As the global awards circuit continues its annual whirlwind, from the LACMA Gala earlier this month to this week’s Governors Awards and with the Golden Globes and Grammys now only weeks away, attention often shifts to Hollywood’s biggest stages.
Today, however, the spotlight tilts decisively homeward. The ARIA Music Awards unfurl their red carpet at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, inviting a celebration that feels unmistakably and triumphantly Australian.
Long recognised as the country’s foremost celebration of musical excellence, the ARIAs bring together the full spectrum of Australia’s sound. Across 29 award categories and a vast cross-section of genres, the ceremony recognises chart-dominating powerhouses, bold new voices and the creative architects behind the scenes who have shaped the past year with ingenuity, edge and ambition.
It is a night devoted to the many dimensions of talent: global trailblazers, innovative disruptors and the producers, writers and collaborators who give Australian music its pulse.
Sydney, the creative capital of the country’s music landscape, provides an atmospheric backdrop worthy of the occasion. The city’s vibrant energy, amplified by a warm summer afternoon, bathes the event in a sense of momentum and anticipation.
The Hordern Pavilion, rich with cultural history, once again becomes the centre of Australia’s musical universe, a venue that has welcomed generations of leading performers from around the world.
Tonight’s crimson carpet welcomes a striking lineup of talent, including Olivia Dean, arriving in the glow of a Grammy nomination and the announcement of her forthcoming sophomore album, The Art of Loving.
She appears alongside a remarkable cohort of artists: Alex Lahey, Anna Ryan, Baker Boy, G Flip, Janet English, Keli Holiday, Kita Alexander, Missy Higgins, Neve Van Boxsel, Thelma Plum, Touch Sensitive, You Am I and Young Franco.
Scroll down for all the looks from the 2025 ARIAs red carpet.
The 2025 ARIAs Red Carpet
Missy Higgins
After being inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame last year, Missy Higgins returned to the stage last night to collect an ARIA for her latest album The Second Act. For the occasion, she stepped out in a vibrant Alemais mini dress featuring a bold, artistic print created in collaboration with Laurence Leenaert.
For her performance, Higgins slipped into a second Alemais look — a floor-length sequin gown covered in painterly patchwork motifs.
Olivia Dean
Olivia wore a strapless black Richard Quinn gown for her ARIAs debut, featuring a beaded, form-fitting bodice and a dramatic balloon skirt. A bold white camellia anchored the neckline, complemented by her soft waves, minimal jewellery and luminous makeup.
Kacey Musgraves
American singer, songwriter Kacey Musgraves wore an ivory, corseted mini ensemble featuring pearl-and-crystal floral embellishments and delicate lace bloomers for a refined, vintage-inflected silhouette.
Cody Simpson & Emma McKeon
Cody Simpson and Olympian girlfriend Emma McKeon opted for sharp, coordinated tailoring on the red carpet. Cody wore relaxed black trousers, a powder-blue shirt and a leather jacket, while Emma chose an oversized pinstripe blazer, tailored shorts and ankle boots.
Josh Kempen & Sarah Ellen
Josh Kempen and Sarah Ellen of indie-pop duo Pamela arrived in coordinated tonal looks, with Sarah wearing an embroidered velvet suit set while Josh leaned into a double-denim moment.
Kita Alexander
Kita, nominated for Best Pop Release and Best Use of an Australian Recording in an Advertisement, wore an ethereal blush-pink tulle dress with a floating, voluminous skirt that revealed pale blue underwear beneath.
Vera Blue
Vera Blue delivered one of the evening’s most arresting fashion moments in a sculptural creation by Australian–Filipino designer Gail Sorronda, selected from the label’s twentieth-anniversary collection. The look’s dark, voluminous lines were amplified by architectural jewellery from Barcelona brand MAM and finished with satin Roger Vivier heels.
Evelyn Ellis & Duncan James
MAFS alums Evelyn Ellis and Duncan James stepped out in seamlessly coordinated black ensembles, creating a striking, ultra-sleek couples moment.
Abbie Chatfield
Amy Taylor
Amy Taylor, lead vocalist of punk band Amyl and the Sniffers, arrived in a sculpted black leather corset gown finished with safety-pin and stud embellishments and feather detailing. The band’s third studio album, Cartoon Darkness, is nominated for Album of the Year.
G-Flip
Tyra Banks
Dom Dolla
Thelma Plum
Grace Shaw
Grace Kathleen Elizabeth Shaw, known professionally as Mallrat, is nominated for Best Pop Release and Best Solo Artist. She arrived in a layered, distressed monochrome look emblazoned with a bold sports-style number nine, paired with chunky black knee-high boots.
