A complete guide to the 2025 ARIA Awards nominees, including major categories, leading artists, and new award highlights.
Joseph18 November 20257 minutes to read
BlogMusicSingingARIA Awards Nominees 2025: Full List and Highlights
The ARIA Awards are back in 2025. They'll take place on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion. Ninjirachi leads the nominations with eight nominations. Dom Dolla has seven, and Amyl and The Sniffers have six. The Best Music Festival Award is new for 2025. Let's see who's up for an ARIA.
You'll find a range of genres, backgrounds, and approaches in this year's ARIA Award nominees. From emerging voices to nationally recognised icons, the 2025 lineup boasts a breadth of talent. We won't go through all the award categories, but here are the main ones.
Album of the Year
The album of the year category recognises the best full-length release of the year. Selection criteria include artistic cohesion, creative impact, recording quality, and cultural resonance. This year's list features diverse storytelling, bold production, and a strong connection with listeners. The nominees are:
Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer: A genre-blending electronic project that captures emotion and digital intimacy in bold new ways.
Amyl and The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness: A high-voltage punk-rock statement pushing the band's raw energy and social commentary further than before.
Missy Higgins – The Second Act: A reflective and deeply written album that revisits themes of identity, love, and growth.
RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale: A lush, atmospheric record balancing dance ambience with cinematic soundscapes.
Thelma Plum – I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back: A poetic, grounded, and powerful body of work rooted in storytelling and lived experience.
The ARIA Awards honour a range of musical styles. | Photo by Wes Hicks
Song of the Year
As the name suggests, Song of the Year is for the tracks that shaped the year's listening culture. This is a publicly-voted category featuring songs that stood out for memorable lyrics, emotional resonance, or influential production. Here are the nominees for this year:
Still Into You – Cyril, Maryjo: "Still Into You" is a single by Australian producer Cyril and vocalist Maryjo. It is nominated for Song of the Year at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
With You – Dean Lewis: “With You” is a single by Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis, released through Island Records Australia / Universal Music Australia. It is nominated for Song of the Year at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
Dreamin – Dom Dolla (feat. Daya): “Dreamin” is a 2025 single by Australian producer Dom Dolla featuring American singer Daya. It is nominated for Song of the Year at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
Stay – FISHER: “Stay” is a single by Australian DJ/producer FISHER, released under etcetc Music Pty Ltd. It is nominated for Song of the Year at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
Somebody – Gotye, FISHER, Chris Lake (feat. Kimbra, Sante Sansone): “Somebody” is a collaborative single involving Gotye, FISHER, Chris Lake with Kimbra and Sante Sansone. It is nominated for Song of the Year at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
Spinnin – ONEFOUR, Nemzzz: “Spinnin” is a single by Australian hip-hop group ONEFOUR and UK rapper Nemzzz, released via ONEFOUR Records / The Orchard. It is nominated for Song of the Year at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
Linger (SiriusXM Session) – Royel Otis: “Linger (SiriusXM Session)” is a recording by Australian indie duo Royel Otis. It is nominated for Song of the Year at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
Somedays – Sonny Fodera, D.O.D & Jazzy: “Somedays” is a collaboration by Australian producer Sonny Fodera with D.O.D & Jazzy, released under Solotoko/ADA. It is nominated for Song of the Year at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
Girls – The Kid LAROI: “Girls” is a single by Australian singer-rapper The Kid LAROI, released via Columbia Records / Sony Music. It is nominated for Song of the Year at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
Angel of Mine – Tobiahs: “Angel of Mine” is a single by Australian producer Tobiahs, released via Mushroom Music. It is nominated for Song of the Year at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
Best Solo Artist
The Best Solo Artist category is for the individual musicians who've made a creative and cultural impact. Nominees can include established artists and rising talent across various genres. If you watch the ARIAs this year, you'll see that this is a strong category. Nominees for this year are:
Ninajirachi: Ninajirachi is an Australian electronic music producer and songwriter. Her 2025 album, I Love My Computer, is nominated for Album of the Year, and she has received eight total nominations at the 2025 ARIA Awards, the most of any artist this year. Her nominations include Best Solo Artist.
Dom Dolla: Dom Dolla is an Australian dance and electronic music producer and DJ. He has received seven nominations at the 2025 ARIA Awards, including Best Solo Artist and Song of the Year for Rhyme Dust (with MK). He is also nominated in several production and recording categories.
Kylie Minogue: Australian pop recording artist with a career spanning multiple decades. She is nominated for Best Solo Artist at the 2025 ARIA Awards, and her track Midnight Wish is nominated for Song of the Year. She has previously won multiple ARIA Awards.
