Judging demographic data published for AMA 2026
Judging for the 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards has closed, and we’re looking forward to sharing the finalists with you in April. Find out how AMA judging works, and what this year's Academy looked like below.
AMA is judged by an Academy of 300+ professionals, including artists, from across the Aotearoa music industry. The full Academy votes for Single and Album of the Year, Best Solo Artist and Best Group.
Smaller specialist Schools vote in the genre, Artisan, and Best Māori Artist and Mana Reo categories.
We review and refresh the Judging Academy and specialist Schools on an annual basis, with a commitment to representation for Māori, diversity and inclusion, and appropriate music industry representation.
People are identified and invited to judge based on their skillset and in consultation with various music industry organisations and sector specialists.
Who were the AMA 2026 judges?
- 24% whakapapa Māori
- 45% identify as female or gender diverse
- 60% are under 45
- 37% are artists
Who enters AMA?
We issue a wide call-out for nominations when entries open, encouraging Aotearoa artists and their teams to nominate their release/s from the previous calendar year (1 January–31 December).
Anyone who’s eligible can enter the Awards.
How does judging work?
Judging is completed online and takes place in two rounds for the following categories:
- Album of the Year
- Single of the Year
- Best Solo Artist
- Best Group
Round one results in a shortlist of nominees, then the Academy votes again to select the finalists and winners.
AMA judges agree to consider all aspects of a nominated release and to vote for artists and recordings that have demonstrated excellence, audience reach, commercial success and cultural impact.
People’s Choice is decided by public vote and all finalists are eligible (2026 voting opens in May).
Te Manu Mātārae and Breakthrough Artist of the Year are chosen by a discretionary in-person panel.
Highest Selling Artist and Radio Airplay Record of the Year are decided by data – captured via the Recorded Music NZ data team.
The 2026 AMA winners will be awarded at an in-person event on Thursday 28 May, which will also be livestreamed via our Official Media Partner RNZ and made available on demand thanks to our funding partners NZ On Air and Te Māngai Pāho.
View this year's judging demographics in full here