A night of celebration and cultural pride unfolded at the Māngere Arts Centre on Monday night as the finalists for the Pacific Music Awards 2026 were announced.
Celebrating its 22nd year, the awards honours the dedication and diverse sound our Pacific talent continue to deliver on the music scene.
This year’s nominations recognise 33 finalists across 13 categories, with R&B singer Sam V and Porirua trio A.R.T leading with five nominations each.
A.R.T is nominated for FLAVA Best Pacific Group, PMN Best Pacific Language, Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist, NZOA Best Pacific Music Video for ‘Over Now’ directed by Michael Hunt, and Recorded Music NZ Te Tino Pukaemi Moana Nui a Kiwa o te Tau Best Pacific Music Album for Blank Canvas.
Sam V is nominated for NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist, Best Pacific Soul/R&B Artist, APRA Best Pacific Song for ‘Small Taste’, Recorded Music NZ Te Tino Pukaemi Moana Nui a Kiwa o te Tau Best Pacific Music Album, for Take A Chance on V: Deluxe, and MPG Aotearoa/SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer along with EDY and Astro.
Event producer Petrina Togi-Sa’ena acknowledges that the lead up to the Pacific Music Awards presents an opportunity for all to recognise and celebrate our finalists’ creativity and excellence in music.
Although Pacific Music Awards Trust spokesperson Rev. Mua Strickson-Pua was unable to attend last night, he shared words of encouragement, urging everyone to support this year’s finalists.
“It’s a challenging time for our communities and for our awards event,” Mua says.
“With each step of the process, it is our artists and their music that inspires and motivates us to keep going.”
The Pacific Music Awards 2026 will take place on Wednesday 12th August at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau.
But before the event unfolds, the public are encouraged to cast their votes for the SunPix People’s Choice Award.
The winner is decided entirely by the public and all finalists for the awards are eligible. Voting is now open and it will close on Wednesday 22 July.
To satisfy your senses, tune in to the official PMA 2026 Finalist Playlist and immerse yourself in the sounds that shaped this year’s event.
2026 Pacific Music Awards Finalists:
Auckland Council Best Pacific Female Artist
- Iva Lamkum – ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’
- Kenzie From Welly – Greenstone Door
- Ladi6 – Le Vā
- LOU’ANA – Disco Witch
- Talia Perese – Talia Perese
- Tree – The Rose Era
NZ Music Commission Best Pacific Male Artist
- Junior Soqeta – ‘So Amazing’, ‘Girl I Surrender’, ‘Lomaloma’, ‘i daulomani (etu feat. Junior Soqeta)’, ‘All Over Again’, ‘Sweet Sensation’
- Lepani – ‘Young Gun’, ‘Feel It’, ‘Y’, ‘Never Meet Your Dreams’, ‘Young Gun (Acoustic)’
- MELODOWNZ – Melo & Bass (EP), ‘Same As Before’, ‘Kavafied feat. Revus’
- RNZŌ – RNZŌ SZN
- Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe, ‘Small Taste’, ‘Pay No Mind’
- Scribe – Scribe is Dead
Flava Best Pacific Group
- A.R.T – Nana’s Garage (EP), Blank Canvas (EP)
- Brotherhood Musiq – ‘Amazing Love’, ‘Got It Right’
- Signature Choir – Reach the Sky EP
- Three Houses Down – Lovers Roots EP
- Village 90 – ‘On My Way’, ‘All I Want’
