Eleven-year-old dancer Ishaan Aaryan claimed first place at the AIM Talent Awards 2026 on Friday, 2 October, leading a celebration of emerging talent, cultural pride and the courage to step into the spotlight.

The evening was also attended by distinguished guests, including H.E. Mr Ahmed Abdellatif, Chargé d’Affaires of the Republic of Sudan; Kylie Wilkinson MP, Member for East Hills; Councillor Rachelle Harika, Deputy Mayor of the City of Canterbury Bankstown; Councillor Chris Cahill of Canterbury Bankstown Council; Councillor Immanuel Selvaraj of Hills Shire Council; Dr. Abraham Constantin, The President of the World Lebanese Cultural Union; Badawi El Hage; Continental President of the Australian Lebanese Cultural Union alongside a host of members from the ALCU; Wally Mehanna, CEO of the Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce; Simon Chan, Member of the Board of Multicultural NSW; alongside a wide array of community leaders and media representatives. Their presence added to the occasion’s significance, celebrating emerging talent and the cultural diversity at the heart of the AIM Talent Awards.

With Alexis Rose Vella taking second place and BÜ ARAS securing third, the awards recognised performers whose different backgrounds and creative journeys captured the spirit of the event: giving talent a platform and people an opportunity to share their stories.

Presented by the Australian International Multicultural Association (AIM Association), the evening brought together music and dance, with contestants representing a rich mix of cultures, generations and artistic styles.

For winner Ishaan Aaryan, the result marked an exciting milestone in a journey that is only beginning. The young Sydney performer brings energy, rhythm and personality to Bollywood and contemporary dance, drawing inspiration from Michael Jackson, Prabhu Deva and Hrithik Roshan. His enthusiasm for exploring new styles extends to learning the flute, strengthening the musical understanding behind his movement. At just 11, Ishaan now has an AIM Talent Awards victory to his name—and plenty of possibilities ahead.

Runner-up Alexis Rose Vella brought years of dedication to her place among the winners. Training in singing, dancing and acting since the age of four, Alexis combines country-girl roots with a city upbringing, having grown up in Paddington above her mother’s fashion boutique. Her experience across dance genres, vocal styles and acting techniques reflects her ambition to build a professional career in theatre. Second place adds an exciting achievement to that pursuit.

Third-place winner BÜ ARAS, represents a distinctive meeting of cultures and musical influences. The Sydney-based Turkish-Australian singer-songwriter blends Turkish and English lyrics with cinematic and dark pop, contemporary R&B and Anatolian sounds. His deep, raspy baritone carries stories of identity, heartbreak and resilience, shaped by his heritage, life experiences and inspiration from his twin daughters. Involved in everything from songwriting and production to visual direction, ARAS approaches his craft with a clear philosophy: “BE. YOU.”

Beyond the podium, the performers’ stories revealed just how many different paths can lead to the stage.

Rawnak, a singer-songwriter from Bangladesh, uses music to turn personal experiences into honest, relatable storytelling. Drawing on contemporary and alternative pop, she explores emotion through heartfelt lyrics while experimenting with genres and production. Her passion for performing centres on connection: creating music that makes people feel something.

For Grace Su, singing is a passion pursued alongside her work as an acupuncturist. Grace describes progressing through auditions for The Voice Australia in 2017 and Australia’s Got Talent in 2020, with the latter opportunity interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her appearance as an AIM Talent Awards finalist reflected her determination to keep pursuing music and sharing her voice.

Sydney-born singer and hairdresser Opi brought a lifelong love of singing to the event. Of Ethiopian and Australian heritage, she draws strength from her Christian faith and multicultural background. Music has always been part of her life, and the awards offered another opportunity to share the joy she finds in using her voice.

For Luke Jordan, performing has been a constant since childhood. Growing up in a musical family, he travelled around Australia and took part in country music talent quests, developing a love of the stage from an early age. More recently, he has connected with listeners around the world through TikTok, extending a musical journey built on enthusiasm and a willingness to embrace every opportunity to sing.

Latai, a singer and Year 6 teacher, sees music as a way to express herself, celebrate her Tongan culture and connect with others. Her passion for performing has grown over the past decade, alongside her work helping young people find their own confidence. As a school choir leader, she encourages students to embrace their identities and discover what they can achieve—a commitment reflected in her own pursuit of music.

Azerbaijan-born, Sydney-based singer-songwriter Gulia Nolan brought another remarkable journey to the finalist line-up. A trained pianist, Gulia completed a PhD in Economics in Italy and built a career as an economist before returning to her lifelong passion for music. She now writes and performs original songs inspired by emotion, personal experience and melodies that sometimes arrive in dreams.

Together, these artists illustrated the breadth of talent the AIM Talent Awards seeks to celebrate. Their stories span classrooms and salons, academic careers and childhood talent quests, with music and performance providing a shared point of connection.

The event’s supporting community included major partners Bankstown RSL and the City of Canterbury Bankstown, alongside sponsors Strong Wills, Dreem Coaching, Elkhair Florists, Elite Kitz and Elite Drive Rentals. Under the leadership of AIM President Dr Charbel Tadros, the awards provide a platform for performers to share their creativity and cultural identities.

For Ishaan, Alexis and ARAS, Friday night delivered a result to celebrate. For the wider line-up, it was an opportunity to take their place in the spotlight and share the passion behind their craft.

And for an 11-year-old dancer named Ishaan Aaryan, it was the night a young performer’s ambition became an award-winning achievement.