The 2026 Aotearoa Children’s Music Awards finalists have been announced ahead of the combined awards and Sounds Fun event being held on Sunday 28 June, at the Tuning Fork in Tāmaki Makaurau. 

The show will be hosted by Suzy Cato with awards presented by tamariki and entertainment after the ceremony. Finalists in the four awards categories are:

Recorded Music NZ Best Children’s Music Artist (Tūī) | Te Manu Taki Kerekahu o te Tau finalists:

Jeremy Redmore for ‘Singalongercise’
Loopy Tunes Preschool Music for ‘Mā: Matariki For Tamariki’
Spellodies for ‘If You Can Yell It, Then You Can Spell It’

APRA Best Children’s Song – Preschool | He Manu Pīpī finalists:

Dinosaur Picnic written by Ben Gailer, Nick Gailer, Suzie Gailer and Lois Gailer, performed by Brain Beats
Kaitiakitanga written by Maude Morris and Ava Walker, performed by Toi Time
Tikanga Māori written by Maude Morris, Ava Walker and Tiare Tito, performed by Toi Time

APRA Best Children’s Song – Primary | He Pī Ka Rere finalists:

Feed The Stars (Hautapu Song) written by Siu Williams-Lemi and Thomas O’Connor, performed by Loopy Tunes Preschool Music
Night Light written by Steph Brown and Fen Ikner, performed by Spellodies
Papatoetoe Song written and performed by Manpreet Singh (Mannu Singh DilDoria)

NZ On Air Best Children’s Music Video | He Manu Tūtei finalists:

Night Light performed by Spellodies, video directed by Fen Ikner
Ready to Make a Potion performed by Mr Roberelli & Suzy Cato, video directed by Barry Prescott
Te Waka O Rangi (Pōhutukawa) performed by Loopy Tunes Preschool Music, video directed by Vincent Egan