Intro
Photo: WAM Song of the Year Grand Prize Winner Coco Elise for ‘Colour The Stencil’. Photo by Tashi Hall
The 2026 Song of the Year competition attracted more than 800 original song submissions from artists across Western Australia, highlighting the strength, diversity, and resilience of the State's music scene.
The competition features the new Feel It Write It category, which recognises songs that explore emotional wellbeing, connection, and shared human experiences.
The Song of the Year competition highlights emerging and established WA songwriters across a board range of genres, which was celebrated with an awards presentation held last night.
The WA Government has maintained a longstanding partnership with WAM, with funding via Healthway and the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport (previously the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries) for more than 30 years.
In 2025, WAM received $323,935 in Healthway funding for its State-wide Music Program 2025-2027, which includes the Song of the Year program and awards. The program also delivers the New Noise in-school workshop program, bringing local artists into WA public schools to lead songwriting workshops that inspire creativity and support students' social and emotional wellbeing.