Matty 'J' Johnson has been named the Australian Father of the Year for 2026, an accolade he describes as both prestigious and somewhat awkward. The honor, presented at The Fathering Project's Australian Fathering Awards at Admiralty House in Sydney, recognizes fathers and male role models for their positive impact on children's lives.
Johnson, 39, who co-hosts 'The Two Doting Dads' podcast and is married to Laura Byrne, expressed that the title is still settling in. "It feels extremely self-indulgent to be going to Kirribilli House with the Governor-General to be given the title of Father of the Year," he said on Weekend Today. "It is still settling in, it feels a bit strange."
While Johnson grapples with the title, his seven-year-old daughter, Marlie-Mae, has embraced it. "She's been telling kids at school, 'Well, my dad's pretty sure he's just won best dad in the universe'," Johnson told The Daily Telegraph. He recounted his daughter's curiosity about how he won, humorously mentioning that the "grueling contest" involved footage of him giving his three children, Marlie-Mae, Lola, and Poppy, horsey rides.
Life with three young children has become a "massive juggling act" for Johnson, especially with the youngest, Poppy Pearl, approaching her first birthday. He described balancing time with his wife and attending to his daughters as an ongoing challenge.
Beyond the personal recognition, Johnson used the platform to discuss broader societal issues, particularly concerning evolving attitudes towards masculinity and the need to address Australia's rates of sexual abuse and domestic violence. "The recent incidents and the stats Australia wide of sexual abuse and domestic violence, they're horrific in this country," he stated. "I really hope that for men and for young boys growing up that we're able to reshape what it means to be a man and masculine."
For Father's Day, Johnson expressed a simpler wish: some peace and quiet. "I think I'll probably try and hit up Icebergs solo without the kids," he joked.
