Girls Rule: Alice Ivy and Ninajirachi Take the Spotlight at 2026 MPEG Awards!

The energy was electric at the 2026 MPEG Awards in Sydney, especially as Alice Ivy and Ninajirachi were the stars of the night, showing everyone just how powerful women in the music industry can be!

Alice Ivy, whose real name is Annika Schmarsel, is riding a massive wave of success. After racking up awards last year in Adelaide, she’s now claimed the top title of Producer of the Year at MPEG. As her name echoed through the venue, Ivy highlighted the epic changes in the music production world. “PinkPantheress just nabbed the Producer of the Year at the BRITs, the first time a woman won in 47 years! It feels like the universe has aligned,” she beamed. “It’s awesome seeing more girls stepping up this year!”

But that’s not all! Ninajirachi, fresh off her debut album I Love My Computer, dazzled from afar while on tour. She won both the Self-Producing Artist of the Year and Breakthrough Producer titles. “I’ve been hooked on making music since I was little,” she said in her acceptance video. “It’s like my lifelong passion, and I truly see myself as a producer first.”

The night wasn’t just about fresh faces. Legendary hitmaker Mike Chapman got the Lifetime Achievement Award. A studio legend, Chapman played a big part in crafting iconic albums. Warning about the rise of AI in music, he quipped, “Remember, we’re here to create rock stars, not robots!” A repeated theme throughout the evening, this sentiment echoed concerns about the future of creativity in the industry.

In its third year, the MPEG Awards celebrate the geniuses behind the music—producers, engineers, and the studio whizzes who make the magic happen. Held at the stunning Darling Rooms Dockside, the event was supported by awesome sponsors like Shure/Jands and Yamaha. The Music Producer and Engineers’ Guild of Australia (MPEG) proudly showcased these superstars to boost and unite the professional community.

Congratulations to Alice Ivy, Ninajirachi, and all the incredible talents that are shaping the future of music!