triple j Unearthed is heading into 2026 with its most ambitious slate in years, launching its annual Unearthed Forecast alongside nine new genre-focused programs and a dedicated New Music Hour.
The expansion reinforces Unearthed’s role as a key launchpad for emerging Australian artists, as it continues to invest in discovery, diversity and long-term artist development across the local music ecosystem.
2026 Forecast spotlights breakout Australian talent
Leading the rollout is the release of the 2026 Unearthed Forecast, an annual list highlighting 10 Australian artists tipped for a breakout year.
The Forecast serves as a commitment from Unearthed and triple j to actively support up-and-coming acts, offering visibility, airplay and editorial backing to help accelerate their rise.
Artists featured in this year’s list include Darcie Haven, DEVAURA, Drifting Clouds, Headwreck and Hottest 100 debutants The Tullamarines, with the full list now live via Unearthed.
Nine new genre programs launch on Unearthed Radio
Alongside the Forecast, Unearthed has unveiled nine new genre-driven programs, plus a New Music Hour, all launching across Unearthed Radio and the triple j app.
The expanded line-up is designed to create dedicated space for artists working across Australia’s increasingly diverse music scenes, from mainstream pop through to experimental and underground sounds.
The new programs include:
• ALWAYS, celebrating powerful First Nations voices and storytelling
• Crush, dedicated to pop in all its forms
• Drift, spotlighting guitar-driven music
• Flow State, featuring chill beats and ambient sounds
• In The Pit, delivering the heaviest music from around the country
• New Music Hour
• Slow Burn, focused on folk and country
• Spiral, showcasing experimental and underground artists
• The Blend, highlighting hip hop, RnB and groove-led sounds
• Warehouse, serving high-energy club music and high BPMs
The full programming schedule is now available on the Unearthed website.
TOPs returns and Unearthed High set for early comeback
TOPs has officially returned to Unearthed Radio, soundtracking weekday afternoons with the latest uploads before they appear anywhere else.
The program airs every weekday from 5.30pm, with the Unearthed team curating the newest releases from across the platform.
Looking ahead, 2026 will also see Unearthed High return earlier than usual, with further details set to be revealed in March.
To support emerging high school-aged artists, Unearthed has also released a full curriculum-aligned unit of work, developed by a music teacher for music teachers. The resource provides students with a direct entry point into the Australian music industry and aligns with national education standards.