Kiwi stars shine bright in 2026 Golden Guitar Awards nominations

The nominees for the Toyota 54th Golden Guitar Awards have been announced, and it’s a huge year for Kiwi country music. 

Kaylee Bell and Jenny Mitchell are flying our flag high among Australia’s biggest names, with both artists earning major nominations for the prestigious awards.

The Golden Guitars will be presented on Saturday, January 24th, during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, celebrating the best in country music across Australasia.

Kaylee Bell continues her incredible run, scoring four nominations, including:

• Female Artist of the Year
• Song of the Year – Cowboy Up
• Contemporary Country Album of the Year – Cowboy Up
• Toyota Album of the Year – Cowboy Up

Her album Cowboy Up has been a fan favourite, blending powerhouse vocals with modern country energy.

Jenny Mitchell earned two major nods for her acclaimed album Forest House:

• Alt/Americana Country Album of the Year – Forest House
• Toyota Album of the Year – Forest House

Jenny’s soulful storytelling and authentic sound continue to make waves across the genre.

Full List of 2026 Golden Guitar Award Nominees

Single of the Year

• Amen For the Weekend – Lane Pittman
• Good For Me – James Johnston
• Hold My Horses – Max Jackson
• How Many One More Times – The Wolfe Brothers with Zac & George
• The Divorce Song – Kasey Chambers featuring Shane Nicholson

Video of the Year

• A Country Heart Can – Max Jackson – Directed by Jeremy Minett
• Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers – Directed by Jeremy Minett
• I Oughta Know Better – James Johnston – Directed by Jay Seeney
• Look at Me Now – Fanny Lumsden – Directed by Fanny Lumsden & Dan Stanley Freeman
• The Divorce Song – Kasey Chambers featuring Shane Nicholson – Directed by Gabe Coggan, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson

Vocal Collaboration of the Year

• Wade Forster & Max Jackson – Denim
• The Wolfe Brothers with Zac & George – How Many One More Times
• Warren H Williams, Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson – Ntaria
• Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson – The Divorce Song
• Brad Cox & Randy Houser – The High Cost of Living

Instrumental of the Year

• Chasing the Demons – Michael Fix
• Lyrebird – Wicker Suite
• Rush Hour – Lindsay Waddington
• Slab Hut Gully – Terry Bennetts, Pete Denahy, Ian Simpson, Mark Donohoe & John Bennetts
• Snakes Reach – The High Street Drifters

Bluegrass Recording of the Year

• Born To Roam – Sons Of Atticus
• I Love Lovin' You – Michael Carpenter & The Banks Brothers
• Night At the County Fair – Wicker Suite
• They Don't Flick the Finger In the Outback Anymore – Brendan Radford
• Words for Leaving – The High Street Drifters

Heritage Song of the Year

• 175 – Written by Sara Storer & Matt Fell – Recorded by Sara Storer
• Australian Made – Written by Nicholas Wolfe, Thomas Wolfe & Graeme Connors – Recorded by The Wolfe Brothers
• Ntaria – Written by Warren H Williams – Recorded by Warren H Williams feat. Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson
• Take That Buckle Home – Written by Wade Forster & Allan Caswell – Recorded by Wade Forster
• The Last Time I Saw Slim – Written & recorded by Pete Denahy

Bush Ballad of the Year

• At The Rodeo – Pete Denahy
• Don't Let the Old Man In, Mate – John Williamson
• Modern Day Troubadour – Brendan Radford
• Slim's Guitar – Dean Perrett
• Wild Roan Brumby – William Alexander

Toyota New Talent of the Year

• Felicity Dowd
• Felicity Kircher
• Sara Berki
• Tyla Rodrigues
• Wade Forster

Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year

• Felicity Urquhart & Josh Cunningham
• Homegrown Trio
• Kevin Bennett & The Flood
• The Pleasures
• The Wolfe Brothers

Male Artist of the Year

• Andrew Swift
• Brad Cox
• James Johnston
• Travis Collins
• Wade Forster

Female Artist of the Year

• Kasey Chambers
• Kaylee Bell
• Max Jackson
• Sara Berki
• Sara Storer

Song of the Year

• A Country Heart Can – Max Jackson
• Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers
• Back In the Day – James Johnston
• Cowboy Up – Kaylee Bell
• The Divorce Song – Kasey Chambers feat. Shane Nicholson

Alt/Americana Country Album of the Year

• Backbone – Kasey Chambers
• Choking on Fuel – Imogen Clark
• Crucifix and Spinifex – Kevin Bennett & The Flood
• Enemy Of My Enemy – The Pleasures
• Forest House – Jenny Mitchell

Contemporary Country Album of the Year

• Endemic Intelligence in Multiple Dimensions – Brad Cox
• Country Soul – Hayley Jensen
• Cowboy Up – Kaylee Bell
• Worth Your Love – Sara Storer
• Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers

Traditional Country Album of the Year

• Bush Troubadour – Dean Perrett
• Here's To You – Tom Curtain
• How Many Songs – John Williamson
• Road To Riverleigh – Brendon Walmsley
• Start All Over Again – Brendan Radford

Toyota Album of the Year

• Australian Made – The Wolfe Brothers
• Backbone – Kasey Chambers
• Bush Troubadour – Dean Perrett
• Choking on Fuel – Imogen Clark
• Country Soul – Hayley Jensen
• Cowboy Up – Kaylee Bell
• Crucifix and Spinifex – Kevin Bennett & The Flood
• Endemic Intelligence in Multiple Dimensions – Brad Cox
• Enemy Of My Enemy – The Pleasures
• Forest House – Jenny Mitchell
• Here's To You – Tom Curtain
• How Many Songs – John Williamson
• Road To Riverleigh – Brendon Walmsley
• Start All Over Again – Brendan Radford
• Worth Your Love – Sara Storer

The Toyota 54th Golden Guitar Awards will be streamed live from Tamworth on January 24, 2026 via the festival website and Facebook page.

Hear Kaylee Bell, Jenny Mitchell, Brad Cox and more of your favourite Australasian country artists on iHeartCountry NZ by using the player below.