Genesis Owusu ProfileIt’s the 21st year of the decorated J Awards from triple j, where Australian music and directors are celebrated for their outstanding achievements for the year.
With five major categories in 2026, the J Awards saw nominees across: Australian Album of the Year; Unearthed Artist of the Year; Australian Live Act of the Year; Australian Music Video of the Year; and Australian Double J Artist of the Year.
Here’s who took the top spots for each category this afternoon.
Unearthed Artist of the Year – swapmeet
Hailing from Adelaide, grunge rockers swapmeet have taken out Unearthed Artist of the Year. The four-piece love to get experimental, adding influences of shoegaze and alt-rock elements to their sound.
Having played Against The Grain Festival earlier this year and having secured spots on the line-up for Laneway Festival and Golden Plains 2027, they beat out other nominees such as DEVAURA, Kayps, Public Figures and The Tullamarines.
Swapmeet are going global with tour dates right across the world and have deservedly been awarded the Unearthed Artist of the Year.
RAGE Australian Music Video of the Year Award – Genesis Owusu
STAMPEDE gets hotly intense as director Isaac Brown and Genesis Owusu team up.
Owusu takes the audience for a wild ride that is truly unforgettable, bold and daring, landing the RAGE Australian Music Video of the Year Award edging out competitors Drifting Clouds, Elektronik Girl Epic, Julia Jacklin and Miss Kaninna.
Double J Australian Artist of the Year – Vika & Linda
The Double J Australian Artist of the Year award celebrates outstanding releases, live performances and contributions both to the culture and arts landscape as well as to the Double J community, which firmly lands in the lap of Vika & Linda in 2026.
The siblings are already ARIA Hall of Famers. With nine studio albums and a massive tour in 2026 alone, this was their award to win.
Other nominees included: The Avalanches, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Mulga Bore Hard Rock and Rowena Wise.
Australian Live Act of the Year – Ninajirachi
There is nothing quite like being blown away by a live and entertaining spectacle, and that is exactly why the Australian Live Act of the Year award has landed with Ninajirachi.
This EDM star took I Love My Computer on the road and hit a chord with fans hard across the nation. This show took audiences and fans alike through the whirlwind changes of the internet, from its more innocent frontier days to the information overload that it has become, and that was defiantly expressed visually and emotively throughout her tour.
Other contenders for the Australian Live Act of the Year also included: Ecca Vandal, Genesis Owusu, Miss Kaninna and Tame Impala.
Album of the Year – Genesis Owusu
Possibly one of the most decorated awards one can receive at the J Awards, the Album of the Year has been announced as REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE by Genesis Owusu.
His third album leans in hard, targeting politicians and billionaires alike as they burn the world down and we are left with the absurdities that the algorithm then churns out back at us in our confusion to find meaning in a world of over-information.
This isn’t a vision of nihilism, though, but one of optimism that we as a society can rally against the forces of evil and come out better, more hopeful and together. Now that is a message worthy of award in 2026.
Other nominees included: Bugs, Ecca Vandal, Julia Jacklin, Kayps, Nerve, South Summit, swapmeet, Sycco and Troye Sivan.
