The 2026 Countrytown Awards Nominees Revealed

Countrytown Awards

CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW AND WIN TICKETS TO CMC ROCKS 2026

After a massive inaugural year in 2025, the Countrytown Awards are back for 2026, this year presented by Chris Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey!

Voting is NOW OPEN across ten categories as we search for the year’s biggest achievers in country music, and YOU decide who receives the accolades.

The 2026 nominations are led by Hayley Jensen with a massive five nods, with James Johnston, Lane Pittman, Max Jackson, Wade Forster and The Wolfe Brothers hot on her heels with four each. 

First-time nominees include last years’ host Andrew Swift, Austin Mackay, Briana Dinsdale, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Fanny Lumsden, Jake Whittaker, Josie, KINGSWOOD, Lewis Love, Mack Geiger, Piper Butcher, The Pleasures, Sons of Atticus, Sweet Talk, Tom Curtain, Tori Darke, Travis Collins and Zac Cross Band.

On the festival front, The Bend Classic, Howlin’ Country and Strummingbird are making their nominations debut expanding the Countrytown Awards family in its second year. 

The Countrytown International award, given to the best international artist to have toured Australia in 2025 brings together Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, LeAnn Rimes, Luke Combs, Max McNown, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey and Tyler Childers, showing the epic talent we had down under last year. 

Finalists for the big day will be announced on March 16 before the exclusive awards lunch on March 19 in Brisbane with Australia’s biggest artists and industry celebrating a big year.

And YOU can win your way to the awards to rub shoulders with the stars by voting right here on Countrytown. Not only will your votes impact your favourite artists, but you’ll go into the draw to win a double pass to CMC Rocks QLD this March.

Last year’s awards were massive, with James Johnston taking away the big one, Entertainer of the Year and John Williamson receiving the inaugural ‘Legend’ award, with the trophy presented by his good mate Lee Kernaghan.

With fans and industry kicking around with attendees including fellow winners Kaylee Bell, The Wolfe Brothers, Lane Pittman and performers including Johnston, Kashus Culpepper, Homegrown Trio, Tori Forsyth and many more, the afternoon cemented the Countrytown Awards as the year’s hottest and rarest ticket. 

Voting is now open at countrytown.com/awards

2026 COUNTRYTOWN AWARDS NOMINEES

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Casey Barnes

Fanny Lumsden

Hayley Jensen

James Johnston

Kaylee Bell

Lane Pittman

Max Jackson

Taylor Moss

The Wolfe Brothers

Wade Forster

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Amber Lawrence

Amy Sheppard

Bella Mackenzie

Caitlyn Shadbolt

Hayley Jensen

Kaylee Bell

Max Jackson

Rachael Fahim

Sara Berki

Tori Darke

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Andrew Swift

Brad Cox

Casey Barnes

Dylan Wright

James Johnston

Keith Urban

Lane Pittman

Morgan Evans

Travis Collins

Wade Forster

GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR

The Buckleys

Homegrown Trio

KINGSWOOD

The Pleasures

Sweet Talk

Sons of Atticus

The Wet Whistles

The Wolfe Brothers

Zac & George

Zac Cross Band

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Abbie Ferris

Austin Mackay

Briana Dinsdale

Jake Whittaker

Josie

Lewis Love

Mack Geiger

Piper Butcher

Tyla Rodrigues

The Wet Whistles

SONG OF THE YEAR

Casey Barnes - ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES

Hayley Jensen - Country Soul

James Johnston - BACK IN THE DAY

Lane Pittman - Man I'm Turning Out To Be

Max Jackson - 1990 Somethin'

Rachael Fahim - Too Damn Hot

Sara Berki - Looks Like

Tori Darke - My Boots Made Me Do It

Tyla Rodrigues - Hot & Heavy

The Wolfe Brothers - Australian Made

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Amy Sheppard - Born To Be Country

Andrew Swift - Lucky Stars

Brad Cox - Endemic Intelligence in Multiple Dimensions

Hayley Jensen - Country Soul

James Johnston - WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME

Kaylee Bell - Cowboy Up

Tom Curtain - Here’s To You

Travis Collins - The Band Album

Wade Forster - Gooseneck Party

The Wolfe Brothers - Australian Made

INTERNATIONAL ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Chris Stapleton

Cody Johnson

Jelly Roll

Kelsea Ballerini

LeAnn Rimes

Luke Combs

Max McNown

Megan Moroney

Shaboozey

Tyler Childers

AUSTRALIAN TOUR OF THE YEAR

Hayley Jensen - Country Soul Tour

Kasey Chambers - Backbone Tour

Keith Urban - HIGH AND ALIVE World Tour

KINGSWOOD - The Midnight Mavericks Tour

Lane Pittman - Fresh Country Tour

Lee Kernaghan - Boys From The Bush The Concert Tour

Max Jackson - Little More Country Tour

Rachael Fahim - Dance Around It Tour

Sara Berki - Fool Me Twice Tour

Wade Forster - The Dying Breed Tour

FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR

The Bend Classic

CMC Rocks

Deni Ute Muster

Howlin’ Country

Groundwater Country Music Festival

Gympie Music Muster

Ridin’ Hearts

Savannah In The Round

Strummingbird

Tamworth Country Music Festival

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Voting is OPEN NOW and closes Saturday, February 28 at 5pm AEDT.

The 2026 Countrytown Awards

Presented by Traveller Whiskey

We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our Gold Industry partners - Island Records/Universal Music Australia, Live Nation, MGM Distribution, Sony Music Australia, Spotify, TEG Live, Warner Music Australia.

We also gratefully acknowledge our Silver Industry partners ABC Music, EMPRE, G.Y.R.O., Wheelhouse Agency

And finally, we’d like to extend our warmest thanks to CMC Rocks for their continued support.

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