The 2026 Countrytown Awards Nominee List Is Out—And The Excitement Is Building! This year, the highly anticipated Countrytown Awards are making a triumphant return, fully revitalized and more thrilling than ever. Sponsored by Traveller Whiskey, these awards present country music aficionados with a fantastic opportunity to cast their votes in Australia's largest public poll dedicated specifically to country music fans. And here's where it gets really interesting—your voice really matters, as it directly influences who wins across various categories.
Want to make your favorite artists stand out? You can participate now by visiting the official voting page at the Countrytown Awards website (https://countrytown.com/artist/ai10f3x9YmM/countrytown-awards). By voting, you'll also be entered into a draw to win tickets to the legendary CMC Rocks 2026 festival, an incredible experience for any country music lover (https://countrytown.com/awards).
Following its hugely successful debut last year in 2025, the Awards are back with fresh energy, this time proudly presented by the renowned singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey. Voting officially opened recently (https://countrytown.com/awards), inviting fans to choose their favorites across ten categories in this exciting quest to recognize the brightest stars and most notable achievements in country music. Remember, your votes determine who takes home the accolades!
In terms of nominations, Hayley Jensen leads the pack with an impressive five nods, making her a standout contender. Not far behind are James Johnston, Lane Pittman, Max Jackson, Wade Forster, and The Wolfe Brothers, each racking up four nominations. The awards also spotlight first-time nominees, including last year’s host Andrew Swift, along with fresh talent such as Austin Mackay, Briana Dinsdale, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Fanny Lumsden, Jake Whittaker, Josie, KINGSWOOD, Lewis Love, Mack Geiger, Piper Butcher, The Pleasures, Sons of Atticus, Sweet Talk, Tom Curtain, Tori Darke, Travis Collins, and the Zac Cross Band.
On the festival horizon, new nominees like The Bend Classic, Howlin’ Country, and Strummingbird are joining the fold, expanding the Awards family in their second incredible year.
For those who love international artists, the Countrytown International Award recognizes the best foreign act to tour Australia in 2025. This year’s nominees include big names such as Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, LeAnn Rimes, Luke Combs, Max McNown, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, and Tyler Childers, showcasing an epic array of talent that graced our stages last year.
The finalists will be announced on March 16, leading up to the exclusive awards luncheon scheduled for March 19 in Brisbane. This celebration will bring together Australia’s most celebrated country stars and industry insiders for an unforgettable event celebrating a remarkable year in country music.
And here’s an exciting bonus—by voting, not only can you influence the outcome for your favorite artists, but you also stand a chance to win a double pass to CMC Rocks Queensland this March! Imagine rubbing shoulders with your idols in person!
Looking back at last year’s event, it was a huge success. James Johnston took home the Award for Entertainer of the Year, while John Williamson was honored with the inaugural ‘Legend’ award, presented by Lee Kernaghan. The event was buzzing, with industry legends and fans alike enjoying a lively, celebratory atmosphere. Attendees included fellow winners like Kaylee Bell and The Wolfe Brothers, alongside performances from Kashus Culpepper, Homegrown Trio, Tori Forsyth, and many more—solidifying the Countrytown Awards as the premier event on the country music calendar.
So don’t miss out—voting is now open at countrytown.com/awards and will run until Saturday, February 28 at 5 pm AEDT. Join the excitement and make your voice heard in shaping the future of Australian country music!
2026 Countrytown Awards Nominee Highlights:
- Entertainer of the Year: Casey Barnes, Fanny Lumsden, Hayley Jensen, James Johnston, Kaylee Bell, Lane Pittman, Max Jackson, Taylor Moss, The Wolfe Brothers, Wade Forster.
- Female Artist of the Year: Amber Lawrence, Amy Sheppard, Bella Mackenzie, Caitlyn Shadbolt, Hayley Jensen, Kaylee Bell, Max Jackson, Rachael Fahim, Sara Berki, Tori Darke.
- Male Artist of the Year: Andrew Swift, Brad Cox, Casey Barnes, Dylan Wright, James Johnston, Keith Urban, Lane Pittman, Morgan Evans, Travis Collins, Wade Forster.
- Group or Duo of the Year: The Buckleys, Homegrown Trio, KINGSWOOD, The Pleasures, Sweet Talk, Sons of Atticus, The Wet Whistles, The Wolfe Brothers, Zac & George, Zac Cross Band.
- Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Abbie Ferris, Austin Mackay, Briana Dinsdale, Jake Whittaker, Josie, Lewis Love, Mack Geiger, Piper Butcher, Tyla Rodrigues, The Wet Whistles.
- Song of the Year: A variety of hit tracks from Casey Barnes, Hayley Jensen, James Johnston, Lane Pittman, Max Jackson, Rachael Fahim, Sara Berki, Tori Darke, Tyla Rodrigues, The Wolfe Brothers.
- Album of the Year: Albums from Amy Sheppard, Andrew Swift, Brad Cox, Hayley Jensen, James Johnston, Kaylee Bell, Tom Curtain, Travis Collins, Wade Forster, The Wolfe Brothers.
- International Artist of the Year: Featuring stars like Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Jelly Roll, Kelsea Ballerini, LeAnn Rimes, Luke Combs, among others.
- Australian Tour of the Year: Highlighting tours by Hayley Jensen, Kasey Chambers, Keith Urban, KINGSWOOD, Lane Pittman, Lee Kernaghan, Max Jackson, Rachael Fahim, Sara Berki, Wade Forster.
- Festival of the Year: Events such as The Bend Classic, CMC Rocks, Deni Ute Muster, and the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Voting is live now at countrytown.com/awards. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this fantastic celebration of country music and possibly win your way to one of Australia’s biggest festivals! Huge thank-yous are owed to our major supporters—Island Records/Universal Music Australia, Live Nation, MGM Distribution, Sony Music Australia, Spotify, TEG Live, Warner Music Australia—as well as our Silver partners including ABC Music, EMPRE, G.Y.R.O., and Wheelhouse Agency. Lastly, special gratitude goes to CMC Rocks for their ongoing support, helping to keep this event at the heart of our country music landscape.
