The National Indigenous Music Awards have unveiled the live performance lineup for their 2026 ceremony, with the annual celebration of First Nations music set to return to Darwin Amphitheatre on Saturday August 8 with a bill spanning established icons and emerging voices.
Leading the lineup is Yolŋu rapper, dancer and artist Baker Boy, who returns to the NIMAs stage fresh from the release of his second album DJANDJAY. Named in honour of both his grandmother and a Yolŋu spiritual figure, the record saw Danzal Baker collaborate with the likes of Briggs, Haiku Hands, Thelma Plum and Emma Donovan. Since his debut, the six-time ARIA Award winner has become one of Australia’s most recognisable artists, with recent highlights including being named GQ Australia’s Musician of the Year and joining Snoop Dogg during the 2025 AFL Grand Final.
Joining him are Electronic music duo Electric Fields, whose blend of soulful vocals, expansive production and storytelling rooted in the traditions of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands has made them one of Australia’s most distinctive acts. Also set to perform is Western Aranda artist Casii Williams, whose move into electronic music has brought widespread recognition, with singles such as ‘Fallin Down’ and ‘How Can I’ reaching audiences across community and national radio.
BRIGGS will bring his new heavy project BIG NOTER to Darwin, marking another chapter in the Yorta-Yorta/Wurundjeri/Wemba-Wemba artist’s ever-evolving career. Trading hip hop for hardcore, punk and metal influences, BIG NOTER reflects the sounds that first shaped the Aboriginal Australian music icon.
Representing one of the most enduring voices in Blak music, Stiff Gins return with their blend of folk, roots and Indigenous language. Since forming in 1997, Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta woman Kaleena Briggs and Yuwaalaraay woman Nardi Simpson have built an international reputation through their harmonies and storytelling, with latest album Crossroads recognised as a finalist for the NSW Music Prize’s Best First Nations Album.
Elsewhere on the bill, Torres Strait Islander artist Zipporah arrives on the back of her debut mixtape NAUNGU URUI, introducing audiences to a sound that draws on R&B, soul and jazz while exploring themes of identity and culture. Rounding out the lineup is acclaimed Noongar artist Bumpy, whose fusion of soul, jazz, folk and funk earned widespread praise for her debut album Kanana, named among the best albums of 2025 by both Rolling Stone and Double J.
Returning to Darwin once more, the NIMAs continue to provide one of the country’s most important stages for celebrating the richness, diversity and ongoing evolution of First Nations music. With artists spanning generations and genres, this year’s ceremony promises another powerful showcase of creativity and community.
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS MUSIC AWARDS 2026
Saturday 8 August 2026 – Darwin Amphitheatre, Garramilla/Darwin, NT
LINEUP:
Baker boy
BIG NOTER
Bumpy
Casii Williams
Electric Fields
Stiff Gins
Zipporah
And more to be announced.
Go HERE for tickets.
