Genesis Owusu Leads Triple J’s 2026 J Awards Nominations

With three nominations, Genesis Owusu leads the pack heading into triple J’s 2026 J Awards, while Ecca Vandal, Julia Jacklin and Miss Kaninna are among the two-time nominees.

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Owusu is a hard man to beat. In a career spanning just three albums, the genre-blurring artist has already collected the Australian Music Prize, the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition, AIR Awards, seven ARIAs, and he claimed triple j’s coveted J Award for Australian album of the year in 2021 with his debut Smiling With No Teeth. The Ghana-born, Canberra-raised artist can fill his boots once again with triple j’s Australian album (Redstar Wu & The Worldwide Scourge), Australian live act and music video of the year (“Stampede,” directed by Isaac Brown).

Ecca Vandal is up for live act and album of the year (for Looking For People To Unfollow); Jacklin has chances for album of the year (The Gem) and music video of the year, jointly presented with ABC’s music video program Rage (for “The Hardest Thing,” directed by Danny Cohen); and Miss Kaninna is in the running for live act and music video of the year (for “Backstreets,” directed by Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore).

This year, triple j is handing out trophies in five categories: Australian album of the year, Unearthed artist of the year, Double J artist of the year, Australian music video of the year, and Australian live act of the year. 

Nominations in each category are shaped from triple j staff, while the final judging panel of each award consists of the music and on-air teams at triple j, Unearthed, Double J and rage.

All counted, 23 Australian artists and four directors are in the hunt. Winners announced on air Thursday afternoon, Nov. 12, to kick off Ausmusic Month on triple j, Double J and Unearthed. Read more here.

2026 J Award Nominees:

Unearthed Artist of the Year 

DEVAURA 

KAYPS 

Public Figures   

Swapmeet   

The Tullamarines   

triple j Australian Album of the Year 

Bugs – HEAD NOISE   

Ecca Vandal – LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW 

Genesis Owusu – REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE   

Julia Jacklin – The Gem  

Kayps – BUNUBA BABY   

Nerve – Growing Pains 

South Summit – RUN IT BACK   

Swapmeet – Mount Zero   

Sycco – Look Up   

Troye Sivan – She’s the Best   

Australian Live act of the Year 

Ecca Vandal   

Genesis Owusu   

Miss Kaninna   

Ninajirachi 

Tame Impala   

triple j & Rage Music Video of the Year 

Drifting Clouds – “Rarrandharr” – Directed by Matt Sav    

Elektronik Girl Epic - ”I Love Stealing From Woolies” – Directed by Elektronik Girl Epic   

Genesis Owusu – “STAMPEDE” – Directed by Isaac Brown    

Julia Jacklin – “The Hardest Thing” – Directed by Danny Cohen    

Miss Kaninna - ”BACKSTREETS” – Directed by Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore