Who is Kalani Artis on Australian Idol 2026? Bio, Net Worth, Family
Kalani Artis Bio – Australian Idol 2026 Contestant
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Join NowKalani Artis is a 23-year-old singer-songwriter and landscaper from Umina Beach, on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. He proudly describes himself as a “proud local” who grew up in the area and still loves returning to the beach to catch up with friends and recharge.
Personality & Background
Kalani is famously shy and humble — fans love calling him the classic “quiet achiever” type. People joke that he’s so polite he would probably apologise to a barista for ordering coffee and thank the judges just for letting him exist!
Despite his shy nature, he has incredible vocal power and emotional depth.
He is completely self-taught as a musician, but music runs deep in his family — he grew up in a very musical household and credits his beloved nan (grandmother) as the person who first sparked his love of music. She is also described as his best mate.
As a teenager, Kalani faced some tough times — he dropped out of school early and struggled with anxiety. A counsellor connected him with the Musicians Making A Difference program, which completely changed his life and gave him direction, purpose and a place where he felt at home.
Audition – Australian Idol 2026
Kalani auditioned for Australian Idol 2026 and his performance aired in the very first episode (Monday 2 February 2026 on Channel 7 / 7plus, with some coverage continuing Tuesday 3 February).
He performed a beautiful acoustic version of “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia.
The judges were blown away — Amy Shark reportedly told him something like:
“You are exactly what we hope to walk through these doors.”
His shy personality + powerful, emotional vocal delivery made him one of the very first standout contestants of Australian idol.
Kalani called the whole experience a “2 year battle” and thanked his family and friends who believed in him the whole way.
Music Career So Far
- Featured on triple j Unearthed
- Known for soulful, earthy, heartfelt songs
- Influences: James Bay, Mk.gee, Lewis Capaldi
- Style: Edgy soulful indie pop folk
- He has been holding off on major new music releases because of his Idol journey (he hinted at big things coming after Q1 2026)
Follow Kalani
Instagram → @kalaniartis (highly recommended for updates, music snippets & Idol behind-the-scenes)
Kalani Artis is the perfect underdog story — a shy tradie with a golden voice, strong family roots (especially his nan), and huge emotional depth.
He’s already a massive early fan favourite — one to definitely watch this season! 🎤✨
