The 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards is the annual ceremony featuring awards for New Zealand music recording artists. The ceremony took take place on 28 May 2026 at the Civic Theatre in Auckland.
The awards were streamed live by Radio New Zealand.
Nominees and winners The finalists for the awards were announced on 16 April 2026. Marlon Williams, who lead the nominations with seven, won three awards on the night, and made history when Te Whare Tīwekaweka became the first entirely te reo Māori album to win Album of the Year.
Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger ().
Album of the YearSingle of the Year Marlon Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka Geneva AM – Pikipiki Kaylee Bell – Cowboy Up Ladi6 – Le Vā Lorde – Virgin MĀ – Blame it on the Weather 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 LordsMarlon Williams – "Aua Atu Rā" Alien Weaponry – "Mau Moko" Fazerdaze – "Motorway" Hori Shaw, Te Wehi – "Ready To Ride" Ladi6 – "LightBulb" Lorde – "What Was That" 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"Best Solo ArtistBest GroupMarlon Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka Geneva AM – Pikipiki Ladi6 – Le Vā Lorde – Virgin Tami Neilson – Neon Cowgirl Tom Scott – ANITYA The Beths – Straight Line Was A Lie Alien Weaponry – Te Rā Dick Move – Dream, Believe, Achieve Mokomokai – PONO Phoebe Rings – Aseurai Ringlets – The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies)International AchievementTe Manu Mātarae Lorde Balu BrigadaBest Māori ArtistMana ReoTAWAZ – various Hori Shaw – various MĀ – Blame It On The Weather Marlon Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka Te Wehi – variousStan Walker – "Mō Āke Tonu" (feat. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke) 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"Breakthrough Artist of the YearBest Alternative Artist Te WehiMĀ – Blame It On The Weather Grecco Romank – Arts Colony Phoebe Rings – AseuraiBest Classical ArtistBest Country ArtistMichael Norris – Rerenga Jade String Quartet, Anthony Ritchie – Melencolia Moth Quartet – TundraTami Neilson – Neon Cowgirl Jenny Mitchell – Forest House Kaylee Bell – Cowboy UpBest Electronic ArtistBest Folk ArtistCaru, Brandn Shiraz – Back 2 Back Geneva AM – Pikipiki Sanoi – Augenblick: Side ANy Oh – Wildwood Mel Parsons – various Nadia Reid – Enter Now BrightnessBest Hip Hop ArtistBest Jazz ArtistMokomai – PONO Diggy Dupé, choicevaughan – Brown Velvet Troy Kingi – Troy Kingi Presents: Night Lords Louisa Williamson – Groundwork Clear Path Ensemble – Black Sand Darren Pickering Small Worlds – ThreeBest Pop ArtistBest Rock / Metal ArtistLorde – Virgin Benee – Ur an Angel I'm Just Particles Borderline – ChrysalisAlien Weaponry – Te Rā Beastwars – The Ship // The Sea Dick Move – Dream, Believe, AchieveBest Roots ArtistBest Soul / RnB ArtistTe Wehi – various Hori Shaw – various Three Houses Down – Lovers RootsTom Scott – ANITYA A.R.T – Blank Canvas Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe
Artisan awards Best Album ArtworkBest Music Video Content Nick Keller – The Ship // The Sea (Beastwars) Elliot O'Donnell, Jamie Robertson – New Tomorrows (Sola Rosa) Laura Williams – ANITYA (Tom Scott) Stella Reid – "Scared Old Men" (Dick Move) Stan Walker, Abe Mora – "Mō Āke Tonu" (Stan Walker feat. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke) Tom Grut – "Ed’s Sun" (Aidan Fine)Best ProducerBest Engineer Ben Lawson – ANITYA (Tom Scott) Leroy Clampitt – various (Lily Allen) Marlon Williams, Mark Perkins – Te Whare Tīwekaweka (Marlon Williams)Mark Perkins – Te Whare Tīwekaweka (Marlon Williams) Ben Lawson – ANITYA (Tom Scott) James Goldsmith – The Ship // The Sea (Beastwars)
Other awards Highest Selling ArtistRadio Airplay Record of the Year Six60 Riiki Reid – "Over Romantic"People's ChoiceAotearoa Charts Icon BorderlineFat Freddy's DropNew Zealand Music Hall of FameChé Fu
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