Voting

Voting for the 24th Annual ACE Awards

Please see below some important information regarding nominations and voting.

All acts must have performed in a club between January 2025 and December 2025.

Voting Procedure

The Australian Club Entertainment Awards are open to entertainers who have worked in the Club Industry within the past 12 months of the 2025 calendar year and are acknowledged within the nominated categories.

To provide integrity in the judging of the categories, a range of Club Industry people have been invited to nominate entertainers, bands, specialty acts etc. To be included in the nomination/voting process, you need to be associated with the Club Industry as a Club Manager (including Entertainment Manager), Club Booker, Consultant, Agent or Artist Manager.

Entertainers are included in the nomination / voting process for Technical Engineers and Musical Director (MD) Categories.

If you fulfil this criteria and would like to be involved in the nomination/voting process, please email marketing@sjpbowling.com.au or contact Debbie Vermeulen from St Johns Park Bowling Club on 02 9610 3666.

The ACE AWARDS are decided over two rounds of voting, using the preferential system. Results are collated and finalists/winners are determined by an independent polling company.

Round 1 nominations for the 24th Annual ACE Awards will open on Monday 9 February 2026 and close at 5pm on Monday 2 March 2026. Round 2 voting will open on Monday 16 March 2026 and close a 5pm on Monday 6 April 2026. To keep up to date, follow our Facebook page.

ACE Categories

Female Solo Performer

Performs self-contained in Club lounges, restaurants or designated entertainment areas.

Male Solo Performer

Performs self-contained in Club lounges, restaurants or designated entertainment areas.

Duo/Trio

This category includes bands who can play commercial covers/dance music of any era (this category does not include Showbands, Tribute Shows or bands of all types).

Covers Band

4 or more – This category includes bands who can play commercial covers/dance music of any era (this category does not include Showbands, Tribute Shows or bands of all types).

Country Performer

A male or female performer or band who is recognised predominantly as a country artist/s.

Compere

A solo performer who acts as compere, host or Emcee and works in the Club industry on a regular basis. Resident and non-resident comperes are eligible.

Technical Engineer

Sound and Lighting Engineer – either resident or casual technicians working in the Club Industry on a regular basis. This award is for an individual person / Team, not the Club. This category is open for entertainers to nominate / vote.

Children’s Show

The performance must be predominantly for children’s entertainment and can include individuals or groups.

Musical Director (MD)

Musical Director working in the Club industry who leads the band accompanying performers on stage. This category is open for entertainers to nominate / vote.

Showband

A self-contained group of singers and musicians and/or dancers who are an integral part of the performance. This award does not include ‘package shows’ e.g. 4 acts plus a band or bands of all types.

Alan Skeed Rising Star

Any new performer or group entering into the Club Industry within the last 3 years, who can perform on stage.

Specialty Act

The act should be based predominantly on a visual performance by one or more performers who can perform on stage. e.g. jugglers, acrobats, magicians, circus acts, illusionists, aerial artists etc.

Comedy Act

The performance will be predominantly of comedy content and include individuals or groups who can perform on stage.

Vocal Group

The performance will be that of two or more artists who can harmonise and perform on stage.

Original Music Performer / Group

This category covers an individual or band who performs music of any style and/or era which is their own original material. This category embraces Rock, Pop, Heavy Metal, R&B etc.

Multicultural Act

Bands or artists who perform in multilingual or foreign languages or traditional ethnic dance or production shows.

Instrumental Performer

A performer or performers whose act is based on the playing of an instrument or multiple instruments who can perform on stage.

Versatile Performer

An artist/s who is multi-talented and can perform a combination of two or more of the individual ACE categories and can perform on stage e.g. Vocal/instrumental, Vocal/comedy, Vocal/dance.

Dance Production

A totally produced show with a predominantly dance base, theme and performers who can perform on stage.

Production Show

A totally produced show with a particular theme or concept. This Award does not include ‘package shows’ e.g. four (4) acts plus a band, Showbands or bands of all types.

Tribute Show

A performance by an individual or group of singers and/or musicians and dancers featuring the music of a ‘Legendary’ and/or internationally acclaimed performer/performers or the music of an era who can perform on stage, in a ‘cabaret’ environment. (This category does not include package show e.g. 4 acts plus a Showband, Backing Band or Rock Band.

Female Vocal

A singer whose performance is based on vocals.

Male Vocal

A singer whose performance is based on vocals.

Club Performer of the Year

A performer or group already nominated in a previous category who is considered to be the outstanding Performer/s of the Year.

Venue Award

This award recognises the contribution made by individual clubs of any size to providing entertainment to their members and guests. The award seeks to recognise clubs which provide a balanced and relevant program of events of a high standard and show a commitment to providing these events on a regular basis.

Download Venue Award Submission