NSW Music Prize Nominations Committees and Judging Panels
The NSW Music Prize is an annual prize delivered by Sound NSW celebrating the rich creativity and contribution of NSW artists to the contemporary music sector.
It is the largest cash prize for contemporary music artists in the country. It includes three categories:
- NSW Music Prize
- NSW First Nations Music Prize
- NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
The NSW Music Prize will acknowledge exceptional NSW music artists for their creative contributions and award them with a life-changing cash investment to help advance their careers.
The eligibility period for the 2026 NSW Music Prize is the 2025/26 financial year – from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.
NSW Music Prize Nominations Committee and Judging Panel members will share their music expertise to nominate, assess and discuss NSW contemporary music artists or acts, releases and their impact over the last 12 months. This will contribute to the finalist and winner selections for each category of the Prize.
There are four judging groups with varying roles and responsibilities.
The Nominations Committee will consist of 20 members. Their role is to submit nominations for the NSW Music Prize and the NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year which will result in a list of finalists.
The Judging Panel will consist of 5 members. Their role is to review the list of finalists for the NSW Music Prize and the NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year and select the winner for each category. They are a separate group from the Nominations Committee.
The First Nations Nominations Committee will consist of 5 members. Their role is to submit nominations for the NSW First Nations Music Prize which will result in a list of finalists.
The First Nations Judging Panel will consist of 3 members. Their role is to review the list of finalists for the NSW First Nations Music Prize and select the winner for the category. They are a separate group from the First Nations Nominations Committee.
The Nominations Committee and Judging Panel will include Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander representation, however all members of the First Nations Nominations Committee and First Nations Judging Panel must identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
No, it is not possible to apply for a specific judging group. By applying for the Expression of Interest, you are applying to contribute to the selection of the NSW Music Prize.
Sound NSW will assess applications and make final selections based on the eligibility and assessment criteria. Consideration will also be given to reflect a broad and diverse representation of the contemporary music sector including gender, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, age and career stage, people with disability, people from Western Sydney and regional and remote communities.
Yes, you can apply for the Expression of Interest if you do not live in NSW. To be eligible you must be:
- an active member of the Australian contemporary music sector
- an Australian resident or citizen (living abroad is acceptable)
- aged 18 or over.
Applications are invited from artists, music industry professionals, media professionals and those in music businesses and organisations, including (but not limited to): artists, songwriters, managers, producers, music programmers, presenters, label staff, publishers, publicists, journalists, radio hosts, content creators, tour and festival promoters, as well as staff in music organisations.
The Nominations Committees and Judging Panels will reflect a diversity of skills and experience. Members will have a strong understanding of the contemporary music sector, in particular the NSW music landscape and activity across the industry over the last 12 months. They will be well positioned to critically assess music releases, artistic growth and impact on community.
Sound NSW is committed to ensuring diversity across cultural, geographical, gender, age and genre-expertise representation on the Nominations Committees and Judging Panels and encourages all interested applicants to apply.
If your application is successful, you will be invited to join the NSW Music Prize Nominations Committees or Judging Panels for the period of the 2026 NSW Music Prize.
A Code of Conduct governs the NSW Music Prize Nominations Committee and Judging Panel members’ participation. All members will be required to declare their interests and known conflicts of interest upon appointment and again prior to the commencement of nominations and assessments. Conflicts will be assessed in an ongoing manner as they may arise and managed appropriately in accordance with assessment criteria and guidelines.
Nominations Committee nominations and assessments will take place online. Judging Panel discussions can occur in a hybrid format (online, or in person at a location in Sydney, NSW).
Nominations Committee and Judging Panel members appointed through the Expression of Interest application process will serve for the 2026 NSW Music Prize only.
The Nominations Committee’s role is to submit nominations for the NSW Music Prize and the NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year, over a two-week period.
The Judging Panel’s role is to review the list of finalists for the NSW Music Prize and the NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year and select the winner for each category. Finalists will be reviewed and assessed over a one-week period.
The First Nations Nominations Committee’s role is to submit nominations for the NSW First Nations Music Prize, over a two-week period.
The First Nations Judging Panel’s role is to review the list of finalists for the NSW First Nations Music Prize and select the winner for the category. Finalists will be reviewed and assessed over a one-week period.
If your Expression of Interest application is successful to join the Nominations Committees or Judging Panels, members will be paid a fee.
Nominations Committee members will be paid $880, equivalent to four days' work at a committee member rate.
Judges will be paid $1,100, equivalent to five days' work at a committee member rate.
The two judging panels will also each have a Chair, who will be paid $1,750 instead of $1,100, equivalent to five days' work at a committee Chair rate.
Any NSW Public Service employee appointed to the Nominations Committees or Judging Panels does not receive a fee.
No, appointment to the Nominations Committees and Judging Panels will not prohibit you, or any organisations you are associated with, from applying for Sound NSW grants.
The Nominations Committee and Judging Panel members are not involved in the assessment of grant applications to Sound NSW programs, unless already engaged as a Sound NSW Industry Assessor. Sound NSW Industry Assessors are eligible to submit an Expression of Interest for the NSW Music Prize Nominations Committees and Judging Panels.
Yes, current Industry Assessor Pool members can apply to be considered for appointment to the NSW Music Prize Nominations Committees and Judging Panels.
Yes, current Sound NSW Advisory Board members can apply to be considered for appointment to the NSW Music Prize Nominations Committee and Judging Panels.
NSW Music Prize
Further information on eligibility for the NSW Music Prize will be shared soon.
- NSW Music Prize - $80,000
- NSW First Nations Music Prize - $40,000
- NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year - $40,000
The cash prize can be used to assist the artist or act further their own careers. It is not a grant, and therefore winners will not be required to acquit the prize money they receive.
No. Nominations for all award categories are made by the Nominations Committee, a group of experts from across the contemporary music industry established to submit nominations for the NSW Music Prize and NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year, resulting in a list of finalists for both categories. The Judging Panel will review the list of finalists and select the winners of each category.
A Nominations Committee of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander industry experts will be appointed to submit nominations for the NSW First Nations Music Prize, resulting in a list of finalists for the category. The First Nations Judging Panel will review the list of finalists and select the winner of the category.
Finalists for all three awards will be announced in October 2026.
The winners will be announced during Ausmusic Month in November 2026 in Sydney.