Aotearoa Alternative Awards 2026 Nominees Announced

It's suddenly awards season again. Hot on the heels of the showbiz soirée which was last night's APRA Silver Scroll Award ceremony — much deserved winners LEAO took away the main prize (full report on its way) — our music community turns its attention to the Aotearoa Alternative Awards 2026.

Not to be mixed up with the Aotearoa Music Awards Best Alternative Artist award, the Aotearoa Alternative Awards 2026 recognises those incredible artists who've lit up our Student Radio Network (SRN) airwaves over the past twelve months, with an inclusive array of accolades — brought to you by member stations 95bFM, Radio Control, RadioActive, RDU, and Radio One 91FM, in association with Irirangi Te Motu | NZ On Air.

This year's ceremony will be hosted by 95bFM at The Hollywood Avondale in Tāmaki Makaurau on Saturday 14th November, and will also be live streamed on srn.nz, plus simulcast across all SRN stations. Voting opens at 10am this Friday for the Te Tohu Kōwhiringa Tangata | People's Choice award (have your say at srn.nz) — here is the magnificent list of nominees for 2026...

Te Tohu Kaipuoro Toa i kawea mai ki a koutou nā SAE Creative Media Institute
Favourite Solo Act brought to you by SAE Creative Media Institute

CLOVA
Damiasharko
Greatsouth
Logan Edwards
Mainard Larkin
Phaedra Love
SAVAGEHINE
TAKATAPUNANI
Točka
Tyran

Te Rōpū Mariu i kawea mai ki a koutou nā Tuning Fork & San Fran
Favourite Group brought to you by The Tuning Fork & San Fran

Cindy
CROOK
Groove Council
LEAO
Marsha
Seek Help!
The Sour
U-No Juno
UNCLES
Watercolour

Te Tōtahi Toa i kawea mai ki a koutou nā Sublime Studio
Favourite Single brought to you by Sublime Studio

mouth - ‘#RRR'
AKL Madz - '7pm in west auckland (feat. Church, MELODOWNZ, The Shogun, Habibi Double G, Hunnarr, Kaio)
Sogg - ‘Argument'
Crossing Water - 'Artiface? No!’
Dan Hodges - ‘Dopamine'
Kong Kasi - 'Everyday Roots Rockers’
IVY - ‘Gutter'
Coco Solid - 'Jump Into That Ride’
Danse Macabre - ‘Telephone'
Bug Michigan - 'Wing and Shell’

Te Tohu Puoro o te Reo Māori i kawea mai ki a koutou nā MĀORI+
Favourite Song featuring Te Reo Māori brought to you by MĀORI+

Hine - 'Arahina Mai’
Aja - 'E Ua E Te Ua’
MĀ - 'Homai E’
Netana - 'Kapana' (feat. Samara Alofa)
Cuck - 'Ngā Rīwai’ NVO - ‘Pakanga'
Aro - 'Puna Ora’
Te KuraHuia - 'TOITŪ TE TIRITI’
Ardon England - ‘Whai Mai Rā’
Tough Guy - 'Whakapapa'

Te Tohu Hopunga Puoro Mariu Poto i kawea mai ki a koutou nā Recorded Music NZ
Favourite EP brought to you by Recorded Music NZ

Wax Eye - ', Another'
KAISHANDAO - 'AUNTY DUBS'
MISSROSEVALENTINA - 'BITE'
Junny - 'Kumara Suite'
Hasji - 'Pahū'
Chole - 'Photosynthesis'
Mim Jensen - 'The Muse'
Naakz & Baby Zoot - 'Three-Headed Tāniwha'
Caru & Brandn Shiraz - 'Two for Two'
Carrie's Fish - 'until she drops it’

Te Tohu Hopunga Puoro Mariu Roa i kawea mai ki a koutou nā APRA AMCOS Aotearoa
Favourite Album brought to you by APRA AMCOS Aotearoa

Romi Wrights - 'Andy'
Hannah Everingham - 'Big Surprise'
Welcomer - 'Calendars'
Menzies - 'Holding My Cold Hand, Even Though Yours Is Warm'
Eveline Breaker - 'Idle Viewer'
Pining Radiata - 'Pining Radiata'
Fazed on a Pony - ‘swan'
Hun Lynch - ‘Sycophant'
Scabadart - 'Urban Geography’
Bunchy's Big Score - 'Wanda's Bicycle'

Te Kohinga Waiata Mariu i kawea mai ki a koutou nā Speight's
Favourite Compilation brought to you by Speight's

DUN Records - '4EPs'
Nympho - 'Save Neck of the Woods'
Real Rungle Records - 'RRR Vol.2'
Various Artists - 'Ōtepoti Hou'
Dance Therapy - 'Kanikani Therapy'
SPDO - 'SPD002'
swamp soul - 'sparkly shiny'
Flock for Funds - 'Full-Flocking Force'
Punkfest - 'Punkfest 2026'
Born Ready AUK - 'NZHC SPLIT 2026'

Te Tohu Kōwhiringa Tangata i kawea mai ki a koutou nā Bigpop
People's Choice Award brought to you by Bigpop

All NZ artists are eligible for Te Tohu Kōwhiringa Tangata | People's Choice if they have had a song playlisted on any one of the five Student Radio Network stations (95bFM, Radio Control, RadioActive, RDU, Radio One 91FM) between September 9 2025 to September 8 2026. The winner is decided by public vote. Voting is open Friday 16 October, 10am and closes Friday 23 October, 11:59pm via srn.nz