We’re just one day out from the 2025 ARIA Awards, which will light up Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion tomorrow (November 19th).
In partnership with Spotify, the 39th ARIA Awards will celebrate the artists blurring genres, breaking records, and commanding international stages across 29 categories.
With a record eight nominations, electronic artist Ninajirachi leads the nominations, followed by RÜFÜS DU SOL and Dom Dolla.
Check out the full list of nominees here.
Ahead of tomorrow’s ceremony, our editorial team has considered the runners and riders and predicted the winners in some of the major categories (excluding public voted awards).
More information about the 2025 ARIA Awards can be found here.
Album of the Year
The Nominees
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Amyl and the Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness
Missy Higgins – The Second Act
Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer
RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale
Thelma Plum – I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back
Who Should Win
Ninajirachi — I Love My Computer
Being the lead nominee at the ARIAs can so often be a poisoned chalice for an artist. With eight nominations to her name, it’s likely that Ninajirachi will win at least one award, but which one? For its dizzyingly innovative production and breakout acclaim, I Love My Computer should win her the main prize of the night. It’s that good.
Who Will Win
Amyl and the Sniffers — Cartoon Darkness
If Ninajirachi wasn’t in this category, Amyl and the Sniffers’ latest record would be the clear winner. Cartoon Darkness earned a rave review from us for a reason.
Best Solo Artist
The Nominees
BARKAA – Big Tidda
Dom Dolla – “DREAMIN’”
Kylie Minogue – Tension II
Mallrat – Light Hit My Face Like a Straight Right
Missy Higgins – The Second Act
Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer
Paul Kelly – Fever Longing Still
The Kid LAROI – “How Does It Feel?”
Thelma Plum – I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back
Young Franco – it’s Franky baby!
Who Should Win
Ninajirachi — I Love My Computer
This category might represent Ninajirachi’s strongest chance at a win tomorrow, being a solo DJ and producer. Just one man could stand in her way though…
Who Will Win
Dom Dolla — “DREAMIN'”
Australia has been spoiled for choice when it comes to breakout electronic acts in recent years, with Dom Dolla also going global in a major way. Our former cover star just won the inaugural Global Impact Award, too, which could keep his name fresh in voters’ minds.
Best Group
The Nominees
Amyl and the Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness
Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be a Good Time
Hilltop Hoods – Fall From the Light
Royel Otis – hickey
RÜFÜS DU SOL – Inhale / Exhale
Who Should Win
Amyl and the Sniffers — Cartoon Darkness
If Ninajirachi was to win the main category, Album of the Year, on the night, Best Group would still be a worthy award for Amyl and the Sniffers. The Melbourne-born punk band have torn apart stages across the world over the past 12 months, taking Cartoon Darkness to the masses.
Who Will Win
RÜFÜS DU SOL — Inhale / Exhale
RÜFÜS DU SOL are perennial ARIAs winners, with five gongs to their name, so it would be no surprise to hear their name being read out again tomorrow. The Best Group category probably represents their best chance at a win this year.
Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist presented by Spotify
The Nominees
Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be a Good Time
Gut Health – Stiletto
Mia Wray – hi, it’s nice to meet me
Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer
Young Franco – it’s Franky baby!
Who Should Win
Gut Health — Stiletto
Ninajirachi is the obvious candidate in what is always a tough category, but if she’s to win big elsewhere, it could pave the way for excellent Melbourne punk band Gut Health to be named Breakthrough Artist.
Who Will Win
Ninajirachi — I Love My Computer
See above.
Best Pop Release
The Nominees
G Flip – “Disco Cowgirl”
Kita Alexander – “Press Pause”
Kylie Minogue – Tension II
Mallrat – Light Hit My Face Like a Straight Right
Thelma Plum – I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back
Who Should Win
Thelma Plum — I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back
Is Best Pop Release the toughest category to call this year? Probably. Any of the five nominations stand a great chance of winning, but Thelma Plum’s beautiful second album deserves to edge them out.
Who Will Win
Kylie Minogue — Tension II
Kylie’s Tension era has marked an incredible resurgence for Australia’s Queen of Pop, so she can never be counted out when it comes to awards time. Her higher profile could see her see off Plum and the other excellent artists in this category.
Best Dance / Electronic Release
The Nominees
Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA)
Dom Dolla – “DREAMIN'”
FISHER – “Stay”
Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer
Sonny Fodera, D.O.D & Jazzy – “Somedays”
Who Should Win
Ninajirachi — I Love My Computer
Again, it’s likely to be a Ninajirachi vs. Dom Dolla battle in this category. The former being nominated for a full album should secure her the win.
Who Will Win
Ninajirachi — I Love My Computer
See above.
Best Hip Hop / Rap Release
The Nominees
BARKAA – Big Tidda
Hilltop Hoods – Fall From the Light
Miss Kaninna – Kaninna EP
ONEFOUR – Look At Me Now
The Kid LAROI – “Baby I’m Back”
Who Should Win
Miss Kaninna — Kaninna EP
Another tough category to call, but Miss Kaninna is one of the most exciting rappers in the entire country for a reason. A rising star whose time in the spotlight has come.
Who Will Win
Hilltop Hoods — Fall From the Light
If Miss Kaninna perhaps doesn’t have name recognition with voters, Hilltop Hoods definitely do.
Best Soul / R&B Release
The Nominees
BOY SODA – “Lil Obsession”
JACOTÉNE – “Why’d You Do That?”
Jerome Farah – CHLORINE
Larissa Lambert – “Cardio”
PANIA – “Pity Party”
Who Should Win
PANIA — “Pity Party”
In a category full of rising stars, PANIA’s incredible “Pity Party” narrowly — very narrowly — deserves the win. A superstar in the making.
Who Will Win
BOY SODA — “Lil Obsession”
BOY SODA has been everywhere this year, and “Lil Obsession” might be fresher in voters’ minds than his competitors in this category.
Best Independent Release presented by PPCA
The Nominees
Ball Park Music – Like Love
Confidence Man – 3AM (LA LA LA)
Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be a Good Time
Miss Kaninna – Kaninna EP
Ninajirachi – I Love My Computer
Who Should Win
Ninajirachi — I Love My Computer
Who Will Win
Ball Park Music — Like Love
Ball Park Music’s recent support slot for the one and only Oasis has raised their wider profile significantly, which could land well with ARIAs voters. A win in this category would cap a defining chapter for the beloved Brisbane band.
Best Rock Album presented by Tooheys
The Nominees
Amyl and the Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness
Ball Park Music – Like Love
King Stingray – For the Dreams
Royel Otis – hickey
Spacey Jane – If That Makes Sense
Who Should Win
Amyl and the Sniffers — Cartoon Darkness
Be serious: there’s only one winner in this category.
Who Will Win
Amyl and the Sniffers — Cartoon Darkness
See above.
Best Adult Contemporary Album
The Nominees
Folk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be a Good Time
Gordi – Like Plasticine
Meg Washington – GEM
Missy Higgins – The Second Act
Paul Kelly – Fever Longing Still
Who Should Win
Folk Bitch Trio — Now Would Be a Good Time
It’s time for the new generation to get their moment in the spotlight. They might be up against a collection of much more established acts, but Folk Bitch Trio are one of the most exciting folk groups to emerge out of Australia in years.
Who Will Win
Missy Higgins — The Second Act
If perhaps it’s one year too early for Folk Bitch Trio when it comes to voting, Missy Higgins’ landmark album should land well with voters.
Best Country Album
The Nominees
Dylan Wright – Half a World Away
Imogen Clark – Choking on Fuel
Kasey Chambers – Backbone
Keith Urban – High
Taylor Moss – Firecracker
Who Should Win
Kasey Chambers — Backbone
Almost four decades into her career, there’s just no slowing down Kasey Chambers. You wouldn’t know Backbone is her 13th album just by listening to it — she sounded as fresh and ambitious as ever on the record, which also earned a nomination at this year’s AIR Awards.
Who Will Win
Keith Urban — High
It’s been over a decade since Urban won an ARIA, probably too long a gap for a country icon who collected ARIAs on the regular during the ’00s. Expect him to rectify that this week.
Best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Album
The Nominees
Civic – Chrome Dipped
Press Club – To All the Ones I Love
RedHook – Mutation
The Amity Affliction – Let the Ocean Take Me Down (Redux)
Thornhill – Bodies
Who Should Win
Civic — Chrome Dipped
Civic reached their peak (so far) on their third album, and a first ARIA win — for their first nomination — would be a fitting way to celebrate this achievement. The hard-working Melbourne punk band deserve the acclaim.
Who Will Win
Thornhill — Bodies
If voters don’t think that Civic have the necessary profile for an ARIA, Thornhill could sneak the win. Bodies, after all, was their second consecutive top 5-charting album in Australia, reaching No. 4 in April.
Best Blues & Roots Album
The Nominees
Dope Lemon – Golden Wolf
Mama Kin Spender – Promises
Sons Of The East – SONS
Tash Sultana – Return to the Roots
The Teskey Brothers – Live at the Hammersmith Apollo
Who Should Win
Tash Sultana – Return to the Roots
We gave Sultana’s latest record a positive review, praising them for experimenting with roots, reggae, folk, and dub sounds in the wide-ranging collection. Now so deep into their career, Return to the Roots signalled an artist never content to rest on their laurels.
Who Will Win
The Teskey Brothers — Live at the Hammersmith Apollo
Our former cover stars are ARIAs favourites, and who doesn’t enjoy a live album? The Teskey Brothers, in fact, have previously won an ARIA Award for a live release, scooping up the Best Blues & Roots Album gong in 2020 for Live at the Forum.
