Australian Folk Music Awards (AFMAs)
Nominations for the 2026 AFMAs (Australian Folk Music Awards) open on June 7th and close Midnight on Friday 31st July 2026.
Folk Alliance Australia established the AFMAs to recognise and celebrate the musical and cultural talent, vibrancy, diversity and unique community nature of the Australian Folk Music sector.
Folk Alliance Australia (FAA) is a not-for-profit incorporated organization.
AFMAs AWARD PRESENTATION EVENT
The AFMA’s will be announced and presented in October as a Live Concert & Awards Night and also as a national Live Streamed event.
The event will feature live music performances, awards finalists and winners presentations and guest artists.
AFMA AWARDS
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(12) Twelve AFMA Awards will be presented in 2026, the additional Lifetime Folk Award will also be announced.
Artist Awards
- Folk Album of the Year – Traditional
- Folk Album of the Year – Contemporary
- Folk Album of the Year – Debut
- Folk Artist of the Year – Solo
- Folk Act of the Year – Duo
- Folk Act of the Year – Group
- Instrumentalist of the Year
- Zulya Kamalova Award for a song in languages other than English
- People’s Choice Award
- Youth Artist of the Year
Industry/Community Awards
- Folk Community/Cultural Project of The Year
- Contribution to Folk
- Lifetime Folk Award
AIMS OF AFMAs
The aims of the Australian Folk Music Awards are to:
- Create a National Folk Awards scheme for the Australian Folk Music sector.
- Raise the profile of Australian folk music
- Acknowledge and recognise national achievements of the Folk Music sector.
- Establish Awards that benefit Australian folk artists to help them gain recognition and build their profile and careers.
- Involve and engage the wide diversity of Australian folk genres.
- Raise the profile of Folk Alliance Australia as a national organisation for folk music.
DEFINITION OF ‘FOLK’ MUSIC
Folk Music is music or music/cultural practice that is linked to a historical tradition, heritage and/or community. It is recognised as coming from diverse cultural communities and social settings. Folk music can be traditional (handed down through the oral and folk traditions) or contemporary (with interpretations or creativity based on such traditions). Folk music is presented in a range of musical genres.
NOMINATING FOR AN AFMA
- IMPORTANT – Each AFMA Award has its own conditions and processes for nomination. Please carefully read the information for each Award.
- You need to be a Folk Alliance Member in order to nominate for an AFMA. In the case of a group or an organisation, at least one person in the group or organisation must be a Folk Alliance Member. You will need to include your Membership number on the form. You can sign up to be a member here (https://www.folkalliance.org.au/order-membership/)
- You may nominate in more than one Award category.
- Your nomination will be judged by the Panel of the Award you have selected to nominate in by the criteria of that award. If you have been nominated in the incorrect category your nomination will stay and be assessed by the criteria of the category you have selected.
- A separate fee will apply for EACH nomination (where fees are applicable).
- The AFMA Online Nomination Form must be used for each submission. All questions must be completed with strict word limits where requested. No hard copy nominations will be accepted.
- Applications will be required to submit a short nomination statement, biographies and links to support material such as music/video and a photograph as well as the reason for nomination is required. Support material must be relevant to the timeframe that we are assessing (1st July 2025 – to June 2026)
- Nominations open 7th June 2026 The deadline for nominations is Midnight Friday 31st July 2026 EST.
- Incomplete nominations will not be accepted. Late entries will not be accepted.
- Details of the nominating person must be supplied on the entry form. You can self-nominate.
- Nominated artists/persons who are under the age of 18 years will require signed parental or guardian consent.
- Nominated artists/persons need to be an Australian Permanent Resident or Citizen. (In case of collaborations 50% of recording or project must be by an Australian resident/citizen)
- Selected Finalists may be required to submit further information, images, sound files or video as needed for the Awards Presentation Event.
NOMINATION FEES
Eight of the Awards will incur a $30 nomination fee (which contributes to AFMA administration and event costs) Fees are non-refundable.
Nomination Fees will apply for the following Artist Awards :-
- Folk Album of the Year – Traditional
- Folk Album of the Year – Contemporary
- Folk Album of the Year – Debut
- Folk Artist of the year – Solo
- Folk Act of the year – Duo
- Folk Act of the year – Group/Ensemble
- Instrumentalist of the Year
- People’s Choice Award
A separate nomination fee will apply for each nomination where fees are applicable if you are nominating in more than one Award Category.
