NIMAs 2021 put "on pause" due to COVID restrictions

In sad news for lovers of deadly music, this year’s National Indigenous Music Awards have been postponed. Led by nominees The Kid LAROI, Sycco, and Baker Boy, this year’s NIMAs were set to make a grand return to the Darwin Amphitheatre on Larrakia land on 7 August. With the Northern Territory government declaring New South Wales a COVID hotspot, and Melbourne and Adelaide maintaining lockdown restrictions, “the current COVID climate in Australia has made it increasingly clear the festivities have to be put on pause until later in the year,” a statement from NIMAs organiser reads. After being forced to go virtual last year, he said the 2021 NIMAs focus was to remain on the collective healing and reconnecting of the First Nations music scene. “Community support and ticket sales have never been higher than this year and it is clear that First Nations artists have never had more to celebrate.” All current NIMAs 2021 ticket holders will be contacted with the opportunity to hold onto their tickets for the to-be-confirmed new date or access a refund.