Pacific Media Network Best Pacific Language
- A.R.T – Nana’s Garage (EP), Blank Canvas (EP)
- GLEN JXN JACKSON – Niue 1976
- Junior Soqeta – ‘So Amazing’, ‘Girl I Surrender’, ‘Lomaloma’, ‘i daulomani (etu feat. Junior Soqeta)’, ‘All Over Again’, ‘Sweet Sensation’
- Taonepuna Lakatani, Malcolm Lakatani & Pacific Kids Learning – ‘Ulihega’, ‘Vevela Mai He Lā’
- Tree – The Rose Era
531pi Best Pacific Gospel Artist
- Brotherhood Musiq – ‘Amazing Love’, ‘Got It Right’
- Punialava’a – ‘Sauaga i Aiga’, ‘Samoa Ua Potopoto’, ‘Aiga Sa Petaia’, ‘Lo’u Alofa Afulumemea’, ‘Manatua le Mananoa’, ‘Le Lalolagi Fa’atalitali’
- Signature Choir – Reach the Sky EP
- Tree – The Rose Era
ONErpm Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist
- Diggy Dupé & choicevaughan – Brown Velvet (EP)
- Kenzie From Welly – Greenstone Door
- MELODOWNZ – Melo & Bass (EP), ‘Same As Before’, ‘Kavafied feat.Revus’
- Scribe – Scribe is Dead
Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist
- A.R.T – Nana’s Garage (EP), Blank Canvas (EP)
- Ladi6 – Le Vā
- Myshaan – ‘Missed Your Chance’, ‘Inside My Head’, ‘Pacific Beauty ft Kennyon Brown’, ‘Angel’, ‘Paint Them With You’
- Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe, ‘Small Taste’, ‘Pay No Mind’
Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist
- Fejoint, Switch.E & Folau – ‘Oiaue’
- Island Vibes – ‘Remember Who You Are’, ‘Umu’, ‘Samoa O Oe Le Penina’, ‘Tonga Tu ketau Tue’, ‘Hiki Nima’, ‘Sunshine’
- Junior Soqeta – ‘So Amazing’, ‘Girl I Surrender’, ‘Lomaloma’, ‘i daulomani (etu feat. Junior Soqeta)’, ‘All Over Again’, ‘Sweet Sensation’
- SHANE WALKER – ‘Mama’, ‘Waima Girl’, ‘Whakapara Girl’
- Three Houses Down – Lovers Roots EP
APRA Best Pacific Song
- Island Vibes – ‘Tonga Tu Ketau Tue’. Written by: Island Vibes
- Iva Lamkum – ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’. Written by: Iva Lamkum, Diaz Grimm, Josh Fountain, James Newman
- Lepani – ‘Young Gun’. Written by: Lepani Tuifagalele
- Sam V – ‘Small Taste’. Written by: Sam Verlinden, Edward Liu, Jaedyn Randall, Sam Nakamura
- Scribe – ‘Glowstick’. Written by: Malo Luafutu, Zac Harding
NZ On Air Best Pacific Music Video
- A.R.T – ‘Over Now’. Director: Michael Hunt
- Brandn Shiraz – ‘Youngin from Kuki II’. Director: Esther Mauga
- Iva Lamkum – ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’. Director: David Truasheim
- Shepherds Reign – ‘Samoa Mo Samoa’. Director: Twayne Laumua
- Three Houses Down – ‘Turn Around’. Director: Three Houses Down
- Vallé – ‘Hold Me’. Director: John Ross
MPG Aotearoa/SAE Creative Media Institute Best Producer
- Brent Park-Tamati & Brandon Haru – Le Vā, Ladi6
- EDY, Astro, Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe, Sam V
- Josh Fountain – ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’, Iva Lamkum
- Nathan Judd – Disco Witch, LOU’ANA
Recorded Music NZ Te Tino Pukaemi Moana Nui a Kiwa o te Tau | Best Pacific Music Album
- A.R.T – Blank Canvas
- Ladi6 – Le Vā
- Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe
- Scribe – Scribe is Dead
NIU FM Best International Pacific Artist
- Etu – SUNFLOWER
- Fiji – ‘Daydream’
- JAHBOY – Rockstar EP
- Jaro Local – ‘Aburongo’, ‘Olbaut Olbaut (remix)’
- Wameblood – ‘Puki’, ‘Kumul Fly’, ‘Batchiba’
