triple j’s Hottest 100 returns as ABC reveals content slate for 2026

The ABC’s content slate for 2026 has been unveiled at today’s Upfronts showcase event, with youth broadcaster triple j as passionate as ever about backing and breaking local artists and delivering music events and content that speaks to young people across Australia.

The Hottest 100 returns in 2026 as the nationwide listening party – triple j’s One Night Stand – makes a reappearance, featuring a new regional concert, with pitches opening in the new year.

The national broadcaster says Unearthed High will launch bigger, better and earlier, and there’s also a promise of more Like A Versions than ever before.

triple j is also saddling up for a dedicated country music show, Country Club, hosted by Yorta Yorta man Tom Forrest, aka Outback Tom.

There are ‘100 new and returning titles,’ including new shows for ABC talent including Shaun Micallef and ABC Radio Sydney Mornings host Hamish Macdonald, plus shortform video ABC News Loop, which will see journalism directly delivered to social media feeds, provided by a dedicated core team with contributors from across the nation in an innovative and easy to understand way via shortform video.

ABC’s True Crime podcast Unravel returns with a new season – Unravel: What Became of Jack? It’s a real-time investigation of a missing person’s case after a boys’ weekend goes horribly wrong in regional Queensland.

Alan Kohler sits down each week with the high-profile movers and shakers of corporate Australia in Alan Kohler: In Conversation, while Australian activist, author and 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame heads up an all-new podcast and multiplatform series for Ladies, We Need to Talk, which explores autism in women.

Live entertainment was the order of the day, with performances from Guy Sebastian and The Rions, a band discovered through triple j Unearthed (both pictured above).