NZ Music Month / Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa 2026: Week 1 Highlights

Quite inconceivably we have already arrived at the dawn of NZ Music Month / Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa 2026. Our annual month-long celebration of Aotearoa's amazingly diverse, world class music culture and sonic heritage, there's lots of accessible events and initiatives happening all around the motu during May — including the NZ Music Month Summit this Saturday at The Tuning Fork in Tāmaki Makaurau. The theme for NZ Music Month / Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa 2026 is Our Sounds, Our Spaces, let's take a look at what's happening soon...

New Zealand Music Month highlights happening THIS WEEK (looks to be mainly in Auckland for the first week) — check out the UTR gig guide HERE and the NZMM gig guide HERE for lots more live shows and events nationwide.

The first day of NZ Music Month coincides with the artist-friendly Bandcamp Friday initiative (running for 24 hours from 7pm NZ time tonight) — where the platform waives its revenue share, passing funds directly to artists and labels. Local music lovers are encouraged to support artists by purchasing music and merchandise directly via Bandcamp. 

Get the jump on NZ Music T-Shirt Day (29th May) and peruse the NZ Music Month artists' merch directory, shop direct from the source HERE.

Voting has officially opened for the 2026 JD Sports Tā te Iwi | People's Choice Tūī award, you can vote for your fave HERE.

FromThePit - available online and popping up in locations nationwide during May
Aotearoa’s much-loved annual music photography showcase, is back for its eighth year in 2026, bringing a fresh wave of energy, creativity, and unforgettable live moments from across the motu.

FRESH LAUNDRY in laundromats across Auckland - 1st to 31st May
A public art installation turning Auckland laundromats into unlikely music discovery destinations this May. Five washing machine jukeboxes will be installed in laundromats across Tāmaki Makaurau during NZ Music Month, playing a specially compiled album of Aotearoa C-Sides, for anyone waiting on a spin cycle to finish.

NZ Music Month Summit at The Tuning Fork, Auckland - 2nd May, 10.45am to 4.30pm (free, RSVP for tickets)
The NZ Music Month Summit is presented by the Music Managers Forum Aotearoa and the NZ Music Commission, with support from industry organization partners. The one-day event seeks to provide useful, practical information for emerging artists and music professionals to grow their careers.

Pūoro at Pukepuke - Sounds of Tamaki at Nathan Homestead, Auckland - 2nd May, 3pm to 4pm (free)
Opening the newly refreshed music room with live performances by LEAO and Greatsouth — two local acts paving the way for a new generation of music makers.

Make Your Own Mini Banjo for NZ Music Month at Otago Museum, Dunedin - 2nd May
Inviting participants to craft and decorate their own tiny banjo using simple materials, offering a hands-on, creative way for budding musicians and makers alike to celebrate the sounds of Aotearoa.

Mighty at Te Komititanga, Central Auckland - 5th May to 17th May (free)
Each performance invites just 6 - 8 people inside for a single song, played live and acoustic. No microphones. No production. Just artist and audience, sharing a moment.
Across two weeks, a rotating lineup of incredible performers will step into the space, including Aro, Babe Martin, Bailey Vinsen, Don McGlashan, Finn Johansson, Geneva AM, Ha The Unclear, Jon Toogood, LEAO, Liz from The Beths, Rewind Fields, Salem Māhia, Tyran + more to be announced.

Women About Sound online workshop - 5th May, 6.30pm
Workshop on releasing your music into the world. Guidance and ideas on how to cut through the noise. What you need to think about, prepare and do for the promotion and distribution of new music.

Music Careers Expo at Big Fan, Auckland - 6th May (free, RSVP)
A free, one-day event designed to help rangatahi explore real-world career pathways in the music industry, both on stage and behind the scenes.

Notable NZMM events / initiatives coming up:

Aotearoa Music Awards at The Civic, Auckland - 18th May

The Country Music Honours at St James Theatre, Gore - 22nd May

NZ Music T-Shirt Day - 29th May
It's about celebrating great New Zealand music and showing your support by sporting your favourite band tee. It's all about fun, but also has a really important purpose in raising funds for MusicHelps.

Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa is run by the NZ Music Commission, celebrating music from New Zealand and the people who make it.