Kesha Oayda has officially been crowned the 2026 winner of Australian Idol, and the reality hasn’t sunk in for the budding superstar yet!
“It was absolutely hectic,” she tells New Idea of the moment she won. “I never thought in a million years I’d be on the show, let alone winning it.”
“It was such a whim applying, and I never thought I’d get past the audition. So making it even to Top 30 was absolutely crazy.
“I just feel so, so grateful and so honoured that Australia’s put their faith in me.”
She triumphed in the public vote over Harlan Goode and Kalani Artis, taking home the $100,000 cash prize, a recording package with Hive Sound Studios, and a place at Sony Music Publishing’s songwriting camp.
And her win was even more impressive, given that Kesha is now the first female winner of Australian Idol in 19 years.
“It feels incredible,” she says.
“I mean, I can’t even fathom having this opportunity to even be on the show, let alone have that moment in time being the first woman in 19 years [to win].”
Kesha has been propelled into fame overnight on Australian Idol, which has had its challenges, teaching her to block out any negativity and surround herself with “positive people”.
“It’s definitely an adjustment and one that you can’t really prepare yourself for because you don’t know the extremity of it,” she admits.
“So, it’s really just riding the waves and being ready for anything and not letting anything negative get to you, because it’s very easy to let it – it’s very easy to ruin an experience if you let it get to you in that way.”
“You can’t really control people’s opinions, and once they have one, it’s hard to change, but you can’t impress everyone, and that’s just the way it is.”
Growing up in the Snowy Mountains, which earned her the nickname the “singing skier” on the show, Kesha never thought making it to the big stage was an option for her.
“You grow up in a rural part [of Australia], and you’re like, I might not ever make it to the big stage because I am living rurally and the opportunities aren’t as apparent as in the city.
“[So] it’s absolutely life-changing, and I’m really happy I was raised where I was, and now I’m exploring a new opportunity, a new way of living!”
Now, she’s showing no signs of slowing down and plans to embrace her newfound fame, with her sights already set on touring Australia.
“I’m so excited to get straight back into writing music, travelling around doing shows, just spreading my music,” she tells us.
“That’s the goal: I just want it to work and release music, I can’t wait.”
As for any A-list music collaborations? There are plenty she’d jump at the chance for!
She named Morgan Evans and Brad Cox as two of her top picks, so if they’re reading – pick up the phone and give Kesha a call!
What happened at the 2026 Australian Idol final?
Upon her victory, Kesha broke down in tears as she thanked the entire Australian Idol team, including her hair and make-up crew, for their support.
“Thank you to my friends and family for voting for me,” she added as she choked back tears.
Harlan narrowly missed out on the title, coming in close behind her in second place, but he was delighted for his co-star.
“I’m just so proud of you, and I’m so proud of all of us; we’ve come genuinely so far, and we should all be very proud of ourselves,” he gushed before her win.
Meanwhile, Kesha had plenty of praise to heap on Harlan as they sweetly proved they have formed a lasting friendship.
“Every time I hear you sing, it’s an absolute blessing. I’m so privileged to be surrounded by such talent,” she told Harlan.
Kalani came in third place and humbly thanked the whole Australian Idol team upon his exit.
“It’s unbelievable to see these two at the top, they’re incredible artists, I’ve learnt so much from these guys,” he said.
“I’m full of love.”
When asked if he had any words for Kalani, judge Kyle Sandilands boldly joked that they would both be “out of work” after the final, referencing his own axing from KIIS FM.
Kyle has made a series of rogue references to his radio career on Australian Idol ever since the news broke that the Kyle and Jackie O Show was no longer.
The radio shock jock was axed from ARN over a feud with his then-co-host Jackie “O” Henderson, which he is now contesting in court.