The 2026 national finalists for Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats have been announced, with three separate National Final events scheduled for The Great Hall in Wellington, mid-September.
The 25 finalists earned their place after competing in one of 22 regions from the Far North to Southland, in which more than 1,100 acts and over 3,700 student performers brought their original music to a professional stage across 37 live events.
Regional first and second place winners, as well as eligible second chance acts, were invited to submit three-song performance videos, with almost 100 acts assessed by a judging panel of local musicians, artists and industry professionals.
● Deaf Raccoon – John McGlashan College, Logan Park High School (Otago)
● Fork – Bream Bay College (Northland)
● Go Getter – Bethlehem College (Bay of Plenty)
● Grizzlyfish – Ōtūmoetai College (Bay of Plenty)
● Lux – Wellington High School and Com Ed Centre, Tawa College(Wellington)
● Sidetracked – Rutherford College, Hobsonville Point Secondary School(Auckland Central)
● Talking Furniture – Bayfield High School (Otago)
● Trolley – Havelock North High School (Hawkes Bay)
● Bella Watson – Waimea College (Nelson)
● Ioteva – Manurewa High School (Manukau)
● Lily Moore – Havelock North High School (Hawkes Bay)
● Mind The Gap – Burnside High School (Canterbury)
● Oscar Walsh – Takapuna Grammar School (North Shore)
● Sophie Toyne – Whanganui High School (Whanganui)
● Stella Riley – Papamoa College (Bay of Plenty)
● Copium – Tolaga Bay Area School (Tairāwhiti)
● Deffex – Mount Maunganui College (Te Moana-a-Toitehuatahi)
● DnA – St Mary’s College (Tāmaki Makaurau)
● Ngā Hau e Whā – Whanganui High School (Whanganui)
● Rau Huia – Rotorua Boys’ High School (Rotorua)
● Ribbit – Papatoetoe High School (Tāmaki Makaurau)
● Supa Fly – Tamatea High School (Te Matau-a-Māui)
● Tentations – Manurewa High School (Tāmaki Makaurau)
● Teuila – Massey High School (Tāmaki Makaurau)
● Tuwharetorian – Rangitīkei College (Whanganui)
