Fifteen music venues are in the running for Best Live Music Venue at the 2026 Australian Liquor Industry Awards, off the back of a record number of entries this year.
The finalists are Bella Vista Hotel in Bella Vista, Chuck Trailers CBD in Sydney, the Corner Hotel in Richmond, Forresters in Sydney, Hotel Brunswick in Brunswick Heads, Jolene’s in Sydney, Memphis Slim’s House of Blues in Adelaide, Oxford Art Factory in Sydney, Pleasure Club in Enmore, Ramblin Rascal Tavern in Sydney, Razz Room in Sydney, The Doss House in The Rocks, The Duke of Enmore, The Fifth Province in St Kilda and The Lord Gladstone Hotel in Chippendale.
Twelve more are up for Best Sports or Entertainment Venue, including the Arkaba Hotel in Fullerton, the Oran Park Hotel in Oran Park, the Orion Hotel in Springfield, The Camfield in Burswood, The Caxton in Brisbane and the Wray Hotel in Fremantle.
The awards are at The Fullerton Sydney on Wednesday 28 October.
A lot of Australia’s live music happens in venues that are licensed premises first, so a category like this puts the music programming in front of the operators, brewers and distributors who decide whether the stage stays in the corner or becomes another four tables.
