08/07/2026
SONARR Awards (Sound and Narrative) is Australia's new dedicated awards for celebrating excellence across the full audio landscape including Podcast, Radio, Audiobook, and Voice-over.
SONARR champions independent voices, diverse storytelling, regional reach, and practitioner-led standards of excellence as well as the long established voices of Australian audio.
SONARR's 34 categories are organised into six pillars spanning Sound, Narrative, Voice, Impact and Vision, covering everything from technical sound design and sonic identity to long-form storytelling and multiplatform marketing.
Entrants will also get the chance to win the SONARR of the Year and a cash prize from the $10,000 prize pool.
The program explicitly recognises creators who have historically been marginalised or underrepresented in industry awards, with dedicated categories for First Nations creators, CALD, LGBTQIA+, female creators, students, and independent producers. Submission fees are structured to be genuinely accessible to independent and emerging creators, not only those backed by major networks or publishers.
Submissions open: 11 June 2026
Submissions close: 31 July 2026
Nominees announced: September 2026
Winners announced: Gala dinner, 15 October 2026, Machine Hall
Find out more and submit your work: https://sonarr.au
