Jury Chair Fang Q
4,242 Entries Submitted as Best Asian Creative Artist Draws a Record 105 Entries
The Golden Indie Music Awards (GIMA), one of Taiwan’s prominent award-giving bodies for original music, has revealed the nominees for its 17th edition. This year, the awards received a record 4,242 submissions, with the Best Asian Creative Artist category—which recognizes artists from across Asia outside Taiwan—receiving an all-time high of 105 entries. The numbers reflect GIMA’s expanding regional presence and its stronger ties with music communities throughout Asia.
The 17th GIMA carries the theme “觸 TRUE,” combining the Taiwanese word 觸 (chù) with the English word “TRUE.” In Taiwan, 觸 refers to the feeling of being emotionally moved or deeply connected to something. The theme celebrates genuine creative expression and its power to connect with audiences across cultures. This year’s jury is led by Fang Q, bassist of Taiwanese band Cosmos People, who noted that the record-breaking 4,242 submissions demonstrate the energy, diversity, and creativity of Taiwan’s music industry.
《Ore》／ena-mori-scaled
Among this year’s most internationally recognizable nominees is Sunset Rollercoaster. The band’s latest album,《QUIT QUIETLY》, is nominated for Best Album, Best Band and Best Alternative Pop Album, while 〈Bluebird〉 is nominated for Best Alternative Pop Song. Tseng Kuo Hung is also nominated for Best Singer-songwriter for 《QUIT QUIETLY》.
Across the categories, this year’s nominees span jazz, electronic music, hip-hop and works rooted in different languages and local cultural traditions, highlighting the range of Taiwan’s contemporary music scene.
Best Asian Creative Artist Draws a Record 105 Entries
GIMA’s Best Asian Creative Artist continues to connect Taiwan with music communities across the region. This year, the award received 105 entries, setting a new record for the category.
《NAMDO-CALLING》／NAMDO-CALLING
The five nominated works are ena mori’s 《Ore》, KIKI’s《Death of a Daisy & Birth of an Oyster》, SHNTI’s 《Melting PT. 》, N.Y.P.D. 南洋派對’s 《DON’T LIKE 我鍾意》, and《 NAMDO CALLING》 by NAMDO CALLING (Jung Eunhye, CADEJO, Yechan Kim).
Beyond the competitive categories, this year’s Jury Award goes to Yuhan Su for 《Over The Moons》. The GIMA Impact Award honors Blue Note Taipei and the founder Tsai Bop, recognizing their long-standing contribution to Taiwan’s jazz culture and live music scene.
GIMA LIVE and the 17th Golden Indie Music Awards Ceremony
Ahead of the awards ceremony, GIMA LIVE, the official lead-up showcase to the Golden Indie Music Awards, will take place on October 21 and 22 at CORNER MAX in Taipei, showcasing final performances from the Best Live Performance nominees to determine and reveal the winner.
The 17th Golden Indie Music Awards Ceremony is set for 7:00 PM on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at the Taipei Music Center. The ceremony will also be livestreamed, allowing audiences from around the world to tune in.
The complete list of nominees, GIMA LIVE performers, and additional details about the ceremony will be announced through the Golden Indie Music Awards’ official Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.