Tonight, one of Australia’s most exciting dance music artists Ninajirachi has been awarded the second ever NSW Music Prize, with 3% winning the NSW First Nations Music Prize and BOY SODA winning NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
The NSW Music Prize was established by the Minns Labor Government last year to celebrate and inspire local musicians and strengthen the music industry in the face of increasing competition from overseas artists via streaming platforms.
The NSW Music Prize recognises and celebrates the creativity and contribution of local artists to the contemporary music sector, and this year 16 outstanding finalists were in contention across three categories for the $160,000 prize pool:
- The winner of the 2026 NSW Music Prize ($80,000) for a NSW artist or act whose release has had the most significant impact is ARIA Award-winning Ninajirachi, for her debut studio album I Love My Computer.
- The winner of the NSW First Nations Music Prize ($40,000) for a NSW artist or act who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, whose body of work had a significant and meaningful impact is hip-hop group 3%, for their singles These Days, Running Through My Head, and Our Greats.
- The winner of the NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year ($40,000) for an emerging NSW artist or act who has had a groundbreaking year, is R&B/Soul artist, BOY SODA.
The ceremony was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia at the beginning of Ausmusic Month and emceed by triple j Mornings host Lucy Smith. The event featured live performances from RAGEFLOWER, BOY SODA and 3%, and was a celebration of the 2026 winners and finalists with the local music industry.
The NSW Music Prize is delivered by Sound NSW and is a key commitment of the NSW Government’s 10-year Contemporary Music Strategy, honouring artistic achievement and highlighting the vital role music plays in shaping culture and community across the state.
More information on the NSW Music Prize is available on the Sound NSW website.
NSW Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:
“This is what a world-class music scene sounds like, and the NSW Government is backing the live music industry with the biggest cash prize in the country.
“NSW music is having a moment and these three winners are leading it. Congratulations to Ninajirachi, 3% and BOY SODA, we can’t wait to see where this takes you.
“Last year Ninajirachi took home the inaugural Breakthrough Artist of the Year title, and it’s been exciting to see her career trajectory over the past 12 months, to receiving the 2026 NSW Music Prize tonight.
“To every nominee, you’ve given us a year of incredible music. Keep going, because NSW is listening.”
Head of Sound NSW Emily Collins said:
“This year’s nominees were extraordinary, making for some tough decisions for our judging panels.
“Great music doesn’t come out of nowhere. It comes from artists willing to take risks, push boundaries and create music that truly connects with people.
“The NSW Music Prize was created to celebrate exactly that. Ninajirachi, 3% and BOY SODA each embody the innovation, authenticity and creative ambition that keeps NSW at the forefront of Australian music.
“Sound NSW is proud to deliver a prize that celebrates our artists and invests in their futures, and we can’t wait to see what the winners do next.”
Winner of the 2026 NSW Music Prize Ninajirachi said:
“Thank you so much for awarding me the 2026 NSW Music Prize for my album I Love My Computer.
“So much of this music is about growing up on the Central Coast in NSW. There are lyrics about getting the 64 bus home from school, there’s a lyric about it taking an hour to get from Kincumber to Gosford, and we shot some of the music videos in Copacabana and Avoca.
“It means a lot for it to be honoured in this way. This album has changed my life, thank you so much Sound NSW.”
2026 NSW Music Prize winner biographies:
- Ninajirachi is raising the flag for a new generation of Australian electronic artists on the international stage. From festival appearances at Coachella, Lollapalooza, Laneway, and Spilt Milk to sold-out headline shows across Australia, New Zealand, and North America, she has quickly emerged as one of electronic music’s most exciting new voices. Her debut album I Love My Computer, led by singles “All I Am,” “iPod Touch,” “F*ck My Computer,” “Infohazard,” and “Delete,” debuted at #1 on the ARIA Dance Albums Chart and became a defining cultural moment, earning eight ARIA Award nominations and winning three, alongside the 2025 Australian Music Prize and triple j’s Album of the Year. Praised by Pitchfork, Billboard, and Dazed, Ninajirachi continues to bridge the experimental underground and mainstream as her global audience rapidly grows.
- 3%, the ARIA Award-winning First Nations hip-hop group brings together Nooky, Dallas Woods and Mi-kaisha Rose Masella in a powerful new chapter. Grounded in culture, community, truth-telling and sharp lyricism, 3% fuse hip-hop, soul and contemporary First Nations storytelling to speak to identity, strength, survival and justice. Their critically acclaimed debut album Kill the Dead established the group as a vital force in Australian music and earned national recognition, including an ARIA Award. In 2026, 3% entered a new era with “Not Many (Ganay Biralunbar)”, featuring Fred Leone and Scribe, blending hard-hitting production, language and cultural storytelling. The release was amplified through a major FOX Sports / NRL Finals campaign and a standout BIGSOUND 2026 performance. With Mi-kaisha joining Nooky and Dallas, 3% continue creating space for First Nations voices, stories and culture on Australia’s biggest stages.
- BOY SODA is a Sydney based R&B artist based in Sydney, NSW. His debut album SOUL STAR has received high acclaim both from Australia and international audiences alike. His debut single from the album Lil Obsession securing the Aria Award for Best Soul/R&B release at the 2025 Aria awards with the Deluxe version of the album eligible for this years awards. SOULSTAR plays as its title suggests: a bold and triumphant re-introduction to BOY SODA’s idiosyncratic talent backed by a musical manifesto that relies on community, collaboration and endless self-learning. The album currently sits at over 15 million streams Boy soda has just completed shows in Japan in front of 15,000 people at the famed Summer Sonic Festival in August, and his first US dated in LA and New York in September before heading home in October for shows in Sydney and Melbourne.
