Ball Park Music take two top awards as 2026 Queensland Music Awards unveiled on the Gold Coast

Ball Park Music dominated the 2026 Queensland Music Awards on April 22, collecting Album of the Year and Highest Selling Album as the state’s music community gathered at Miami Marketta on the Gold Coast.

“From the success of Ball Park Music and Jem Cassar-Daley to the international achievements of Hollow Coves, tonight’s winners and nominees highlight the strength and diversity of Queensland’s contemporary music industry,” Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said.

Jem Cassar-Daley’s Kiss Me Like You’re Leaving was named Song of the Year and also won the Pop category, Fisher’s Stay took Highest Selling Single, and Hollow Coves were recognised as Export Artist. Other genre winners included DZ Deathrays in Rock, Dami Im in Jazz and Young Franco in Electronic, underscoring a broad sweep of styles on the night.

The awards also spotlighted venues and industry contributors, with Maleny Music Festival named Festival of the Year, The Tivoli taking Metro Venue of the Year, Miami Marketta earning Regional Venue of the Year, and Den Devine recognised as Accessible & Inclusive Venue.

Community broadcaster 4ZZZ received the Lifetime Achievement award, while Odd Mob was named Breakthrough Artist, JUNGAJI took Indigenous Artist of the Year, Mallrat was Producer of the Year and Djawarray was Regional Artist of the Year. Scholarships and fellowships went to Frank and Louis (Billy Thorpe Scholarship), Paulina (Carol Lloyd Awards), Dubbzone (Dennis Mop Conlon Scholarship) and Banff (Grant McLennan Fellowship).

Full list of winners: - Blues/Roots – Lontano, Way Too Long - Children’s Music – Joff Bush, I Don’t Have a Chimney (ft.

Emma Dean) - Contemporary Classical – Abigail Lui & Camerata, Memory in the Distant Hills - Country – Tori Darke, Remember Me Like That - Electronic – Young Franco, Lose Control - Folk – The Dreggs, We Don’t Talk - Heavy – Upsetter, Best Years of My Life - Hip Hop – Say True God?, COUNT US IN - Jazz – Dami Im, Bubble - Music for Screen – Georgia D’Arcy, Creek - Music Video of the Year – Loki Liddle & Joshua Tate, Breaking Into Heaven – Selve - Pop – Jem Cassar-Daley, Kiss Me Like You’re Leaving - Rock – DZ Deathrays, Skyline - Soul/Funk/RnB – BADASSMUTHA, BUB - World Award – Tenzin Choegyal, Snow Flower - Festival of the Year – Maleny Music Festival - Metro Venue of the Year – The Tivoli - Regional Venue of the Year – Miami Marketta - Album of the Year – Ball Park Music - Highest Selling Album – Ball Park Music - Highest Selling Single – Fisher, Stay - Export Artist – Hollow Coves - Song of the Year – Jem Cassar-Daley, Kiss Me Like You’re Leaving - Lifetime Achievement – 4ZZZ - Accessible & Inclusive Venue – Den Devine - Breakthrough Artist – Odd Mob - Indigenous Artist of the Year – JUNGAJI - Producer of the Year – Mallrat - Regional Artist of the Year – Djawarray - Billy Thorpe Scholarship – Frank and Louis - Carol Lloyd Awards – Paulina - Dennis Mop Conlon Scholarship – Dubbzone - Grant McLennan Fellowship – Banff The results capped a night that, as Langbroek noted, showcased the breadth of Queensland’s contemporary music — from chart-toppers to community stalwarts and emerging talent.