The nominees for the Toyota 54th Golden Guitar Awards have been announced, with Kasey Chambers dominating the field at 13 nominations. She’s followed by The Wolfe Brothers and Shane Nicholson with eight each, capping off a year where Australian country music has seen record audiences, booming festivals and a surge of new voices connecting with fans across the country.
More than 640 entries were submitted for the 2026 awards, which will be handed out on Saturday January 24th during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. The scale of entries mirrors the genre’s rapid growth, something Toyota Golden Guitar Awards Executive Producer Peter Ross says reflects the strength of artists across the industry.
"The 2026 awards will celebrate the exceptional talent and hard work of artists from across the country… On behalf of the Tamworth Regional Council, I’d like to extend my congratulations to all the nominees of the Toyota 54th Golden Guitar Awards." he said.
Chambers’ nominations span eight categories, including Female Artist of the Year and Toyota Album of the Year for Backbone, alongside multiple production, songwriting and directing credits. She is also nominated with ex-husband Nicholson, whose eight nominations include Song, Single and Music Video of the Year for The Divorce Song, plus Heritage Song and Vocal Collaboration nominations for Ntaria with Warren H Williams.
The Wolfe Brothers continue their powerhouse run with eight nominations, including major album and single categories for their project Australian Made and their collaboration with Zac & George. Brendan Radford follows with seven nominations across traditional, bluegrass and album categories.
Other top contenders include Max Jackson, John Williamson, Dean Perrett and Pete Denahy with six nominations each. Several artists, among them James Johnston, Kaylee Bell, Kevin Bennett & The Flood and Sara Storer earned five nominations, highlighting another notably diverse field.
CMAA Chairman Dobe Newton says the strength of entries signals further growth: “Once again, the CMAA is delighted that entries for the 2026 Awards categories have returned to pre-pandemic levels… We look forward to presenting another stellar Golden Guitar Awards event in January.”
The Toyota 54th Golden Guitar Awards will be presented live in Tamworth on January 24, 2026, and livestreamed via the Festival website and Facebook page.
2026 GOLDEN GUITAR AWARD NOMINEES
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
Amen For the Weekend – Lane Pittman
Good For Me – James Johnston
Hold My Horses – Max Jackson
How Many One More Times – The Wolfe Brothers with Zac & George
The Divorce Song – Kasey Chambers featuring Shane Nicholson
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
A Country Heart Can – Max Jackson – Directed by Jeremy Minett
Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers – Directed by Jeremy Minett
I Oughta Know Better – James Johnston – Directed by Jay Seeney
Look at me Now – Fanny Lumsden – Directed by Fanny Lumsden & Dan Stanley Freeman
The Divorce Song – Kasey Chambers featuring Shane Nicholson – Directed by Gabe Coggan, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
VOCAL COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Wade Forster & Max Jackson – Denim
The Wolfe Brothers with Zac & George – How Many One More Times
Warren H Williams, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson – Ntaria
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson – The Divorce Song
Brad Cox & Randy Houser – The High Cost of Living
INSTRUMENTAL OF THE YEAR
Chasing the Demons – Michael Fix
Lyrebird – Wicker Suite
Rush Hour – Lindsay Waddington
Slab Hut Gully – Terry Bennetts, Pete Denahy, Ian Simpson, Mark Donohoe & John Bennetts
Snakes Reach – The High Street Drifters
BLUEGRASS RECORDING OF THE YEAR
Born To Roam – Sons Of Atticus
I Love Lovin' You – Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers
Night At the County Fair – Wicker Suite
They Don't Flick the Finger In the Outback Anymore – Brendan Radford
Words for Leaving – The High Street Drifters
HERITAGE SONG OF THE YEAR
175 – Written by Sara Storer & Matt Fell – Recorded by Sara Storer
Australian Made – Written by Nicholas Wolfe, Thomas Wolfe & Graeme Connors – Recorded by The Wolfe Brothers
Ntaria – Written by Warren H Williams – Recorded by Warren H Williams feat. Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
Take That Buckle Home – Written by Wade Forster & Allan Caswell – Recorded by Wade Forster
The Last Time I Saw Slim – Written & recorded by Pete Denahy
BUSH BALLAD OF THE YEA
At The Rodeo – Pete Denahy
Don't Let the Old Man In, Mate – John Williamson
Modern Day Troubadour – Brendan Radford
Slim's Guitar – Dean Perrett
Wild Roan Brumby – William Alexander
TOYOTA NEW TALENT OF THE YEAR
Felicity Dowd
Felicity Kircher
Sara Berki
Tyla Rodrigues
Wade Forster
COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS GROUP OR DUO OF THE YEAR
Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham
Homegrown Trio
Kevin Bennett & The Flood
The Pleasures
The Wolfe Brothers
MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Andrew Swift
Brad Cox
James Johnston
Travis Collins
Wade Forster
FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Kasey Chambers
Kaylee Bell
Max Jackson
Sara Berki
Sara Storer
SONG OF THE YEAR
A Country Heart Can – Max Jackson
Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers
Back In the Day – James Johnston
Cowboy Up – Kaylee Bell
The Divorce Song – Kasey Chambers feat. Shane Nicholson
ALT/AMERICANA COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Backbone – Kasey Chambers
Choking on Fuel – Imogen Clark
Crucifix and Spinifex – Kevin Bennett & The Flood
Enemy Of My Enemy – The Pleasures
Forest House – Jenny Mitchell
CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Endemic Intelligence in Multiple Dimensions – Brad Cox
Country Soul – Hayley Jensen
Cowboy Up – Kaylee Bell
Worth Your Love – Sara Storer
Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers
TRADITIONAL COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Bush Troubadour – Dean Perrett
Here's To You – Tom Curtain
How Many Songs – John Williamson
Road To Riverleigh – Brendon Walmsley
Start All Over Again – Brendan Radford
TOYOTA ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers
Backbone – Kasey Chambers
Bush Troubadour – Dean Perrett
Choking on Fuel – Imogen Clark
Country Soul – Hayley Jensen
Cowboy Up – Kaylee Bell
Crucifix and Spinifex – Kevin Bennett & The Flood
Endemic Intelligence in Multiple Dimensions – Brad Cox
Enemy Of My Enemy – The Pleasures
Forest House – Jenny Mitchell
Here's To You – Tom Curtain
How Many Songs – John Williamson
Road To Riverleigh – Brendon Walmsley
Start All Over Again – Brendan Radford
Worth Your Love – Sara Storer
Countrytown brings you Australia’s best country music news, interviews, charts and more every week! This post was authored by Countrytown and originally published on the Countrytown website. It has been re-published with permission.
