Annie Hamilton, Queenie, and JJ4K: Meet the Finalists for the 2026 APRA Professional Development Awards
Annie Hamilton
Macami
Rising pop artist Annie Hamilton, along with rocker Queenie and hip-hop group JJ4K, has been named a finalist for the 2026 APRA Professional Development Awards (PDAs). This prestigious program, organized by APRA AMCOS, offers a valuable financial boost across 11 categories, providing support to artists at various stages of their careers.
Each of the 13 recipients will receive A$10,000 (approximately USD $6,700), intended for investment in professional development. Artists can use these funds for workshops, courses, composer seminars, co-writing sessions, and other growth activities, both locally and internationally.
An expert panel of over 50 industry professionals selected this year’s finalists from a pool of 61 songwriters and composers. Previous PDA awardees include prominent figures such as Angie McMahon, Baker Boy, BARKAA, Gotye, and more.
The recipients for 2026 will be announced on Thursday, February 12.
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
deborahN
Linc Yow Yeh (The Deans of Soul)
Mia Lovelock
Russell Smith
Toni Janke
