Important Information – Please Read

Entries in the 54th Country Music Awards of Australia 2026 will commence on Thursday 28 August 2025 and close on Wednesday 1 October 2025, for recorded material commercially released between the eligibility dates of 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025.

The CMAA has partnered with Award Force, the industry leading online awards management system to provide our entry and judging Award process that delivers the best, most advanced, thorough, secure and reliable Award experience available, anywhere in the world!

The CMAA highly recommends that you download and thoroughly read the Awards Handbook BEFORE completing your entries online!  You will be required to acknowledge throughout the course of the entry process that you have read and understood the terms and conditions of entry in the 54th Country Music Awards of Australia 2026.

2026 GOLDEN GUITAR AWARDS HANDBOOK WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON!

We're still working on the Awards Handbook for this year, but you are welcome to download last year's Handbook for REFERENCE ONLY.  We are not anticipating any major changes, but we highly recommend that you pop back to this page closer to the opening date of entry so that you can download the updated version.

DOWNLOAD THE 2025 AWARDS HANDBOOK - FOR REFERENCE ONLY! - HERE

If you have any questions relating to rules, eligibility, or how to enter in these Awards please do not hesitate to contact us via email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or call 0491 108 657 during business hours.

Entries in the 2026 Golden Guitar Awards open 9am Thursday 28 August 2025, and close 5pm Wednesday 1st October 2025