouTube

3% 

Emily Wurramara - WINNER

Jessica Mauboy

King Stingray

Emma Donovan

Radical Son

Birdz and Fred Leone

Best New Talent

Andrew Gurruwiwi Band - WINNER

Drifting Clouds

Miss Kaninna

Ripple Effect Band

Tjaka

Album of the Year

3% - KILL THE DEAD

Andrew Gurruwiwi Band - Sing Your Own Song

BARKAA - BIG TIDDA - WINNER

Emily Wurramara - NARA

King Stingray - For The Dreams

Film Clip of the Year

3% - Won’t Stop ft. Jessica Mauboy

Andrew Gurruwiwi Band - Wata Mäwi

BARKAA - Ngamaka ft. Leroy Johnson

Emily Wurramara - Lordy Lordy - WINNER

King Stingray - Day Off

Radical Son - Bilambiyal

Community Clip of the Year

Bulman School & Community - Crocodile Style - WINNER

Bulman School & Community - My Story of Songline Mata

Bulman School & Community - Strong Bala Wei

Kalkaringi School - Gurindji Dream Big (Kuni-jungkarni)

Mapoon Community - Mapoon - Breathe In Breathe Out

Warmun Community - Turkey Creek

Song of the Year

3% - Won’t Stop ft. Jessica Mauboy

Andrew Gurruwiwi Band - Once Upon A Time - WINNER

BARKAA - Ngmaka ft. Leroy Johnson

Emily Wurramara - STFAFM

Jem Cassar-Daley - Kiss Me Like You’re Leaving

The Kid Laroi - GIRLS