APRA Music Awards 2026: Tame Impala, Spacey Jane and Old Mervs nominated for awards in Sydney

Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker is in the running to win Song of the Year at this year’s APRA Music Awards, with fellow WA artists Spacey Jane and Old Mervs also nominated for awards.

Parker’s song Loser, off his 2025 album Deadbeat, has been nominated for the Peer-Voted APRA Song of the Year for the centenary edition of the awards, taking place on April 29 at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.

APRA was founded in 1926 to ensure music creators were paid with the first awards ceremony held in 1982 in Sydney where Little River Band singer-songwriter Glenn Shorrock hosted and won the Gold Award for his song Cool Change.

Parker’s hit song is up against Keli Holiday’s Dancing2, iPod Touch by Ninajirachi, Jerkin’ by Amyl and The Sniffers, and Paul Kelly’s Rita Wrote A Letter.

Spacey Jane’s song All the Noise has been nominated for the Most Performed Alternative Work award alongside Car by Royel Otis, Dancing2 by Keli Holiday, Hideaway by Mallrat, and Please Don’t Move to Melbourne by Ball Park Music.

It was the WA quartet’s first single to be released from their new album If That Makes Sense and gave fans a taste of what was to come.

And coming out of Kojonup is Old Mervs, who are hoping to win the award for the Most Performed Rock Work for their song Everyone Will See It.

The country duo are in the running against other huge tunes such as Defiant by Jimmy Barnes, Jerkin by Amyl and The Sniffers, King Stingray’s Southerly and Ocean Alley’s Tangerine.

Other notable nominees include Hilltop Hoods feat. Marlon for The Gift (Most Performed Hip Hop/Rap Work) and the APRA Music Awards’ most awarded member, Sia, with David Guetta for Beautiful People (Most Performed Electronic/Dance Work).

The APRA Music Awards celebrate excellence in contemporary music, honouring songwriters and publishers who have achieved artistic excellence and outstanding success in their fields.

As part of APRA’s centenary celebrations, this year’s ceremony is set to be the biggest yet hosted by presenter Julia Zemiro, with guest presenters Bernard Fanning, Jessica Mauboy, Mark Coles Smith and Stella Donnelly.

Another highlight of the awards will be the presentation of the prestigious Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music which will be announced on April 14.

It comes after Parker won two awards last year for Dua Lipa’s song Houdini snapping up Most Performed Australian Work and Most Performed Pop Work.

Parker collaborated with international co-writers Caroline Ailin, Danny Harle, Dua Lipa and Tobias Jesso Jr. on the dance track.

Amyl and the Sniffers won Peer-Voted Song of the Year for U Should Not Be Doing That while Troye Sivan was named Songwriter of the Year.