Aotearoa Music Awards 2026 finalists: Jenny Mitchell, Kaylee Bell, Tami Neilson and more

It’s a big day for Kiwi music, with the finalists for the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards officially announced!

This year’s Best Country Music Artist category is stacked with three familiar wahine we absolutely love here at iHeartCountry NZ: Jenny Mitchell, Kaylee Bell, and Tami Neilson.

The finalists for Te Manu Taki Tuawhenua o te Tau | Best Country Music Artist are:

Jenny Mitchell – Forest House
Kaylee Bell – Cowboy Up
Tami Neilson – Neon Cowgirl

Jenny Mitchell

Jenny Mitchell earns her spot in the category for her album Forest House! 

Kaylee Bell

It’s a massive year for Kaylee Bell, who picks up multiple nominations including:

Album of the Year – Cowboy Up
Best Country Music Artist – Cowboy Up
Plus, a nod in Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo for ‘Matariki Hunga Nui’ alongside Rob Ruha & Troy Kingi

Tami Neilson

Tami Neilson is once again a standout, with Neon Cowgirl earning recognition across some of the night’s biggest categories:

Album of the Year – Neon Cowgirl
Single of the Year – ‘Neon Cowgirl’ (feat. Neil Finn)
Best Solo Artist – Neon Cowgirl
Best Country Music Artist – Neon Cowgirl

With all three artists deeply connected to the local country scene (and regulars on iHeartCountry NZ!) it’s a proud moment to see them recognised as 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards finalists!

Read on for the full list of Aotearoa Music Awards 2026 Finalists.

NZ On Air Te Tino Pukaemi o te Tau | Album of the Year

• 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

Spotify Te Tino Waiata o te Tau | Single of the Year

• 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’

Te Tino Reo o te Tau | Best Solo Artist

• Geneva AM – Pikipiki
• Ladi6 – Le Vā
• Lorde – Virgin
• Marlon Williams – Te Whare Tīwekaweka
• Tami Neilson – Neon Cowgirl
• Tom Scott – ANITYA

Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group

• 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

Te Māngai Pāho Mana Reo

• 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)

Te Māngai Pāho Te Manu Taki Māori o te Tau | Best Māori Artist

• 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’ – from Live From Parachute Studios, 2025
• 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’

Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau | Best Alternative Artist

• Grecco Romank – Arts Colony
• MĀ – Blame It On The Weather
• Phoebe Rings – Aseurai

Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist

• Jade String Quartet & Anthony Ritchie – Melencolia
• Michael Norris – Rerenga
• Moth Quartet – Tundra

BurgerFuel Te Manu Taki Tāhiko o te Tau | Best Electronic Artist

• Caru & Brandn Shiraz – Back 2 Back 
• Geneva AM – Pikipiki
• Sanoi – Augenblick: Side A

Te Manu Taki Ahurea o te Tau | Best Folk Artist

• 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

Te Manu Taki Ātete o te Tau | Best Hip Hop Artist

• Diggy Dupé & choicevaughan – Brown Velvet
• MOKOMOKAI – PONO
• Troy Kingi – Troy Kingi Presents: Night Lords

Te Manu Taki Tautito o te Tau | Best Jazz Artist

• Clear Path Ensemble – Black Sand
• Darren Pickering Small Worlds – Three
• Louisa Williamson – Groundwork

Te Manu Taki Arotini o te Tau | Best Pop Artist

• BENEE – Ur an Angel I'm Just Particles
• Borderline – Chrysalis
• Lorde – Virgin

Te Manu Taki Rakapīoi / Rakatū Pāorooro o te Tau | Best Rock / Metal Artist

• Alien Weaponry – Te Rā
• Beastwars – The Ship // The Sea
• Dick Move – Dream, Believe, Achieve

Te Manu Taki Taketake o te Tau | Best Roots Artist

• 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

Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau | Best Soul/RnB Artist

• A.R.T – Blank Canvas
• Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe
• Tom Scott – ANITYA

ARTISAN AWARDS

Te Taumata o te Toi | Best Album Artwork

• Elliot O'Donnell & Jaime Robertson – New Tomorrows (Sola Rosa)
• Laura Williams – ANITYA (Tom Scott)
• Nick Keller – The Ship // The Sea (Beastwars)

Te Taumata o te Pūkenga Oro | Best Engineer

• Ben Lawson – ANITYA (Tom Scott)
• James Goldsmith – The Ship // The Sea (Beastwars)
• Mark Perkins – Te Whare Tīwekaweka (Marlon Williams)

NZ On Air Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Music Video Content

• 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)

Te Taumata o te Kaiwhakaputa | Best Producer

• 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)

Hear Jenny Mitchell, Kaylee Bell, Tami Neilson and more of your favourite Kiwi country artists on iHeartCountry NZ by using the player below.