Josh Heuston topped Australian Instagram growth in June 2026, with his Prime Video series “Off Campus” amplified by a late-month wave of dating speculation involving co-star Mika Abdalla. Nick Kyrgios’s long-planned return to the grass season ahead of Wimbledon and the Socceroos’ run through the FIFA World Cup group stage drove two more six-figure gains for familiar names. Meanwhile, a run of independent creators, a Perth musician, a Melbourne ceramicist, a Queensland painter, a home stylist, and a cleaning creator, built their followings through consistent content rather than any single moment.
Here are the ten fastest-growing Australian Instagram accounts from last month:
Established actor known for “Heartbreak High” and “Dune: Prophecy,” now starring as Justin Kohl in Prime Video’s “Off Campus.” The show’s momentum carried into June, but the sharper driver was a wave of dating speculation after Heuston and co-star Mika Abdalla were photographed together in Paris in late June, a story picked up widely across entertainment outlets and followed by reports that the two are dating.
The former Wimbledon finalist’s growth reflects a comeback that had been telegraphed since March, when he confirmed on Instagram that he would return for “the grass and UTS events” after more than a year sidelined by injury. June’s gain tracks that grass-season buildup and looming Wimbledon appearance rather than any single viral moment.
Independent Perth musician and producer whose long-running daily songwriting project reached “reckless and arranged – day 56.” The track, released in late May, built viral momentum into June and led to a distribution deal with Universal Music Australia, an emerging-artist story built entirely on the work itself.
Watson has run the 1924us studio and personal brand since 2009 and already carries a multi-million follower base, well beyond the emerging creators elsewhere on this list.
Australia’s official men’s national soccer team account, riding a run through the FIFA World Cup group stage that included a win over Türkiye before a penalty shootout exit to Egypt in the Round of 32.
Independent Queensland seascape painter who has built his following since 2013 through process videos of his illusionistic ocean paintings, with no gallery, label or publicist behind the account.
9News finance editor who has built a large personal following turning economic news into short-form comedic content, backed by his 2025 book “How They Get You.” Unlike the independent creators on this list, Kohler’s account sits between an institutional role and a personal brand.
Independent Brisbane creator, a nurse and mum sharing cleaning, laundry and organisation hacks.
Creators Building Without a Moment
Five accounts on this list grew without a film premiere, tournament, or product release behind them, and none of them are institutions or celebrities. Ethan French, an independent Perth musician, built his following one daily song at a time until “day 56” broke through and brought a label deal with it. Scott Laurenson has spent over a decade posting the same kind of ocean painting process videos out of Queensland, with no gallery or publicist driving the growth. Loui Burke’s audience has grown alongside years of home styling content and a podcast. Home with Leanne turned cleaning hacks into a steady following from Brisbane.
That’s a different growth story from the rest of the list. Josh Heuston’s gain tracks a hit streaming show, sharpened by a real-world dating story that broke in the same window. Nick Kyrgios’s numbers reflect a comeback tour he announced months in advance, timed to a Grand Slam. The Socceroos’ account is an institutional brand riding a major sporting calendar event. Christian Watson’s 1924us, already one of Australia’s largest personal Instagram brands, continued growing from its established mix of design, art, animation, storytelling, and book-related posts rather than from a fresh discovery. Chris Kohler sits somewhere in between, an established media personality without a confirmed June event, whose account nonetheless grew the way the independent creators did, through accumulated content rather than a spike.
Dragomir is a Serbian freelance blog writer and translator. He is passionate about covering insightful stories and exploring topics such as influencer marketing, the creator economy, technology, business, and cyber fraud.
Josh Heuston topped Australian Instagram growth in June 2026, with his Prime Video series “Off Campus” amplified by a late-month wave of dating speculation involving co-star Mika Abdalla. Nick Kyrgios’s long-planned return to the grass season ahead of Wimbledon and the Socceroos’ run through the FIFA World Cup group stage drove two more six-figure gains for familiar names. Meanwhile, a run of independent creators, a Perth musician, a Melbourne ceramicist, a Queensland painter, a home stylist, and a cleaning creator, built their followings through consistent content rather than any single moment.
