Genesis Owusu Wins Two Categories at the 2026 J Awards
Genesis Owusu has taken home Australian Album of the Year and Australian Music Video of the Year at the 2026 J Awards, winners announced on air on 12 November 2026.
The J Awards are the annual prizes handed out by triple j, Australia's national youth radio network. The album prize went to Redstar Wu & The Worldwide Scourge, Owusu's third studio album, released in May 2026. The video prize went to "STAMPEDE," directed by Isaac Brown.
The album also did well on the charts. It debuted at No. 3 on the ARIA Albums Chart, the official weekly ranking of Australia's albums, which is a career best for Owusu. It also topped the Vinyl Albums Chart, which ranks the best-selling records on vinyl. Billboard reported both results.
This is not the first time Owusu has won both categories. In 2021 he took the same two prizes for the album Smiling With No Teeth and the video "The Other Black Dog," directed by Riley Blakeway.
Other winners on the night included:
- Vika & Linda, Double J Australian Artist of the Year
- Swapmeet, Unearthed Artist of the Year, for Mount Zero
- Ninajirachi, triple j Live Act of the Year
The awards were announced to kick off Ausmusic Month, a period dedicated to Australian music. Owusu is also in the running at the ARIA Awards, Australia's main music industry prizes. He has been nominated in eight categories, equal with Tame Impala for the most nominations.
For the wider industry, a double win of this kind means a single release is being heard across radio, video platforms and the charts at the same time. For listeners, it is a clear list of who the judges chose this year, and a reminder of which records and videos found an audience in 2026.
The ARIA Awards will be the next big test for the same nominees. Until then, the J Awards list stands as the year's youth radio verdict on Australian albums, videos and live acts.
