2026 Screen Music Awards Returns to Brisbane This October

The Screen Music Awards will return to Brisbane's Fortitude Music Hall on October 28th, with Rob Collins set to host the annual celebration of Australian screen composers.

Presented by APRA AMCOS and The Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC), the awards will be held at the Fortitude Valley venue for the second consecutive year and recognise work across film, television, documentaries, children's programming, advertising, video games and other screen formats.

This year's ceremony will also form part of APRA's centenary celebrations, marking 100 years of the organisation supporting Australian songwriters and composers.

“For 100 years, APRA has existed to celebrate and support the people behind the music, and the Screen Music Awards are an integral part of that,” APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormiston said.

“Australian screen composers help shape stories we remember long after the credits roll, and we're thrilled to return to Brisbane to honour the outstanding creators helping our nation's stories resonate here and around the world.”

Actor, singer and APRA member Rob Collins will host the 2026 event, with Claudia Karvan OAM and Ayesha Madon joining as guest presenters.

Composer and performer Erikki Veltheim will return as Music Director for the final time, leading a live orchestra through selections from nominated works during the ceremony. 

AGSC president Amanda Brown said the awards provide a rare opportunity for Australia's screen composition community ti come together and recognise its work.

“Once a year, creatures of the studio emerge from their sonic caves to socialise and rejoice in the recognition of their creative fruits,” Brown said.

"I look forward to acknowledging and celebrating the talent, imagination and expertise of all my colleagues who contribute so much to the screen industry both locally and internationally."

The Screen Music Awards span 16 categories, with the majority determined by panels of Australian screen composers.

Categories include Feature Film Score of the Year, Best Music for a Television Drama, Best Music for a Television Comedy, Best Music for a Documentary, Best Original Song Composed for the Screen and Best Soundtrack Album.

Awards will also be presented for music created for children's programming, advertising, short films, unscripted and reality television, video games and interactive media, along with opening title themes.

The APRA Board of Directors will select recipients of the Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award and Emerging Screen Composer of the Year.

Two further categories, Most Performed Screen Composer — Australia and Most Performed Screen Composer — Overseas, will be determined using statistical analysis.

Nominees for the 2026 Screen Music Awards will be announced on September 22nd.

The 2026 Screen Music Awards will be held at Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, from 5.30pm on Wednesday, October 28th.