Adelaide rockers Swapmeet top the 2026 SA Music Awards with six nominations as more than 100 acts, managers and industry figures are recognised ahead of the 10 November ceremony at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
by Paul Cashmere
Swapmeet has emerged as the clear frontrunner for the 2026 South Australian Music Awards, collecting six nominations across Major, Industry and People’s Choice categories when MusicSA revealed the finalists today.
The Adelaide band is nominated for Best Song, Best Group and Best Release (EP/Album) in the Major Awards, Best Music Video and Best Studio Engineer/Producer in the Industry Awards, and Best Rock Artist in the People’s Choice section. Close behind with five nominations each are First Nations hip hop group DEM MOB, My Chérie and The Tullamarines.
More than 100 acts, managers and industry representatives have been nominated across the three award streams. The ceremony returns to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Tuesday 10 November.
DEM MOB’s nominations span Best Regional Artist and Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist in the Major Awards, Best Music Educator in the Industry Awards, and Best Hip Hop Artist in the People’s Choice Awards. Their manager, DJ/MC Gully, is also nominated for Best Manager.
My Chérie is up for Best Song and Best Release (EP/Album), plus Best Music Video and Best Studio Engineer/Producer, along with Best Pop Artist in the People’s Choice Awards. The Tullamarines are nominated for Best New Artist, Best Group and Best Release (EP/Album), Best Cover Art, and Best Pop Artist.
Ella Ion carries four nominations, including Best Song, Best Solo Artist and Best
Release (EP/Album) plus Best Folk Artist. Artists with three nominations include Any Young Mechanic, Sacrificial Larynx, Elsy Wameyo, Marlon and Ryan Martin John.
MusicSA CEO Christine Schloithe said presenting the awards every November remains a highlight for the organisation. “It is a night of celebration acknowledging the depth and talent across our contemporary music industry. The Awards spotlight SA’s artists, the professionals that surround them, and the infrastructure that elevates them. It’s terrific to see familiar names nominated in successive years with exciting new names coming through and we wish all 2026 Award Nominees every success on the night.”
South Australian Deputy Premier and Minister for Arts Kyam Maher MLC added: “Congratulations to all our 2026 South Australian Music Awards finalists. This recognition is well deserved. Our state’s music community is built on talent, hard work and passion, and you represent the very best of it. We can’t wait to celebrate with you.”
The night will also mark the induction of Adelaide rockers Bad//Dreems into the SA Music Hall of Fame. The band will perform, joined on the bill by Western Arrernte multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Rob Edwards, Ella Ion, Nat Luna and Any Young Mechanic. Returning MCs Troy Sincock and Sosefina Fuamoli will host, with Cliffy Wilson delivering the Welcome to Country.
The full list of nominees covers a broad cross-section of South Australian music, from established names to emerging acts across rock, pop, hip hop, folk, heavy, electronic and experimental styles.
Tickets and further details are available via the official awards site at
southaustralianmusicawards.com.au.
Major Awards
Best Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Artist
A. Ware & Jusst, BOUSTA, DEM MOB, Marlon, Rob Edwards
Best Group
Lola, Sacrificial Larynx, Swapmeet, The Empty Threats, The Tullamarines
Best New Artist
Any Young Mechanic, Pash, Praise Mangena, Sacrificial Larynx, The Hazys, The Tullamarines
Best Regional Artist
Alison Newman & the Tassels, DEM MOB, Erin Buku, Gernz, Rob Edwards, Sexy As Shit
Best Release (EP/Album)
Any Young Mechanic – The Modern Shoe Is Ruining The Foot
Ella Ion – Liminal Archive
Molly Rocket – The Dogs Are Barking
My Chérie – Life is Short and Life is Long
Swapmeet – Mount Zero
The Tullamarines – Safety Blanket
Best Solo Artist
Ella Ion, Elsy Wameyo, Erin Buku, LILLI, Nat Luna
Best Song
Deffie isobel – Hidden Treasure
Ella Ion – My Love
My Chérie – 5 years
Oscar the Wild – Sunrise
Swapmeet – I Know!
Industry Awards
Best Cover Art
Maryam Rahmani – Kamand by Kaspar Schmidt Mumm
Marlon – Blood In The Water
The Dandy Buzzkills – The Dandy Buzzkills (I Presume)
The Empty Threats – Happy Birthday by Emmaline Zanelli
The Tullamarines – Safety Blanket
Best Large Music Festival
Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival, Adelaide Guitar Festival, Gather Sounds, Side By Side, WOMADelaide
Best Live Music Photograph
Deb Kloeden – Yungblud
Elise De Simoni – Oscar the Wild
Henry Maurin – LOLA
Justin White – I Killed the Prom Queen
Neasan McGuiness – My Chérie
Best Live Music Venue
Hindley Street Music Hall, Lion Arts Factory, Lowlife Basement Bar, UniBar Adelaide, Wheatsheaf Hotel
Best Live Production Crew
David Musch, Letisha Ackland, Luke Hancock, Nathan Smith, Ryan Martin John
Best Manager
Gully, Hannah Louise, Rachel Whitford, Sebastion James, Tayla Carlaw
Best Music Educator
DEM MOB, Jennifer Trijo, Joseph Cheek, Keith Crellin, Martin Butler
Best Music Video
Bryce Kraehenbuehl – My Chérie (Box of Pencils)
Elsy Wameyo – Elsy Wameyo (WAMEYO)
Liam Woolcock / Rachel Whitford – TOWNS (Magnificent)
Mayah Salter – Swapmeet (Halfway)
Richie Coburn – Marlon (Blood In The Water)
Best Regional Music Venue
Caltowie Chilled Out ‘n’ Fired Up Music Festival, OC Soundfest, On The Road – Adelaide Guitar Festival, She Bop Festival, Space Jams
Best Small Festival
Caltowie Chilled Out ‘n’ Fired Up Music Festival, Coastal Sounds, Dougstock, Porch & Recreation, Space Jams
Best Studio
Cactus Cactus Sound, Island Recording Studios, Songbird Society, Wizard Tone Studios, Wundenberg’s Recording Studio
Best Studio Engineer/Producer
James Brown, Mario Spate, My Chérie, Ryan Martin John, Swapmeet
People’s Choice Awards
Blues & Roots
Amin & Lachlan, Badland Caravan, Lucas Day, The Dead Regulars, The Sundials
Country
Brad Chicken & the Bootstraps, Caressa, Jo Page, Motorcycle Jones, Ryan Martin John
Electronic
DJLizzie, Bradley & Inkswell, Seek N Destroy, Sexy As Shit, TONIX, V O E
Experimental & Art
Awnings, Chemistry Music, Maajela, Praise Mangena, Rakali
Folk
Any Young Mechanic, Bromham, Ella Ion, Meg Carlin, Sienna Hart
Heavy
Heartline, MACËY, Sacrificial Larynx, xGemmini
Hip Hop
A.Ware & Jusst, DEM MOB, Elsy Wameyo, LIL CUE, Tommy Marsh
Jazz
JT Sextet, Live Slug Reaction, Tiffany Gaze, The Jackson Mack Big Band
Pop
Ben Sutto, effie isobel, My Chérie, RENAÉ, The Tullamarines
Punk
Donni Heat, Lola, Molly Rocket, Stormy-Lou, TOWNS
Rock
Greasy, Oscar The Wild, Swapmeet, The Dandy Buzzkills, The Genevieves
Soul / Funk / RnB
Elizabeth Ruyi, Maybe Hugo, Nat Luna, OPULENCE, San Dragan
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