2026 Screen Music Awards Celebrate Human Creators Amid AI Debate
Josh Hogan and Ned Beckley dominated the 2026 Screen Music Awards, winning four trophies for their work on 'Tales from Outer Suburbia' as composers emphasized the irreplaceable value of human experience in the face of AI-driven industry change.
The 2026 Screen Music Awards honored outstanding achievements in music composition for film, television, advertising and video games across 16 categories. Held on October 28, 2026, the ceremony presented by APRA AMCOS and the Australian Guild of Screen Composers (AGSC) became a platform for celebrating human creativity as the industry confronts debates over artificial intelligence. Composer Antony Partos captured the mood, stating, "AI can be a source of immense good, but should be something that is legally sourced from us, creators."
Key Winners
Josh Hogan and Ned Beckley were the night's biggest winners, securing all four categories they were nominated for. Their work on the ABC animated series Tales from Outer Suburbia earned them awards for Best Music for Children’s Programming, Best Opening Title Television Theme, Best Soundtrack Album, and Best Original Song Composed for the Screen. The song award, for "Nothing Stays the Same," was shared with Joni Hogan.
Other major category winners included Piers Burbrook de Vere and Rose Mackenzie-Peterson for Feature Film Score of the Year for Addition. Antony Partos won Best Music for a Television Drama for The Artful Dodger (Season 2, Episode 3). Christopher Larkin won Best Music for a Video Game or Other Interactive Media for Hollow Knight: Silksong.
| Category | Winner(s) | Work |
|---|---|---|
| Best Music for Children’s Programming | Ned Beckley, Josh Hogan | Tales from Outer Suburbia (Episode 10) |
| Best Opening Title Television Theme | Josh Hogan, Ned Beckley | Tales from Outer Suburbia |
| Best Original Song Composed for the Screen | Ned Beckley, Joni Hogan, Josh Hogan | Nothing Stays the Same from Tales from Outer Suburbia |
| Best Soundtrack Album | Josh Hogan, Ned Beckley | Tales from Outer Suburbia |
| Feature Film Score of the Year | Piers Burbrook de Vere, Rose Mackenzie-Peterson | Addition |
| Best Music for a Television Drama | Antony Partos | The Artful Dodger (Season 2, Episode 3) |
| Best Music for a Video Game or Other Interactive Media | Christopher Larkin | Hollow Knight: Silksong |
| Best Music for an Advertisement | Benjamin Lam | Lego, Project Vehicles |
| Best Music for a Documentary | Helena Czajka | Sentient |
| Best Music for a Short Film | Nicholas Gardiner | Trading Cards |
| Best Music for a Television Comedy | Peter Corrigan, Georgina Darvidis, Matthew Sheers | The Witchy Girls (Episode 6) |
Industry Voices
The ethical integration of AI into the creative process was a recurring theme. AGSC president Amanda Brown, of The Go-Betweens, explicitly framed the awards as a celebration of human capability. She emphasized that digitized data is no substitute for human experience, which fundamentally informs creative work. The ceremony's musical director, Erkki Veltheim, conducted a live orchestra for his final time in that role, providing a live demonstration of human collaborative artistry.
Career Achievements
Veteran composer Cezary Skubiszewski received the Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen award, honoring more than three decades of contributions. The honor was presented by producer Nelson Woss, a collaborator on the soundtrack for Red Dog. Antony Partos's win for The Artful Dodger further cemented his legacy, bringing his personal tally to 19 Screen Music Awards. Helena Czajka also marked a career milestone, securing her second consecutive win for Best Music for a Documentary for Sentient. The event closed with a reinforced emphasis on the human creator's role as the guiding force for the industry's future.