Missy Higgins: Missy Higgins is an Australian singer-songwriter known for acoustic and piano-based music. Her album The Second Act is nominated for Album of the Year at the 2025 ARIA Awards, and she is also nominated for Best Solo Artist. She has previously won several ARIA Awards.
The Kid LAROI: The Kid LAROI is an Australian singer and rapper. He is nominated for Best Solo Artist at the 2025 ARIA Awards, and his song What Just Happened is nominated for Song of the Year. He has charted internationally with multiple releases.
BARKAA: BARKAA is an Australian rapper from the Malyangapa and Barkindji communities. She is nominated for Best Solo Artist at the 2025 ARIA Awards. Her music has been widely recognised in national media for its grounding in Indigenous identity.
Mallrat: Australian singer-songwriter. She is nominated for Best Solo Artist at the 2025 ARIA Awards. Her discography includes music that blends pop and electronic elements.
Paul Kelly: Paul Kelly is an Australian singer-songwriter with a multi-decade recording career. He is nominated for Best Solo Artist at the 2025 ARIA Awards. He is also an inductee into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Young Franco: Young Franco is an Australian DJ and music producer. He is nominated for Best Solo Artist at the 2025 ARIA Awards. He has released music in the dance and electronic genres.
Thelma Plum: Thelma Plum is an Australian singer-songwriter. Her album I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back is nominated for Album of the Year, and she is also nominated for Best Solo Artist at the 2025 ARIA Awards. She has previously been recognised in Australian music award programs for her songwriting.
While solo artists are often honoured on their own, they aren't always working on their own. | Photo by Wes Hicks
Best Group
The Best Group category recognises collaborative musical groups whose recordings and performances stood out during the year. They span genres like punk, electronic, indie, pop, and hip-hop. This year's nominees are:
Amyl and The Sniffers: an Australian punk rock band formed in Melbourne. Their 2025 album, Cartoon Darkness, is nominated for Album of the Year, and they are nominated for Best Group at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
RÜFÜS DU SOL: RÜFÜS DU SOL is an Australian electronic and alternative dance group. Their album Inhale / Exhale is nominated for Album of the Year, and they are nominated for Best Group at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
Hilltop Hoods: Hilltop Hoods are an Australian hip hop group from Adelaide. They are nominated for Best Group at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
Royel Otis: An Australian indie rock duo. Their track Adored is nominated for Song of the Year, and they are also nominated for Best Group at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
Folk Bitch Trio: Folk Bitch Trio is an Australian folk group. They are nominated for Best Group at the 2025 ARIA Awards.
Who would you choose as the best group for this year? | Photo by set.sj
Notable Trends and Highlights
By looking at the 2025 nominations, you can see a few trends in Australian music. For one, dance and electronic artists are continuing to expand their global presence. Secondly, punk and indie acts continue to shape cultural voice and identity. Trends like these show how diverse the Australian music landscape is.
Leading Nominees
This year spotlights artists who have shaped not just sound, but community and cultural presence:
Ninajirachi emerges as the breakout creative force of the year.
Dom Dolla's global touring success has pushed Australian electronic music further into the international spotlight.
Amyl and The Sniffers continue the resurgence of unapologetic, high-energy punk.
New Categories and Changes
The introduction of the Best Music Festival Award highlights the importance of Australia’s live music landscape, from regional summer festivals to grassroots urban block parties. It celebrates events that build community, support local talent, and strengthen Australian music's cultural identity.
Public Voting and Participation
Thanks to public voting, fans can directly influence the outcome of specific ARIA categories, which can make for great moments during the awards. This means that listener impact and community support are reflected alongside industry recognition. Fans can vote in several popular categories, including:
Song of the Year
Best Video
Best Australian Live Act
Most Popular International Artist
The fact that certain categories are subject to a public vote make them more engaging for audiences. | Photo by Arnaud Jaegers
Voting is available at aria.com.au/vote and closes at 11:59 pm AEDT on Monday, 10 November 2025. Public voting ensures the ARIAs reflect listener impact and real audience connection, not just industry opinion.
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Joseph
Joseph is a French and Spanish to English translator, copywriter, and all-round language enthusiast.
📅 When and where will the 2025 ARIA Awards take place?
The 2025 ARIA Awards will be held on Wednesday, 19 November 2025 at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion.
⭐ Who are the top nominees for the 2025 ARIA Awards?
Ninajirachi leads the nominations, followed by Dom Dolla and Amyl and The Sniffers, along with a range of emerging and established artists across categories.
👑 Has Taylor Swift won an ARIA?
Yes. Taylor Swift has previously won ARIA Awards in the international categories, which recognise artists from outside Australia.
🔢 Who has won the most ARIA Awards?
The record for most ARIA Awards is held by several leading Australian artists over time, including John Farnham, Kylie Minogue, and Tame Impala, depending on category and year.
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