Comedians Melanie Bracewell and Tim McDonald will host the 40th ARIA Awards at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday 18 November, the Australian Recording Industry Association announced on Tuesday. The pair co-host Network 10's The Cheap Seats, which won the Logie for Most Outstanding Entertainment Program in 2023.
Neither has hosted the ARIAs before. "Hoping they didn't book us for experience," Bracewell said. "The last awards ceremony I hosted was a raffle for a meat tray." McDonald said he was looking forward to celebrating "40 years of the ARIA Awards, and 24 years since I failed the recorder in grade three."
DJ Latifa Tee, who hosts triple j's House Party, joins the hosting team and the red carpet coverage with Network 10's Georgie Tunny and Angela Bishop.
The ceremony streams live on Paramount+ from 5pm AEDT, and goes to air on 10 later in the evening, after Big Brother. Paramount owns both. Free-to-air viewers in some regional areas will not get that broadcast. WIN Television stops carrying Network 10 in Mount Gambier, the Riverland and the Griffith and Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area after its final broadcasts this Friday, because the two companies did not reach a deal.
The nominations were announced on 24 September. Genesis Owusu and Tame Impala lead with eight each, followed by Ecca Vandal with seven. Baker Boy, BOY SODA, G Flip, Miss Kaninna and Ninajirachi have five each. The Best Alternative Release category is back for the first time since 2016.
The event is supported by Destination NSW. Winners will be announced on the night of 18 November.
