Turning up the volume on local music

For local music lovers the most wonderful time of the year is rapidly upon us. As the calendar ticks over to May this Friday, NZ Music Month Te Marama Puoro O Aotearoa rolls around for another year. Here at the NZ Music Commission we like to say that while we celebrate local music everyday, in May we turn the volume up.

For 2026, the theme of NZ Music Month is Our Sounds, Our Spaces; uplifting all the places where music 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 plenty more. 

This umbrella reflects the big ideas and conversations that have been bubbling up from cultural zeitgeist this year. Aotearoa is a unique country, and our singular geography, communities and networks make a distinct impact on the art we produce. Across the motu people are thinking about the places we gather, and how they shape the sounds we make. 

NZ Music Month is a time to loudly celebrate the extraordinary creativity of our local musicians and amplify the mahi of the people who help bring music alive from behind the scenes. To add to the celebrations, the official colour of NZ Music Month 2026 is APRA gold, marking the 100th anniversary of the songwriter association APRA AMCOS and recognising the writers who compose the soundtracks to our lives.

There’s no better way to get involved with NZ Music Month than to go out and see a live show, buy a record or some merch from your favourite local act, or take the time to discover a great new band. Wherever you are in Aotearoa, there’s music happening in your neighbourhood, so get out there and enjoy it. 

Bandcamp Friday coincides with the start of NZ Music Month

NZ Music Month kicks off on Friday 1 May with Bandcamp Friday, meaning the platform will waive its revenue share, passing funds directly to artists and labels. It's a great time to support local artists by purchasing music and merchandise. A dedicated NZ music merch directory on the NZ Music Month website is there to help guide purchases ahead of NZ Music T-Shirt Day, the last Friday of May.

Taite Award winners announced

Independent Music NZ hosted a ceremony last night at the new International Convention Centre in Auckland to award this year's Taite Awards. Congrats to Rosa Nevison, Flynn Robson and Sam Elliott of Newzician Magazine on winning the NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award, Carmel Bennett (currently at MusicHelps but has worked in just about every corner of the music industry) who won the Independent Spirit Award, Geneva AM who won Auckland Live Best Independent Debut for Pikipiki, and Marlon Williams who won the main prize for Te Whare Tīwekaweka (received by collaborator KOMMI). The already announced Classic Record Award was received in person by three members of The Mint Chicks, celebrating the enduring impact and love for their 2006 album Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!

The NZ Music Summit is this Saturday!

The official launch event of NZ Music Month, 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. With discussions around all ages spaces, how to grow the audience for your music in Aotearoa, the places where waiata reo māori thrives, tips on live performance, and a look at the great community and council facilities supporting music across the country – there is a wealth of great knowledge to be shared and discussed at this year’s Summit. It’s free to attend, you just need to register for a free ticket at Moshtix.

It’s all about fashion! 

From today, you can buy NZ Music Month official t-shirts from 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 tomorrow 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 that the artist can sell, giveaway – or do whatever they wish!

The first-ever Music Careers Expo is next week at Big Fan

Education and career pathways remain a key focus for Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa, with a Music Careers Expo for secondary tauira happening for the first time ever at Big Fan on 6 May. The day-long event is free to attend, and offers students the opportunity to explore future pathways within the music industry through panel discussions, expo stalls, and hands-on workshops. Register yourself or your students here. 

Key events

May is jam-packed with celebrations of excellent music from Aotearoa. Key events include international showcasing of 11 New Zealand artists at The Great Escape festival in the UK (7–15 May), APRA 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.

Weird and wonderful 

Unique creative experiences also feature this NZ Music Month, including:

• FRESH LAUNDRY, the public art installation turning Auckland laundromats into unlikely music discovery destinations with washing machine jukeboxes installed in laundromats. 
• Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is celebrating Our Sounds, Our Spaces | Ō tātou puoro, ō tātou wāhi all May with lunchtime listening sessions at Old St Paul’s, playing some of Aotearoa’s most celebrated new releases, start to finish, in one of Wellington’s most iconic heritage settings each Tuesday and Wednesday. 
• Xyzzy, the immersive planetarium experience from contemporary artist Jess Johnson and director Simon Ward, returns to Te Whatu Stardome in Auckland for a special run of NZ Music Month screenings across May. 
• Mighty, The Tiny Container Theatre, opens next week for a two-week season at Te Komititanga in Tāmaki. Join an audience of 6-8 people inside for a single song, played live and acoustic. The schedule is a mystery: show up, step in, and discover who you get. 
• At the Space Academy Variety show in Ōtautahi, a bunch of absolutely beloved local musicians will perform an intimate, seated show, as they raise money for a gorgeous pair of new speakers for the venue. There is even a ticket that's not a ticket for $10, for those who wish to contribute but won't be able to make it on the night. 

Community and Council spaces celebrate local music

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.

• The inaugural Drewtopia in Whanganui: a multi-venue music festival showcasing the richness of Aotearoa’s live music scene and the power of collaboration between three standout venues on Drews Avenue.

   

Gigs galore 

There are hundreds of opportunities to see bands from Aotearoa perform this May. From Split Enz to Mim Jensen, Fat Freddy’s Drop to Ivy & Pearly*, and Melodownz to the Upper Hutt Brass Band – there’s something for everyone. Head along to the NZ Music Month website to check out a bumper list of gigs happening across the country this May. 

There’s no better time to dive into some excellent local music journalism than NZ Music Month. From online music news publications like Undertheradar and Muzic.nz,through to print zines including Newzician, Gremlins Ōtautahi, theimage in Wellington, and the plan down in Ōtepoti, this month is a great time to school up on some great local music stories.