Here are the ten fastest-growing Australian Instagram accounts from last month:
#1. Josh Heuston | @jheuston
Gained: +314K followers
June total: 1.5M followers
Established actor known for “Heartbreak High” and “Dune: Prophecy,” now starring as Justin Kohl in Prime Video’s “Off Campus.” The show’s momentum carried into June, but the sharper driver was a wave of dating speculation after Heuston and co-star Mika Abdalla were photographed together in Paris in late June, a story picked up widely across entertainment outlets and followed by reports that the two are dating.
#2. Nick Kyrgios | @k1ngkyrg1os
Gained: +273,901
June total: 4.8M
The former Wimbledon finalist’s growth reflects a comeback that had been telegraphed since March, when he confirmed on Instagram that he would return for “the grass and UTS events” after more than a year sidelined by injury. June’s gain tracks that grass-season buildup and looming Wimbledon appearance rather than any single viral moment.
#3. Ethan French | @ethanfrenchmusic
Gained: +233,497
June total: 725K
Independent Perth musician and producer whose long-running daily songwriting project reached “reckless and arranged – day 56.” The track, released in late May, built viral momentum into June and led to a distribution deal with Universal Music Australia, an emerging-artist story built entirely on the work itself.
#4. Hamish Bassett | @tinypotsmelbourne
Gained: +229,003
June total: 446K
Independent Melbourne ceramicist known for miniature wheel-thrown pottery.
#5. Christian Watson | 1924us | @1924us
Gained: +228,075
June total: 5.9M
Watson has run the 1924us studio and personal brand since 2009 and already carries a multi-million follower base, well beyond the emerging creators elsewhere on this list.
#6. CommBank Socceroos | @socceroos
Gained: +175,915
June total: 576K
Australia’s official men’s national soccer team account, riding a run through the FIFA World Cup group stage that included a win over Türkiye before a penalty shootout exit to Egypt in the Round of 32.
#7. Scott Laurenson | @scottlaurenson
Gained: +161,993
June total: 1.4M
Independent Queensland seascape painter who has built his following since 2013 through process videos of his illusionistic ocean paintings, with no gallery, label or publicist behind the account.
#8. Loui Burke | @louiburke
Gained: +155,805
June total: 1.1M
Independent Melbourne home and lifestyle creator known for styling tips and his “Home & Hosting” podcast.
#9. Chris Kohler | @chriskohlernews
Gained: +115,630
June total: 964K
9News finance editor who has built a large personal following turning economic news into short-form comedic content, backed by his 2025 book “How They Get You.” Unlike the independent creators on this list, Kohler’s account sits between an institutional role and a personal brand.
#10. Home with Leanne | @home.with.leanne
Gained: +107,098
June total: 448K
Independent Brisbane creator, a nurse and mum sharing cleaning, laundry and organisation hacks.
Creators Building Without a Moment
Five accounts on this list grew without a film premiere, tournament, or product release behind them, and none of them are institutions or celebrities. Ethan French, an independent Perth musician, built his following one daily song at a time until “day 56” broke through and brought a label deal with it. Scott Laurenson has spent over a decade posting the same kind of ocean painting process videos out of Queensland, with no gallery or publicist driving the growth. Loui Burke’s audience has grown alongside years of home styling content and a podcast. Home with Leanne turned cleaning hacks into a steady following from Brisbane.
That’s a different growth story from the rest of the list. Josh Heuston’s gain tracks a hit streaming show, sharpened by a real-world dating story that broke in the same window. Nick Kyrgios’s numbers reflect a comeback tour he announced months in advance, timed to a Grand Slam. The Socceroos’ account is an institutional brand riding a major sporting calendar event. Christian Watson’s 1924us, already one of Australia’s largest personal Instagram brands, continued growing from its established mix of design, art, animation, storytelling, and book-related posts rather than from a fresh discovery. Chris Kohler sits somewhere in between, an established media personality without a confirmed June event, whose account nonetheless grew the way the independent creators did, through accumulated content rather than a spike.
Data from HypeAuditor, June 2026
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