The night also saw Jessica Mauboy inducted into the National Indigenous Music Awards Hall of Fame.
Emily Wurramara (Credit: Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore)
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.
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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.
3%
Emily Wurramara - WINNER
Jessica Mauboy
King Stingray
Emma Donovan
Radical Son
Birdz and Fred Leone
Andrew Gurruwiwi Band - WINNER
Drifting Clouds
Miss Kaninna
Ripple Effect Band
Tjaka
3% - KILL THE DEAD
Andrew Gurruwiwi Band - Sing Your Own Song
BARKAA - BIG TIDDA - WINNER
Emily Wurramara - NARA
King Stingray - For The Dreams
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
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
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