Recorded Music NZ has announced the finalists for the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards (AMA), who will be celebrated on Thursday 28 May at The Civic in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Marlon Williams leads this year’s AMA nominations with his own long list of six Tūī-winning opportunities, on the strength of his first fully te reo Māori album, ‘Te Whare Tīwekaweka’. The album debuted at #1 on the Top 40 Albums Chart – one of only three local albums to do so in 2025 – becoming the first album of original waiata reo Māori by a solo artist to ever top that chart.
Already having claimed the 2025 APRA Silver Scroll Award, alongside co-writer KOMMI, Williams is among the 12 finalists for Album of The Year; Single of the Year (for Aua Atu Rā, and Best Solo Artist. He’s also in the running for a Tūī as Best Māori Artist, and a finalist in the Mana Reo category, recognising albums or singles with at least 50% te reo Māori content.
Williams makes it six as finalist for the Best Producer Tūī alongside Mark Perkins (Merk), for the pair’s work on ‘Te Whare Tīwekaweka’, with Perkins also a finalist for Best Engineer.
Among other heavy hitters, Lorde and Tami Neilson each have four finalist berths – with both contesting the Album, Single and Solo Artist categories. Lorde’s song What Was That, was the only song by a Kiwi to go to #1 on the Singles Chart in Aotearoa in 2025, and unsurprisingly she’s also a Best Pop Artist finalist (for ‘Virgin’); while Neilson is also up for the Best Country Music Artist Tūī with her ‘Neon Cowgirl’ album.
Tom Scott fits into their four-fer clique as well, as a finalist in the Album, Single and Solo Artist categories, along with the Best Soul/RnB Artist award. Scott’s ‘ANITYA’ album also features in the Best Album Artwork category, and sees Ben Lawson competing for both Best Producer and Best Engineer Tūī categories.
A trio of bands are three-slot finalists: The Beths competing for Best Group, Single of the Year (Metal) and Album of the Year with ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’; Alien Weaponry for Best Group, Single (Mau Moko) and Best Rock/Metal Artist with ‘Te Rā’; and MOKOMOKAI finalists for Best Group, Album (‘Pono’) and Best Hip Hop Artist.
Geneva AM‘s breakthrough year extends further with three finalist nominations as Best Solo Artist, Best Electronic Artist and Album of the Year for ‘Pikipiki’. Ladi6 also features in three categories; Album, Single (LightBulb) and Best Solo Artist for ‘Le Vā’, as does MĀ in Album, Best Alternative Artist and Best Māori Artist for ‘Blame It On The Weather’.
Geneva AM – ‘Pikipiki’
Kaylee Bell – ‘Cowboy Up’
Ladi6 – ‘Le Vā’
Lorde – ‘Virgin’
MĀ – ‘Blame It On The Weather’
Marlon Williams – ‘Te Whare Tīwekaweka’
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 Lords’
Alien Weaponry – Mau Moko
Fazerdaze – Motorway
Hori Shaw & Te Wehi – Ready To Ride
Ladi6 – LightBulb
Lorde – What Was That
Marlon Williams – Aua Atu Rā
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
Alien Weaponry – ‘Te Rā’
Dick Move – ‘Dream, Believe, Achieve’
MOKOMOKAI – ‘Pono’
Phoebe Rings – ‘Aseurai’
Ringlets – ‘The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies)’
The Beths – ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’
Geneva AM – ‘Pikipiki’
Ladi6 – ‘Le Vā’
Lorde – ‘Virgin’
Marlon Williams – ‘Te Whare Tīwekaweka’
Tami Neilson – ‘Neon Cowgirl’
Tom Scott – ‘ANITYA’
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
Stan Walker – Mō Āke Tonu (feat. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke)
Hori Shaw – I Know A Place, Ready To Ride (w. Te Wehi), Catch A Wave
MĀ – ‘Blame It On The Weather’
Marlon Williams – ‘Te Whare Tīwekaweka’
Stan Walker – Bulletproof, Soul Deep, Could You Be Loved
TAWAZ – Tuituia Rā (w. Chris Tamwoy & Marei), E Ipo (w. Mereana & HERA), Te Wahine (w. Emily Wurramara)
Te Wehi – Ready To Ride (w. Hori Shaw), Unfortunately, Raining, Didn’t Change A Thing, Oh Ah, Far Far Away, Light Up, Masterly Man
Grecco Romank – ‘Arts Colony’
MĀ – ‘Blame It On The Weather’
Phoebe Rings – ‘Aseurai’
Jade String Quartet & Anthony Ritchie – ‘Melencolia’
Michael Norris – ‘Rerenga’
Moth Quartet – ‘Tundra’
Jenny Mitchell – ‘Forest House’
Kaylee Bell – ‘Cowboy Up’
Tami Neilson – ‘Neon Cowgirl’
Caru & Brandn Shiraz – ‘Back 2 Back’
Geneva AM – ‘Pikipiki’
Sanoi – ‘Augenblick: Side A’
Mel Parsons – Don’t Leave the Light On, Be Here Now, Brick By Brick, Post High Slide
Nadia Reid – ‘Enter Now Brightness’
Ny Oh – ‘Wildwood’
Diggy Dupé & choicevaughan – Brown Velvet
MOKOMOKAI – ‘Pono’
Troy Kingi – Troy Kingi Presents: Night Lords
Clear Path Ensemble – ‘Black Sand’
Darren Pickering Small Worlds – ‘Three’
Louisa Williamson – ‘Groundwork’
BENEE – ‘Ur an Angel I’m Just Particles’
Borderline – ‘Chrysalis’
Lorde – ‘Virgin’
Alien Weaponry – ‘Te Rā’
Beastwars – ‘The Ship // The Sea’
Dick Move – ‘Dream, Believe, Achieve’
Hori Shaw – I Know A Place, Ready To Ride (w. Te Wehi), Catch A Wave
Te Wehi – Ready To Ride (w. Hori Shaw), Unfortunately, Raining, Didn’t Change A Thing, Oh Ah, Far Far Away, Light Up, Masterly Man
Three Houses Down – ‘Lovers Roots’
A.R.T – ‘Blank Canvas’
Sam V – ‘Take A Chance On V: Deluxe’
Tom Scott – ‘ANITYA’
Ben Lawson – ‘ANITYA’ (Tom Scott)
James Goldsmith – ‘The Ship // The Sea’ (Beastwars)
Mark Perkins – ‘Te Whare Tīwekaweka’ (Marlon Williams)
Ben Lawson – ‘ANITYA’ (Tom Scott)
Leroy Clampitt – Pussy Palace, Sleepwalking, Fruity Loops, Beg For Me (Lily Allen)
Marlon Williams, Mark Perkins – Te Whare Tīwekaweka (Marlon Williams)
Elliot O’Donnell, Jaime Robertson – ‘New Tomorrows’ (Sola Rosa)
Laura Williams – ‘ANITYA’ (Tom Scott)
Nick Keller – ‘The Ship // The Sea’ (Beastwars)
Stan Walker & Abe Mora – Mō Āke Tonu (Stan Walker feat. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke)
Stella Reid – Scared Old Men (Dick Move)
Tom Grut – Ed’s Sun (Aidan Fine)
