The Toyota 54th Golden Guitar Awards were held on Saturday 24 January in Tamworth at TRECC. The night celebrated the best of the best and delivered big wins, epic performances and a clear message: country music’s future is loud, proud and stacked with talent.
Leading the charge were Tasmanian brother duo The Wolfe Brothers who absolutely dominated the evening walking away with five Golden Guitar Awards. Their wins included Country Music Capital News Group of the Year, 2026 Toyota Album of the Year and Contemporary Country Album of the Year for their studio album Australian Made, produced by Nick Wolfe and Rod McCormack.
It was a massive night for the brothers, who also took home Heritage Song of the Year for their title track written with Graeme Connors, which they performed live on the night. As well as their collaboration with Zac & George, How Many One More Times, scored Vocal Collaboration of the Year, rounding out an already massive haul.
Country royalty Kasey Chambers also had a huge night, adding three more trophies to her already impressive collection, bringing her total Golden Guitar count to 27. Her 13th studio album Backbone was named Alt Country Album of the Year, while The Divorce Song, featuring ex-husband Shane Nicholson, claimed both Song of the Year and Single of the Year.
Wade Forster had what can only be described as a breakout year turned victory lap. The rodeo cowboy and 2024 Toyota Star Maker winner was named both Toyota New Talent of the Year and Male Artist of the Year.
In 2025 alone, Forster toured Australia and New Zealand with US superstar Cody Johnson on the Leather Deluxe Tour, before heading stateside to join Texas band The Lowdown Drifters for The Low Down Under Tour. Not bad for a new talent.
Max Jackson reclaimed the Female Artist of the Year title for the second year in a row, continuing her rapid rise since winning Toyota Star Maker in 2022. She’s now taken home four Golden Guitar Awards in just three years, and capped off the night with a performance of A Country Heart Can.
There were also major wins across the genre spectrum. Brendon Radford secured Traditional Album of the Year for Start All Over Again, William Alexander took Bush Ballad of the Year for Wild Roan Brumby, and Wicker Suite won Instrumental of the Year for Lyrebird. Sons of Atticus picked up their first Golden Guitar, winning Bluegrass Recording of the Year for Born to Roam, and Fanny Lumsden claimed Video of the Year for Look At Me Now, which she directed alongside husband Dan Stanley Freeman.
Beyond the competitive categories, the night also honoured legacy and leadership. Adam Harvey was inducted into the Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown, joining icons like Slim Dusty and Lee Kernaghan.
Barry Harley OAM, long time Tamworth Country Music Festival Manager, received the Country Music Capital Award for his outstanding contribution over five decades.
With 12 live performances and 18 awards handed out on the night, the 2026 Golden Guitar Awards felt like a snapshot of a genre confidently stepping into its next era.
2026 Golden Guitar Awards Winners
The Wolfe Brothers
Country Music Capital News Group of the Year
2026 Toyota Album of the Year - Australian Made
Contemporary Country Album of the Year - Australian Made
Heritage Song of the Year - Australian Made
Vocal Collaboration of the Year - How Many One More Times
Kasey Chambers
Alt Country Album of the Year - Backbone
Song of the Year - The Divorce Song
Single of the Year - The Divorce Song
Wade Forster
Toyota New Talent of the Year
Male Artist of the Year
Max Jackson
Female Artist of the Year
Brendon Radford
Traditional Album of the Year - Start All Over Again
William Alexander
Bush Ballad of the Year - Wild Roan Brumby
Wicker Suite
Instrumental of the Year - Lyrebird
Sons of Atticus
Bluegrass Recording of the Year - Born to Roam
Fanny Lumsden
Video of the Year - Look At Me Now
Zac & George
Vocal Collaboration of the Year - How Many One More Times
Adam Harvey
Australasian Country Music Roll of Renown Inductee
Barry Harley OAM
Country Music Capital Award
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.
