The countdown is on to Australia’s country music night of nights; the coveted Toyota Golden Guitar Awards, held during the annual Tamworth Country Music Festival. Tamworth Regional Council, with the support of the Country Music Association of Australia Inc (CMAA), are excited to announce the hosts for the 54th event.
Golden Guitar award-winning artists Amber Lawrence and Casey Barnes will take to the stage on 24 January 2026, playing host for the evening at the nation’s longest running music awards concert.
Six-time Golden Guitar winner Amber Lawrence is one of Australia’s most celebrated and hard-working country artists. Crowned 2023 Golden Guitar Award Female Artist of the Year and inducted into Tamworth’s prestigious Galaxy of Stars, Amber continues to inspire audiences nationwide with her energy, honesty, and unstoppable work ethic.
In 2024–25, Amber released a number of new singles and toured extensively across all states of Australia, performing more than 80 shows on her You Can Admit You Like Country Music Tour and gracing the stages of major festivals.
“I can’t wait to host the golden guitars and celebrate our night of nights! I’m looking forward to hosting with Casey Barnes and being a big part of a great night for the artists, the industry and the amazing fans!” Amber said.
No stranger to the Golden Guitar Awards stage, in 2025, Casey Barnes claimed the Golden Guitar for Contemporary Country Album of the Year with his chart-topping album Mayday. In January he will step into the role of host, adding to his impressive list of accolades.
“Being asked to host the Golden Guitar Awards is a huge honour. I’m incredibly proud and excited to be joining my great mate Amber Lawrence for a night that celebrates the heart, history and future of Australian country music!” Casey said.
On stage, Barnes has become one of the most in-demand live performers in the genre. He’s sold thousands of tickets to his own headline tours, while also appearing at every major Australian country music festival. His electrifying shows are renowned for their energy, authenticity, and ability to connect with audiences across generations.
Internationally, Casey continues to break new ground. A historic highlight came with his debut performance on the main stage at Stagecoach, the largest country music festival in the world, alongside multiple appearances at CMA Fest in Nashville. These milestones mark him as one of the few Australian artists carving a genuine path into the heart of the U.S. country scene.
With 15 Country Radio number 1s and over 90 million global streams across his catalogue, Casey Barnes is not only dominating charts but also redefining what it means for an Australian artist to succeed at home and abroad.
Kicking off the formalities, country artist Missy Lancaster will host the Golden Guitar Awards Red Carpet, alongside Tamworth’s own Adam McCann.
As a musician and member of the Tamworth Country Music Festival Advisory Committee, Adam is a passionate advocate for live music. Juggling many roles, Adam spent much of 2025 touring with Golden Guitar New Talent of The Year Lane Pittman, while also running a successful small business in Tamworth.
While Missy’s list of accomplishments reads like someone far beyond her years – boasting a #1 ARIA Country charting debut album, worldwide major label record deals, Golden Guitar and CMC Award nominations, 80 million streams and performances at the biggest country music festivals in the USA, Australia and New Zealand.
In 2025, Missy has been giving fans a taste of her new music on the road with Rachael Fahim for her national tour and has new singles and more touring on the horizon.
Tamworth Regional Council will present the Toyota 54th Golden Guitar Awards live on Saturday, 24 January 2026, from Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre and will livestream it via the Festival website and Facebook page.
Performers and presenters will be announced in early January.
Tamworth Country Music Festival is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
Tamworth Regional Council and the CMAA wish all this year’s entrants the best of luck and look forward to welcoming artists, musicians, songwriters and fans back to the Country Music Capital in 2026, to celebrate excellence in Australasian country music.
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