Themusicnetwork.com
The nominees for the Aotearoa Music Awards 2026 have been announced, with Marlon Williams emerging as the frontrunner. The artist has secured seven nominations, driven by Te Whare Tīwekaweka, his first full-length project recorded entirely in te reo Māori, which continues to gain cultural momentum.
Williams is joined in the Album of the Year category by a diverse field that includes Lorde, Ladi6, Tami Neilson and The Beths, reflecting the breadth of Aotearoa’s current musical landscape.
The nominations span a wide range of genres and voices, from alternative and hip-hop to country, electronic and roots, highlighting both established names and emerging talent. In the Single of the Year race, contenders include tracks from Alien Weaponry, Fazerdaze and Lorde, while categories like Best Māori Artist and Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo highlight the continued prominence of te reo Māori and Indigenous storytelling within the country’s music scene.
Beyond the headline categories, the awards also spotlight craft and innovation through its Artisan Awards, recognizing achievements in production, engineering, artwork and video. These categories reinforce the collaborative ecosystem behind recorded music, honoring the creatives shaping sound and visual identity behind the scenes.
Organized by Recorded Music NZ, the awards aim to celebrate both commercial success and artistic impact across the nation’s industry. This year’s ceremony is set to take place on May 28 at The Civic Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, with a livestream available via Radio New Zealand.
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