Aotearoa Music Awards 2026 Finalists Revealed

A solid gold contender for Aotearoa's glitziest annual music award ceremony (perhaps we need an award for best music awards?), a cavalcade of local superstars will be converging on The Civic in Tāmaki Makaurau on 28th May for the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards.

The huge list of finalists has been revealed today, with top contenders including Marlon Williams and Tom Scott (both with seven finalist placings, including related awards for their projects), Tami Neilson and Lorde (finalists for four awards each), and Alien Weaponry, Dick Move, Geneva AM, Hori Shaw, Kaylee Bell, Ladi6, MĀ, MOKOMOKAI, Stan Walker, Te Wehi, The Beths and Troy Kingi (each with three finalist and related placings).

Brought to you by Recorded Music NZ, we're hoping for much onstage antics on the night. Could there be someone who dares to top Callum Devlin's magnificent scream in the face of bemused 2025 host Jesse Mulligan?

"The Aotearoa Music Awards is the annual showcase event for the music industry, celebrating artists and music from Aotearoa. The event recognises the biggest musical successes of the year while also providing a platform to promote emerging artists. Grounded in 60 years of history, the Aotearoa Music Awards has evolved to reflect our unique cultural identity. It has launched music careers, told artists’ stories and created memorable moments.

Recorded Music NZ produces the Aotearoa Music Awards and acts as its kaitiaki – preserving our musical heritage, celebrating the hits of today and paving the way for the artists of tomorrow."

NZ On Air Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year

Geneva AM – Pikipiki
Kaylee Bell – Cowboy Up
Ladi6 – Le Vā
Lorde – Virgin
MĀ – Blame It On The Weather
Marlon Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka
MOKOMOKAI – PONO
Reb Fountain – How Love Bends
Tami Neilson – Neon Cowgirl
The Beths – Straight Line Was A Lie
Tom Scott – ANITYA
Troy Kingi – Troy Kingi Presents: Night Lords

Spotify Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year

Alien Weaponry – ‘Mau Moko’
Fazerdaze – ‘Motorway’
Hori Shaw & Te Wehi – ‘Ready To Ride’
Ladi6 – ‘LightBulb’
Lorde – ‘What Was That’
Marlon Williams – ‘Aua Atu Rā’
Paige – ‘twenties’
Tami Neilson – ‘Neon Cowgirl’ (feat. Neil Finn)
The Beths – ‘Metal’
The Phoenix Foundation – ‘Vampire Class’
There’s A Tuesday – ‘Margo’
Tom Scott – ‘till then’

Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist

Geneva AM – Pikipiki
Ladi6 – Le Vā
Lorde – Virgin
Marlon Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka
Tami Neilson – Neon Cowgirl
Tom Scott – ANITYA

Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group

Alien Weaponry – Te Rā
Dick Move – Dream, Believe, Achieve
MOKOMOKAI – PONO
Phoebe Rings – Aseurai
Ringlets – The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies)
The Beths – Straight Line Was A Lie

Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo

Hamo Dell – ‘Tā Roha’ Marlon Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka
MOHI – ‘Ka Rea’ (feat. Pare)
Nikau Grace – ‘He Aha Te Aha’ (feat. Te Kapa Haka o Ngāti Whakaue)
Rob Ruha, Troy Kingi & Kaylee Bell – ‘Matariki Hunga Nui’
Stan Walker – ‘Mō Āke Tonu’ (feat. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke)

Te Māngai Pāho Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist

Hori Shaw – ‘I Know A Place’, ‘Ready To Ride’ (w. Te Wehi), ‘Catch A Wave’
MĀ – Blame It On The Weather
Marlon Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka
Stan Walker – ‘Bulletproof’, ‘Soul Deep’, ‘Could You Be Loved’ – from Live From Parachute Studios, 2025
TAWAZ – ‘Tuituia Rā’ (w. Chris Tamwoy & Marei), ‘E Ipo’ (w. Mereana & HERA), ‘Te Wahine’ (w. Emily Wurramara)
Te Wehi – ‘Ready To Ride’ (w. Hori Shaw), ‘Unfortunately’, ‘Raining’, ‘Didn’t Change A Thing’, ‘OH AH’, ‘Far Far Away’, ‘Light Up’, ‘Masterly Man’

Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau | Best Alternative Artist

Grecco Romank – Arts Colony
MĀ – Blame It On The Weather
Phoebe Rings – Aseurai

Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist

Jade String Quartet & Anthony Ritchie – Melencolia
Michael Norris – Rerenga
Moth Quartet – Tundra

Te Manu Taki Tuawhenua o te Tau | Best Country Music Artist

Jenny Mitchell – Forest House
Kaylee Bell – Cowboy Up
Tami Neilson – Neon Cowgirl

BurgerFuel Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau | Best Electronic Artist

Caru & Brandn Shiraz – Back 2 Back
Geneva AM – Pikipiki
Sanoi – Augenblick: Side A

Te Manu Taki Ahurea o te Tau | Best Folk Artist

Mel Parsons – ‘Don't Leave the Light On’, ‘Be Here Now’, ‘Brick By Brick’, ‘Post High Slide’
Nadia Reid – Enter Now Brightness
Ny Oh – Wildwood

Te Manu Taki Ātete o te Tau | Best Hip Hop Artist

Diggy Dupé & choicevaughan – Brown Velvet
MOKOMOKAI – PONO
Troy Kingi – Troy Kingi Presents: Night Lords

Te Manu Taki Tautito o te Tau | Best Jazz Artist

Clear Path Ensemble – Black Sand
Darren Pickering Small Worlds – Three
Louisa Williamson – Groundwork

Te Manu Taki Arotini o te Tau | Best Pop Artist

BENEE – Ur an Angel I'm Just Particles
Borderline – Chrysalis
Lorde – Virgin

Te Manu Taki Rakapīoi / Rakatū Pāorooro o te Tau | Best Rock / Metal Artist

Alien Weaponry – Te Rā
Beastwars – The Ship // The Sea
Dick Move – Dream, Believe, Achieve

Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau | Best Roots Artist

Hori Shaw – ‘I Know A Place’, ‘Ready To Ride’ (w. Te Wehi), ‘Catch A Wave’
Te Wehi – ‘Ready To Ride’ (w. Hori Shaw), ‘Unfortunately’, ‘Raining’, ‘Didn’t Change A Thing’, ‘OH AH’, ‘Far Far Away’, ‘Light Up’, ‘Masterly Man’
Three Houses Down – Lovers Roots

Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau | Best Soul/RnB Artist

A.R.T – Blank Canvas
Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe
Tom Scott – ANITYA

ARTISAN AWARDS

Te Taumata o te Toi | Best Album Artwork

Elliot O'Donnell & Jaime Robertson – New Tomorrows (Sola Rosa)
Laura Williams – ANITYA (Tom Scott)
Nick Keller – The Ship // The Sea (Beastwars)

Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer

Ben Lawson – ANITYA (Tom Scott)
James Goldsmith – The Ship // The Sea (Beastwars)
Mark Perkins – Te Whare Tīwekaweka (Marlon Williams)

NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Music Video Content

Stan Walker & Abe Mora – Mō Āke Tonu (Stan Walker feat. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke)
Stella Reid – ‘Scared Old Men’ (Dick Move)
Tom Grut – ‘Ed’s Sun’ (Aidan Fine)

Te Taumata o te Kaiwhakaputa | Best Producer

Ben Lawson – ANITYA (Tom Scott)
Leroy Clampitt – ‘Pussy Palace’, ‘Sleepwalking’, ‘Fruity Loops’, ‘Beg For Me’ (Lily Allen)
Marlon Williams & Mark Perkins – Te Whare Tīwekaweka (Marlon Williams)

Watch Callum Devlin (Sports Team, Hans Pucket) rip out an almighty howl at 0:50, while accepting Earth Tongue's 2025 Tūī award (on their behalf)...