Music Commission News

Counting down to Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa 2026, the NZ Music Commission is gearing up to celebrate the 26th NZ Music Month this May, with a nationwide programme highlighting Aotearoa’s vibrant music communities.

DOWNLOAD NZ MUSIC MONTH 2026 LOGO ASSETS HERE

This year’s theme, Our Sounds, Our Spaces, celebrates our music and all the places it is made and enjoyed across Aotearoa; from incredible local live music venues and community halls to schools, libraries, marae, public parks, town squares, all ages spaces and more. NZ Music Month 2026 shines a light on the unique environments that bring music to life throughout the motu.

Adding to this year’s identity, the official colour is APRA gold, marking the 100th anniversary of the songwriter association APRA AMCOS and recognising the writers who compose the soundtracks to our lives.

NZ Music Month kicks off on Friday 1 May with Bandcamp Friday, where the platform waives its revenue share, passing funds directly to artists and labels. Music fans are encouraged to support local artists by purchasing music and merchandise, with a dedicated NZ music merch directory available to help guide purchases ahead of NZ Music T-Shirt Day later in the month.

NZ Music Month official t-shirts will be available for sale from the 29th of April via the NZ Music Month Website. All profits from t-shirt sales go towards MusicHelps, the official charity of the music industry in Aotearoa. Also launching on the 1st of May is Tee Me Up, the annual t-shirt design competition sponsored by AS Colour and Karousel Printing. Aotearoa artists playing shows in 2026 can enter their merch designs for the chance to win 50 AS colour t-shirts with front and back prints courtesy of Karosel Printing.

The official launch event, the NZ Music Month Summit, takes place on Saturday 2 May at The Tuning Fork, bringing together industry professionals and music practitioners to connect, share knowledge and celebrate the sector.

Education and career pathways remain a key focus, with a Music Careers Expo for secondary tauira scheduled for Wednesday 6 May at Big Fan, offering students the opportunity to explore future pathways within the music industry.

A wide-ranging programme of initiatives and activations will take place throughout the month. Key dates include international showcasing at The Great Escape (7–15 May), SongHubs in Tāmaki Makaurau (12–15 May), Going Local South Island and the Tussock Country Music Festival (20–22 May), the Aotearoa Music Awards (28 May), and MusicHelps NZ Music T-Shirt Day on Friday 29 May.

Across the motu, local councils and communities are playing a significant role in bringing NZ Music Month to life. Highlights include:

Ōtepoti Dunedin’s “Ōtepoti Hou” project — a compilation album showcasing ten emerging local acts across genres, released on vinyl, cassette and digital platforms, with a launch event at Burns Hall on 22 May.

Sounds of Tāmaki Makaurau — a major Auckland Council programme featuring 40 events, including emerging artist showcases and a new web series spotlighting local musicians.

A 16-event programme across Christchurch City Libraries, alongside wider city activations coordinated through Toi Ōtautahi.
Hawke’s Bay celebrations including the Hawke’s Bay Music Gala (5 May) and Anthems at Paisley Stage (9 May), showcasing iconic songs performed live by a big band with brass.

The Trusts launching a Saturday concert series at Corban Estate in West Auckland supporting Crescendo, featuring established and emerging artists.

Unique creative experiences also feature, including FRESH LAUNDRY, the public art installation turning Auckland laundromats into unlikely music discovery destinations with washing machine jukeboxes installed in laundromats, the return of the immersive planetarium show Xyzzy, and special guided tours of music exhibitions, alongside a packed schedule of live performances nationwide.

Major tours from Aotearoa artists will take place throughout May, alongside national and regional tours from a wide range of emerging and established acts. The month will also see a significant number of new music releases from artists across the country.

The NZ Music Commission has released its official NZ Music Month 2026 design assets, featuring linework inspired by the many spaces where music-makers and music fans connect with local sounds. These are now available for download and use nationwide.

“From Split Enz to Mim Jensen, there is a huge amount of amazing local music happening across the motu during Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa. From Aotearoa legends Fat Freddy’s Drop at a Town Hall or emerging stars like Ivy & Pearly* on their co-headline South Island tour, there will be hundreds of opportunities to see amazing sounds in amazing spaces this May.” says Cath Andersen, NZ Music Commission. “We’d encourage everyone to get amongst it and support local artists”.

An exciting programme of events, collaborations and community-led activations will take place across Aotearoa throughout May, reinforcing the importance of local music and the spaces that sustain it.

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

Check out all things NZ Music Month below:
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