Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald to host 40th ARIA Awards in Sydney
Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald will host the 40th ARIA Awards in Sydney on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
The announcement confirms the two comedians as the faces of Australia's national music awards, the annual ceremony that honours Australian artists, albums, singles and music videos. The 2026 show is the 40th annual edition. It returns to the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, which has now held the ceremony for five years running, according to Billboard.
They arrive as a pair. Bracewell and McDonald co-host The Cheap Seats, Network 10's comedy panel programme about the week in television. That link keeps the awards night inside the Network 10 stable. Both work across television and live comedy, and they will front the anniversary edition together.
Viewers will have two ways to watch. The ceremony will stream live on Paramount+ from 5 p.m. AEDT on Nov. 18. It will then air on Network 10 later that evening. The split gives streaming subscribers the live feed first, with a free-to-air broadcast to follow on the same night.
The main stage will have support outside the room. Triple j presenter Latifa Tee joins the hosting team for 2026. She will co-host red-carpet coverage with Georgie Tunny and Angela Bishop. The red-carpet segment interviews arriving artists and guests before the awards begin. It also sets up the night's categories and performances for viewers at home.
The November ceremony is the centrepiece of a longer anniversary year. ARIA, the Australian Recording Industry Association which runs the awards, staged a special Hall of Fame event on June 11 as part of its 40th-anniversary celebrations, according to ARIA. The Hall of Fame recognises long-term contributions to Australian music. This year's anniversary honourees include Gurrumul, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait and The Living End, as listed by ARIA.
For fans, this means the framework for the night is set. The venue, date, hosts and broadcast times are confirmed. ARIA handles the nominations process, with further details on performers and presenters for the Hordern Pavilion show still to come. The six-week run into Nov. 18 is now about who will play, who will present, and who will take home the 40th-anniversary trophies.
