Keli Holiday Leads 2025 ARIA Awards Nominations as Full Nomination List Unveiled

Keli Holiday, the boyfriend of television presenter Abbie Chatfield, leads the nominations for the 2025 ARIA Awards as the full list of nominees is announced. The slate spans a broad range of genres and categories, underscoring a vibrant Australian music scene. Among the contenders are marquee acts such as Amyl and The Sniffers, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Thelma Plum, Ninajirachi, Kylie Minogue and The Kid LAROI, along with a host of others vying across field-leading categories.

Album of the Year nominees reflect a diverse cross-section of Australian acts, with Amyl and The Sniffers among the prominent contenders and multiple titles recognized for creative scope. The category also includes Missy Higgins, Ninajirachi, RÜFÜS DU SOL, and The Second Act, among others, highlighting a mix of rock, indie and electronic-inspired projects across the landscape. The other marquee categories spotlight solo artists, groups and up-and-coming talents who have shaped the year’s sound across Australia.

Best Solo Artist nominees demonstrate the depth of the field, with artists such as BARKAA, Dom Dolla, Kylie Minogue, Mallrat, Missy Higgins, Ninajirachi, Paul Kelly, The Kid LAROI, Thelma Plum and Young Franco among those singled out for their individual work. The list signals a mix of established names and rising stars who have pushed in different directions—from pop and dance to alt‑folk and r&b-inflected sounds. Other major categories honor Best Group, where Amyl and The Sniffers, Folk Bitch Trio, Hilltop Hoods, Royel Otis and RÜFÜS DU SOL are cited, alongside several other collaborative and ensemble projects.

The ARIA Awards also recognize independent releases, with Ball Park Music, Confidence Man, Folk Bitch Trio and Ninajirachi among the acts highlighted for work released outside the major-label system. In the Pop Release field, artists such as G Flip, Kita Alexander, Kylie Minogue, Mallrat and Thelma Plum appear alongside other pop-focused acts. The Dance / Electronic category highlights a slate that includes Confidence Man, Dom Dolla and FISHER, among others, reflecting Australia’s strong club and festival circuits.

In the hip-hop and rap space, BARKAA, Hilltop Hoods and The Kid LAROI feature in nominations that showcase Australia’s expanding spectrum of rhymes and rhythm, while the Soul / R&B and country sets include a carefully curated cross-section of voices from Larissa Lambert to Kasey Chambers. Across the craft categories, such as Best Engineered Release and Best Produced Release, nominations recognize the work of engineers, producers and visual artists who shape the final product—from front‑of‑house performances to studio and mastering rooms.

Publicly voted categories form a key portion of the ARIA slate, with Best Video nominations highlighting music videos that have connected with audiences nationwide. Among the nominees are entries from RÜFÜS DU SOL, Missy Higgins and Spacey Jane, as well as performances by Royel Otis and Amyl and The Sniffers, reflecting a mix of cinematic clips and conceptually ambitious visuals. The ARIA public-voted awards also span Best Australian Live Act, which acknowledges the country’s strongest touring acts, and Song of the Year, which recognizes standout compositions across genres.

The nominations come at a pivotal moment for the Australian industry, illustrating the country’s continued breadth of musical production—from gritty guitar-driven records to glossy pop sensibilities and club-ready electronic releases. The ARIA Awards have long served as a touchstone for domestic artists seeking national recognition, and this year’s field signals a robust year for both established names and new voices seeking broader audience connections. Winners will be announced at a ceremony to be scheduled by ARIA in the coming weeks, with details about performances and presentations expected to follow.

As the industry awaits the final results, observers note that the nominations reflect a year of prolific output across Australia’s music scenes, with multiple artists crossing stylistic boundaries and collaborating across genres. The public and industry alike will be watching closely to see which acts land multiple accolades and which rising talents break through to a wider audience in 2025.