The National Indigenous Music Awards will announce two 2026 Hall of Fame inductees on Wednesday ahead of next month's ceremony in Garramilla/Darwin.

Guguyelandji and Woppaburra blues artist Marlene Cummins will be recognised for a career spanning music, broadcasting and storytelling.

Elcho Island roots outfit Saltwater Band will also be inducted for its influence on First Nations music and its role in bringing Yolŋu language and culture to national audiences.

The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) will return to Darwin Amphitheatre on Saturday August 8, with Rob Collins and Leila Gurruwiwi set to MC the event.

The Red Flag Dancers will also return, led by songman and ceremony leader Grant Ngulmiya Nundhirribala, the 2025 Northern Territory Australian of the Year.

The 35-member ensemble will perform sacred Dhumbala, or Red Flag songs, and bunggul, or ceremonial dance.

Nundhirribala will also perform a track from his new album Catalunya, recorded between Barcelona and Arnhem Land.

Ms Cummins was born in Cunnamulla and grew up in Winton before studying saxophone and songwriting at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

She returned to Australia and became one of the country's leading Indigenous female blues performers, spending more than 20 years performing at festivals and venues.

Ms Cummins is also the longtime host of Marloo's Blues on Koori Radio.

She was named Broadcaster of the Year at the 2009 Deadly Awards and again at the 2015 Gadigal Information Broadcasters Awards.

Her work has included reporting from Bluesfest and interviewing blues musicians from around the world.

She co-wrote the documentary Black Panther Woman with Rachel Perkins, with the film and companion album Koori Woman Blues drawing on her experiences of survival and resilience.

The project included 'Koori Woman', a song dedicated to Indigenous women as the backbone of the struggle.

Her career has also included sharing the stage with Charles Neville in New Orleans and playing Beenie in Nardi Simpson's Black Drop Effect.

Saltwater Band formed in Galiwin'ku on Elcho Island, about 560 kilometres from Darwin.

The group blended traditional song with reggae, ska and pop, with most of its music performed in Yolŋu languages.

The late Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was among the band's founding members.

Saltwater Band received ARIA Award nominations for Djarridjarri, also known as Blue Flag, in 2004 and Malk in 2011.

The group also won Album of the Year for Djarridjarri and Band of the Year at the Deadly Awards.

Founding member Manuel Dhurrkay inducted Gurrumul into the NIMAs Hall of Fame in 2022 as a tribute to their shared musical legacy.

The band's work helped create a pathway for later generations of Yolŋu artists.

The NIMAs weekend will begin with the Amazon Music Blak Loud showcase at Bustard Town in Darwin on Friday, August 7.

Presented by Amazon Music Australia and Awesome Blak, the event will feature South Summit, Zipporah and Casii Williams.

South Summit will arrive after a sold-out national tour and will also perform at the NIMAs.

The Boorloo-based group is nominated for Artist of the Year and Film Clip of the Year.

The band welcomed its return to the Top End.

"Darwin holds a special place for us," South Summit said.

"The last time we played the Top End was back in 2024 at The Rails, and we haven't had the chance to make it back since.

"We're incredibly excited to return and be part of Amazon Music and Awesome Black's Blak Loud Showcase."

The NIMAs will form part of a week-long gathering of First Nations arts and culture events in Garramilla/Darwin from August 5 to 11.

The program will also include the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards and the National Indigenous Fashion Awards.

Tickets for the 2026 National Indigenous Music Awards are available via Darwin Festival's website.