Triple J Hottest 100 Predictions

Fans of democracy and music rejoice. The Triple J Hottest 100 is on the horizon, with voting set to open very soon.

In recent years, the once alternative countdown has been invaded by major pop artists and viral TikTok hits.

So, hang on to your fedoras and lace up your Doc Martens, because it looks like the major label smashes are here to shake things up once again.

Will one of the big bangers take out the top spot like last year? Or will a jangly Aussie indie band emerge from the wilderness to steal the Hottest 100 crown like the days of old?

Let’s take a look at who’s in the running for one of Aussie music’s highest honours. Our 2026 Triple J Hottest 100 predictions are below.

Triple J Hottest 100 Predictions – Winning Artist 

The Favourites 

Olivia Rodrigo 

In the words of Beyonce, “who runs the world? Girls.” The last three winners of the Hottest 100 have all been female, as Australian music fans appear to have entered their pop princess era. 

According to the current odds that trend looks set to continue, with purveyor of pop punk excellence Olivia Rodrigo the current favourite to take out this year’s Triple J Hottest 100.

Her best ever finish in the countdown came back in 2021 when she finished 4th with ‘Good 4 U’. She had a total of five entries in the countdown that year, showing just how much Triple J listeners seem to love her musical output. 

Gang of Youths 

Triple mainstays Gang of Youths always seem to poll well in the Hottest 100 whenever they release new music, and this year appears to be no different.

While they’ve never topped the countdown, they came within a whisker in 2017, finishing second with ‘Let Me Down Easy.’ Can they go one better a decade later? 

Gracie Abrams 

Looking to continue the pop princess reign of prominence atop the Hottest 100 is Gracie Abrams. 

Who cares if you’re a nepo baby when you make music this good. Abrams looks set to have multiple entries in the upcoming edition of the Hottest 100 thanks to her latest album ‘Daughter from Hell.’ 

Will one of those entries be in first place? We’ll have to wait and see. 

ONEFOUR

Talk about timing your run. Australian drill rap pioneers ONEFOUR have exploded into the mainstream off the back of their epic Like a Version.

Featuring Aussie music royalty Jimmy Banres and Jessica Mauboy, their cover of Phil Collins ‘In the Air Tonight" instantly went viral and now has them in contention to take out this year’s Hottest 100.

They’ll have regency bias working for them, as song released later in the year always seem to perform well, so don’t be surprised to see them finish in placed one, four or somewhere in between. 

Spacey Jane 

Rounding out the favourites for the 2026 Hottest 100 crown is former runners up Spacey Jane.

The jangly indie rock collective from WA came second in 2020 and then third in 2021. Is 2026 the year they top the podium? 

Under the Radar Options 

sombr

American heartthrob sombr landed in the top 10 of last year’s countdown and will be looking to improve on his eighth placed finish this year.

Armed with his latest smash ‘Homewrecker’ he’s certainly a solid smokey for another lofty finish. 

Ella Langley 

Country music’s it girl Ella Langley has taken over the airwaves with her smash single Choosin’ Texas, but will Triple J listeners be choosin’ her? 

While she is breaking all kinds of records on the mainstream charts, will this success translate over to hipster land? That remains to be soon. 

Harry Styles 

We’ve known it for ages, it’s all that we’ve heard, your friends are probably in love with Harry Styles, the boys and the girls. 

Seriously though, Triple J has always seemed to have shunned the top of the top when it comes to pop superstardom (think Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran etc), but Harry has become somewhat of a counter culture icon 

Armed with smash single American Girls that has just enough 80s indie flair to appeal to the hipsters, never say never for Mr Styles. 

Triple J Hottest 100 Predictions – Winning Song 

The Favourites

stupid song (Olivia Rodrigo)

It appears a number of Olivia Rodrigo songs are in the running for top spot in this year’s Hottest 100, but if we were forced to pick one it would be ‘stupid song’

Don’t let the title fool you, there’s nothing stupid about this banger and it’s currently the favourite to be the highest finishing Olivia Rodrigo song in the countdown. 

Things Take Time (Gang of Youths) 

Gang of Youths sole offering so far in 2026 ‘Things Take Time’ is a slight departure for the Sydney songsmiths.

Their first release in four years, they’ve traded the maximalist rock of their last album for a more pop-oriented outing on ‘Things Take Time.’

Good things also take time and this track, and the four year wait for it, prove just that. 

Hit the Wall (Gracie Abrams) 

Just like her compatriot Olivia Rodrgo, Gracie Abrams has released a number of songs in 2026 worthy of winning this year’s countdown.

Her album ‘Daughter from hell’ is choc full of idealistic pop tunes such as Hit the Wall, which is the standout track to us. 

Do You Really Love Her (Spacey Jane) 

Do you really love this song? Yes, Spacy Jane, we do! And so does the Australian public by the look of the outright odds. 

Under the Radar Options 

Homewrecker (sombr)

sombr and "Homewrecker" have exploded online riding a viral wave with moody, confessional lyrics and a hook that sticks. 

Young Aussies have been streaming this song non-stop on social platforms and that viral reach, paired with genuine emotional pull, makes this a genuine contender for a lofty countdown spot.

Choosin’ Texas (Ella Langley)

Is country music cool now? Well, if Ella Langley manages to infiltrate the 2026 Hottest 100 with Choosin’ Texas it certainly will be. 

Blending observational storytelling with a catchy, singalong chorus this track has serious crossover appeal, but can it convert Triple J’s notoriously anti-country audience? 

In The Air Tonight (ONEFOUR Ft. Jimmy Barnes and Jessica Mauboy)

A Like A Version winning the Hottest 100? It’s happened before, but only once. Just five years ago Aussie legends The Wiggles took down the countdown with their viral cover of Tame Impala’s Elephant.

Now, Aussie rap collective ONEFOUR will be looking to match that feat with their recent LAV of In The Air Tonight, which has gained some serious traction online.

There’s even a special market just for those who want to back a LAV taking out top spot. If any of the covers this year are going to do it, this one seems the most likely.

Triple J Hottest 100 2026 Dates and Details 

Voting opens: TBC.

Voting closes: TBC.

Countdown: TBC.

Start time: TBC.