Baker Boy Leads Powerful 2026 NIMAs Lineup

The lineup for the 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) has dropped, led by the incredible Baker Boy.

Returning to the Darwin Amphitheatre on August 8th, the annual event will once again form part of a wider week of Indigenous arts and cultural celebrations across Garramilla/Darwin. 

Following the release of his second album, DJANDJAY, which arrived last year and featured collaborations with Briggs, Haiku Hands, Thelma Plum and Emma Donovan, Baker Boy will take the stage. The Yolŋu rapper and dancer has continued to build on his status as one of Australia's most prominent Indigenous artists, adding to a career that already includes six ARIA Awards and a string of major festival and television appearances.

Joining him are acclaimed electronic duo Electric Fields, whose blend of electronic production and traditional storytelling has earned international recognition. The pair's performances combine the vocals of Zaachariaha Fielding, often sung in Anangu languages, with Michael Ross' electronic soundscapes.

Also announced is Central Australian artist Casii Williams, who has gained attention through her electronic releases and support from community and independent radio, including airplay on triple j.

Briggs will also appear at the event, this time showcasing his heavy music project BIG NOTER. The venture sees the Indigenous hip-hop pioneer explore the punk, hardcore and metal influences that shaped his early musical tastes.

Veteran act Stiff Gins will return to the NIMAs stage, bringing together founding members Kaleena Briggs and Nardi Simpson. Active since the late 1990s, the group remains one of the country's longest-running Indigenous female acts and recently received recognition for their latest album, Crossroads.

The lineup also includes Torres Strait Islander artist Zipporah, who recently released her debut mixtape NAUNGU URUI, and Noongar singer-songwriter Bumpy, whose debut album Kanana attracted widespread critical acclaim and further established her as one of Australia's leading contemporary soul artists.

Speaking about his return to the event, Baker Boy said: "Pumped to be heading back up North for the NIMAs, it's always deadly seeing all the mob come together and celebrating our talent. Not gonna lie, I'm pretty keen to get my hands on some mud crab, true god."

Beyond the awards themselves, the NIMAs form part of a broader calendar of Indigenous cultural events in Darwin, alongside the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards, the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair and the National Indigenous Fashion Awards.

Running from August 5th-11th, the week-long program is expected to draw artists, industry representatives and visitors from around the country, highlighting Indigenous music, visual arts and fashion on a national stage.