The finalists for the 2026 Taite Music Prize have been revealed.
Independent Music NZ (IMNZ), in partnership with founding partner Recorded Music NZ, has today announced the 10 finalists for this year’s main prize.
Nominated this year are Auckland punks Dick Move, dream-pop outfit Phoebe Rings, post-punk band Ringlets, acclaimed singer-songwriters Marlon Williams and Reb Fountain, and more.
Check out the full list below. All 10 albums featured prominently in Rolling Stone AU/NZ‘s Best New Zealand Albums of 2025 list.
The 10 finalists were selected from albums released in the previous calendar year. The winning album will receive a $12,500 cash prize courtesy of Recorded Music NZ.
Now in its 17th year, the Taite Music Prize “continues to honour albums of depth, vision, and artistic integrity, recognising work that transcends and contributes meaningfully to New Zealand’s cultural landscape.”
This year’s edition opens a new chapter: the ceremony will be held at the New Zealand International Convention Centre (NZICC), and for the first time in its history, the event will be open to the public.
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“Every year there is an astounding amount of amazing albums being made in Aotearoa, and to celebrate these ten at a ceremony that the whole community can enjoy is a wonderful thing indeed,” says IMNZ General Manager Dylan Pellett.
Alongside the main prize, the Auckland Live Best Independent Debut Award, NZ On Air Outstanding Music Journalism Award, and IMNZ Classic Record will also be given out this year, with the nominees for those three categories set to be announced in the lead-up to the ceremony.
Last year’s main prize went to MOKOTRON for WAEREA, which reached No. 2 on our Best New Zealand Albums of 2024 list.
Find out more information about the 2026 Taite Music Prize here.
2026 Taite Music Prize Finalists
Dick Move — Dream, Believe, Achieve (1:12 Records & Flying Nun Records)
Geneva AM — PIKIPIKI (Independent)
Jazmine Mary — I Want to Rock and Roll (Flying Nun Records)
MĀ — Blame It on the Weather (Independent)
Marlon Williams — Te Whare Tīwekaweka (Marlon Williams Music)
Phoebe Rings — Aseurai (Carpark Records)
Reb Fountain — How Love Bends (Fountain Records Limited)
Ringlets — The Lord Is My German Shepherd (Time for Walkies) (Flying Nun Records)
Tom Scott — ANITYA (Years Gone By)
Womb — One Is Always Heading Somewhere (Flying Nun Records)
