Marlon Williams sweeps the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards, three Tūī, one night
Te Whare Tīwekaweka claimed Album, Single, and Solo Artist of the Year. Then Ché Fu walked into the Hall of Fame. Then Dame Lynda Topp told the government exactly how she felt.
Tāmaki Makaurau, Some awards nights feel like an industry obligation. The 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards was not one of those nights.
Held at The Civic Theatre in Auckland on 28 May, the ceremony opened on a note of celebration and closed on one of defiance, with just about everything worth remembering happening in between. Marlon Williams was the undeniable centrepiece, claiming three of the night's biggest Tūī: Album of the Year for Te Whare Tīwekaweka, Single of the Year for Aua Atu Rā, and Best Solo Artist. Engineer Mark Perkins also took home Best Engineer, making it four wins from the Williams camp across the night.
The sweep caps an extraordinary run for the Lyttelton-born artist, Williams had already claimed the 2026 Taite Music Prize and the APRA Silver Scroll before the AMAs even arrived. That he announced plans to step back from music indefinitely made the Civic feel less like a celebration and more like a farewell.
"We need support for artists in this country. We need a government that says the arts is more important than the defence budget."Dame Lynda Topp
Beyond Williams, the night reflected the genuine width of what Aotearoa's music scene has become. The Beths claimed Best Group off the back of Straight Line Was A Lie. Lorde collected Best Pop Artist and the International Achievement Tūī, awarded for the first time since 2020. Fat Freddy's Drop became only the second-ever Aotearoa Charts Icon, following Six60. And Alien Weaponry picked up the newly expanded Best Rock/Metal Artist award.
The 2026 AMAs were a reminder of what Aotearoa's music scene is capable of, and what it still needs. We grow together, or we don't grow at all.
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