To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the ARIA Awards will induct six legends of the Australia music scene into the Hall of Fame during a “landmark” event in Sydney this June.
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The special stand-alone show will be presented Thursday, June 11 at Carriageworks, Sydney, on Gadigal land, honoring “some of Australia’s most beloved and influential artists of the past 40 years,” reads a statement from the labels body.
That format marks a return to the annual ARIA Hall of Fame event, a treasured moment on the music industry calendar which was discontinued with the 2010 spot, when John Williamson, Models, Johnny Young, The Loved Ones, and The Church all got the nod.
From 2011 onwards, the ARIA Hall of Fame was downsized and incorporated into the annual ARIA Awards. In that year, The Wiggles and Kylie Minogue were elevated, with the-then prime minister Julia Gillard on hand to induct the princess of pop.
Since then, the ARIA board has selected just one act each year for inclusion into its honors list, including Missy Higgins (2024), Jet (2023), the late Archie Roach (2020), Tina Arena (2015), Crowded House (2016), and last year’s inductees, You Am I.
“This landmark event will shine a spotlight on artist excellence, legacy and cultural impact, bringing together icons, peers and fans to celebrate the best of Aussie music,” the statement continues.
Also announced today, the 40th annual ARIA Awards returns to Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday, 18 November. Spotify is, for the second year, the headline sponsor, and the broadcast will beam out on the free-to-air 10 network and stream live on Paramount+.
ARIA established its annual ceremony in 1987, as a celebration of local talent and their globetrotting endeavors. The Hall of Fame opened its doors the following year, with a first class featuring Dame Joan Sutherland, Johnny O’Keefe, Slim Dusty, Col Joye, Vanda & Young, and AC/DC.
“Reaching 40 years of the ARIA Awards is a powerful moment to reflect on just how deeply Australian music is woven into our story,” comments ARIA CEO Annabelle Herd.
“The 2026 ARIA Hall of Fame anniversary event gives us the chance to properly honor the artists, and industry figures whose work has shaped generations,” adds Herd, “while the 2026 ARIA Awards will continue that story by championing the next wave of Australian talent on an increasingly global stage. This milestone is about legacy but it’s also about backing where Australian music is going next. We can’t wait for what 2026 will bring.”
As previously reported, audience engagement hit record highs across genres for the 2025 ARIAs, with nearly 700,000 fan votes cast through the ARIA website and Spotify.
Register here for information and ticketing on the 2026 ARIA Hall of Fame event.
