Baker Boy Dominates 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards with Three Wins
Baker Boy took home three of the top prizes at the 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards, held on Saturday, August 8 at the Darwin Amphitheatre. The Yolŋu Matha rapper won Album of the Year for his second studio album DJANDJAY, along with Song of the Year and Film Clip of the Year for the single 'THICK SKIN' (Billboard).
'THICK SKIN' features Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Kee'ahn and Jada Weazel. Baker Boy performed the track live during the ceremony, bringing out Emma Donovan as a surprise guest. The night's other multiple winner was the duo Birdz and Fred Leone, who won Artist of the Year for their debut EP GIRA — their first NIMA award (Billboard).
Baker Boy, born Danzal Baker in Darwin and raised in the Arnhem Land communities of Milingimbi and Maningrida, is widely regarded as the first Indigenous artist to achieve mainstream success rapping in the Yolŋu Matha language. His breakthrough came in 2017 after winning triple j's Unearthed National Indigenous Music Awards competition, with the singles 'Cloud 9' and 'Marryuna' both landing in that year's triple j Hottest 100 — the annual listener-voted countdown run by the Australian youth broadcaster. His debut album Gela (2021) earned him five wins from seven nominations at the 2022 ARIA Awards, Australia's flagship recording-industry ceremony. He was named Young Australian of the Year in 2019 and awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2021 (Billboard).
The remaining 2026 NIMA awards were spread across several artists and communities. Drifting Clouds won Best New Talent. Northern Peninsula Area took Community Clip of the Year for 'All The Way From The NPA'. Bulman School & Community won the Indigenous Language Award for 'LOK LOK MAH BURARR' (Lizard & Goanna). Marlene Cummins and Elcho Island's Saltwater Band were both inducted into the NIMAs Hall of Fame (Billboard).
The ceremony, the 22nd edition of the awards, opened with the Red Flag Dancers and closed with a tribute to Hall of Fame inductees Saltwater Band. Mark Smith of MusicNT, the Northern Territory music body that organises the NIMAs, described the event as showcasing the rich connection of family and culture. The live performance lineup also included BIG NOTER, Bumpy, Casii Williams and Electric Fields (Billboard).
Baker Boy and Drifting Clouds had led the 2026 shortlist of nominees when it was announced in early July (Billboard). The National Indigenous Music Awards are presented by YouTube and run by MusicNT, recognising excellence in music by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists (NIMAs).