There is no cost to nominate for the two Industry Awards, The Zulya Kamalova Award or for the Youth Artist(s) of The Year Award.
AFMAs – JUDGING & ASSESSMENT
- Panel Judges – are drawn from people with a direct involvement in the diverse folk music sector including artists, practitioners, festival organisers, venues, organizations, media and activists.
- Panel Judges do not need to be members of FAA.
- Each AFMA award will have four /five panelists and will be convened by an FAA Board member. A panelist may adjudicate in more than one category.
- (Artist Awards) Panel Judges will select the five (5) AFMA Finalists in each Award category as well as vote for the overall Award Winner.
- Panel Judges make their decisions based on the criteria of the award and the materials that are submitted in the nomination form.
- The identity of AFMA Panel Judges will not be disclosed in order to minimise lobbying or communication. Judges are required to disclose any conflict of interest and may not be part of any panel in which they have a perceived conflict of interest.
- The results from the Judging Panels are final and no correspondence will be entered into. We do not give feedback regarding nominations.
- We welcome expressions of interest from any credentialled persons wishing to be included in future judging panels of the AFMAs.
AFMAs INTEGRITY PANEL
To ensure the Folk Alliance Awards remain fair and transparent, FAA has introduced an Integrity Panel to review nominations.
The panel helps:
- Ensure nominations meet eligibility criteria.
- Guide entries into the most appropriate category (e.g. Traditional vs Contemporary Folk Album of the Year)
- Clarify any issues before judging begins
If you’re unsure which category best suits your work or have a question about eligibility, you’re welcome to get in touch at support@folkalliance.org.au
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF AFMA AWARD FINALISTS & WINNERS
- Finalists will be announced in September 2026 (Nominees will be advised at this time)
- All Award Winners/Recipients will be announced at the AFMA Awards Event in October at the AFMA Awards Night. The Awards Event will also be livestreamed.
- The AFMAs will be open to the public to attend (subject to ticket availability). Tickets will go on sale in early September.
- A special AFMA Award Medal with the name of the winner will be mailed to or presented to each AFMA award winner.
KEY DATES 2026
- Entries Open Saturday 7th June 2026
- Entries Close Friday 31st July 2026
- Finalists announced Saturday 5th September 2026
- People Choice Voting 5th -31st September 2026
- Awards Event Wednesday 21st October 2026 TBC
AFMA ENQUIRIES & INFORMATION:
AFMA questions please email:
support@folkalliance.org.au
Join us for a live Q&A session to ask questions and get guidance on your nomination. Details will be shared via email and socials soon.
Stay in touch and engage with AFMA’s
www.folkalliance.org.au/afmas
https://www.facebook.com/folkallianceaustralia
https://www.instagram.com/folk_alliance_australia/
Join FAA as a member
https://www.folkalliance.org.au/order-membership/
Contribution to Folk Award
This award recognizes an outstanding contribution to Folk Music in Australia by an individual, group or organisation in any folk music genre.
Folk Album of the Year – Contemporary
This award recognizes an outstanding album of contemporary folk music played in any folk music genre.
Folk Album of the Year – Traditional
This Award recognises an outstanding album of traditional music played in any folk music genre.
Folk Album/EP of the Year – Debut
This Award recognises an outstanding debut album/EP in any folk music genre.
Folk Artist of the Year – Duo
This award recognises an outstanding duo, group or ensemble performing traditional or contemporary in any folk music genre.
Folk Artist of the Year – Group/Ensemble
This award recognises an outstanding duo, group or ensemble performing traditional or contemporary in any folk music genre.
Folk Artist of the Year – Solo
This Award recognises an outstanding solo folk music performer in any folk music genre.
Folk Community/Cultural Project of the Year
This award recognizes an outstanding folk music community/cultural project.
Instrumentalist of the Year
This Award recognizes an outstanding contribution by a traditional or contemporary instrumentalist folk musician or group of musicians played in any folk music genre.
People’s Choice Award
This Award is determined by voting. Voting is open to the public. The award recognizes an outstanding folk performer solo/group/ensemble for their activity in the last year.
Youth Artist of the Year
This Award is for a leading Young Act (solo or group) playing traditional or contemporary folk music in any diverse folk music genre. The aim of the project is to boost the profile of young performers and introduce, support and encourage them to the next level of their development.
Zulya Kamalova Award
This Award recognises an outstanding song in languages other than English played in any folk music genre.
