Rising pop artist Annie Hamilton, rocker Queenie and hip-hop outfit JJ4K are among the finalists for the 2026 APRA Professional Development Awards (PDAs), a cash-prize presented across 11 categories.
An initiative of music rights management organization APRA AMCOS, the PDAs are a leg-up for artists at all stages of their careers, with 13 recipients each taking home A$10,000 ($6,700) to invest in their professional growth, a statement explains.
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That cash can be used for workshops, courses, composer seminars, co-writing sessions and other development activities, both locally or internationally.
An expert panel comprised of more than 50 industry experts select this year’s finalists, tallying 61 songwriters and composers.
Previous PDAs recipients include Angie McMahon, Baker Boy, BARKAA, Gotye, Jem Cassar-Daley, Melanie Dyer, Miss Kaninna, Ngaiire, Rebecca Bracewell, Romy Vager (RVG), Samuel Marks and Yirrmal.
This year’s recipients will be announced on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.
For more information, visit apraamcos.com.au/professionaldevelopmentawards.
The 2026 APRA Professional Development Award finalists are:
Classical/Experimental
Eduardo Cossio
Gabriella Smart
Jasmin Wing-Yin Leung
Lizzy Welsh
Thea Rossen
Country/Americana
Dylan Ollivierre
Max Jackson
Queenie
Soren Walker (Sweet Talk)
Tori Darke
Dance/Electronic
Andy Garvey
Dugong Jr
Fatshaudi
Rromarin
Savannah Osei (Kinder)
Hip Hop/Rap
Chandler Jewels
JJ4K
Kwasi
Yawdoesitall
Zafty
Jazz/Improvised Music
Hamed Sadeghi
Hayley Chan
Jacques Emery
Mina Yu
Yutaro Okuda
Music Theatre
Jules Orcullo – My Dad Never Saw The Beatles
Lincoln Elliott – Artefact
Lucy O’Brien – Adventurers
Max McKenna – Creating Ivy
Tim Hansen – Murder Horse
Popular Contemporary (2 awards)
Annie Hamilton
Babitha
bella amor
Chitra
Don Glori
Eliza Hull
Grace Woodroofe
Lucy Sugerman
REDD.
Ruby Gill
R&B/Soul
Adrian Dzvuke
Ella Thompson
Rita Satch
Setwun
TANISHA
Screen Composition
Cassie Parke
Carla Dobbie
Darren Lim
Josie Mann
Paul Nicolaou
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander General (2 awards)
Alyssa Skye
Boox Kid
DJ PGZ
Emma Sibosado (Saltwater Kin)
Ethan Waters
J-MILLA
Jarulah Slabb
Keely
KYARNA
Zeppelin Hamilton (Velvet Trip)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Senior
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Linc Yow Yeh (The Deans of Soul)
Mia Lovelock
Russell Smith
Toni Janke
