Professional Development Awards finalists announced
61 songwriters and composers across 13 categories from classical to country
This year’s finalists include Darren Lim, Eliza Hull, Hamed Sadeghi, Jasmin Wing-Yin Leung, Queenie and Zeppelin Hamilton (Velvet Trip)
The finalists for the 2026 APRA Professional Development Awards (PDAs) have been revealed, showcasing 61 outstanding songwriters and composers from across the country, each vying for one of the coveted awards.
Run by music rights management organisation APRA AMCOS, the PDAs create serious career-boosting opportunities for music creators at all stages of their careers, with 13 individual recipients each taking home a game-changing $10,000 to invest in their professional growth.
Funds can be used for workshops, courses, composer seminars, co-writing sessions and other development activities locally or internationally.
An expert panel of more than 50 industry judges selected this year’s finalists from an impressive pool of creators.
One of this year’s judges Danny Harley, aka The Kite String Tangle, says: “This was my first time judging the awards and I was just SO impressed by the strength of the applications. The music was of such high calibre and the level of creativity and thought put into how the funds could be used to support artistic and professional development was exciting to hear about.
“It speaks to a music community that is ambitious, considered and full of potential. I hope that no matter what the result for each applicant, that the process was encouraging and gave clarity for their ambitions regardless, because the applications were all outstanding.”
This year’s finalists include some of Australia’s rising stars and established names in songwriting, from pop powerhouse Eliza Hull to country royalty Queenie and psych-rocker Zeppelin Hamilton (Velvet Trip). Composers up for the prize include screen composer Darren Lim, tar player Hamed Sadeghi and classical maestro Jasmin Wing-Yin Leung.
Previous PDAs recipients include Angie McMahon, Baker Boy, BARKAA, Gotye, Jem Cassar-Daley, Melanie Dyer, Miss Kaninna, Ngaiire, Rebecca Bracewell, Romy Vager (RVG), Samuel Marks and Yirrmal. This year’s recipients will be announced on Thursday 12 February 2026.
View the full list of finalists here.
