The 2026 New Zealand Screen Awards are on Thursday 19 November at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre, hosted by Kate Rodger. Pike River leads the film finalists with 15 nominations and Bust Up leads television with 12, across 57 categories. Public voting for Screen Personality of the Year is open until 11.59pm on Friday 13 November.
The finalists were announced on 15 October, and on 27 October the awards named their ten Personality of the Year finalists and revealed that Country Calendar, on air since 1966, is this year’s Screen Legend. This page lists the main finalists, how to vote and last year’s winners, and will be updated with the 2026 winners on the night.
When are the NZ Screen Awards 2026?
The 2026 New Zealand Screen Awards ceremony is on Thursday 19 November 2026 at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland. Entertainment journalist Kate Rodger is the host. Winners in all 57 categories, including the public-voted Screen Personality of the Year, will be announced that night.
| NZ Screen Awards 2026 | Date |
|---|---|
| Finalists announced | Thursday 15 October 2026 |
| Screen Legend and Personality finalists announced | Tuesday 27 October 2026 |
| Personality of the Year voting closes | 11.59pm, Friday 13 November 2026 |
| Awards ceremony | Thursday 19 November 2026, Viaduct Events Centre, Auckland |
The awards drew almost 600 entries this year, the New Zealand Screen Awards said in its finalists announcement. Rodger said she had “been worshipping at the altar of Aotearoa’s screen industry” and added, “I cannot wait to celebrate that with them all!”
Who are the NZ Screen Awards 2026 finalists?
The 2026 finalists are led by the Pike River film, with 15 nominations, and the drama series Bust Up, with 12 in television, ahead of The Ridge with nine. Jack Tame is a finalist twice, for Reporter of the Year and Best Presenter in news and current affairs. These are the main categories.
| Category | Finalists |
|---|---|
| Best Drama Series | The Ridge, Bust Up, Tangata Pai |
| Best Comedy Programme | Educators, Warren’s Vortex, New Zealand Spy |
| Best Entertainment Programme | Taskmaster New Zealand Season 6, I’m Not Racist… But, New Zealand Tomorrow |
| Best Reality Series | Celebrity Escape, The Traitors New Zealand (Season 3), Game On |
| Best Factual Series | Hyundai Country Calendar, Once Were Gardeners, Moving Houses, George Clarke’s Homes In The Wild |
| Best Feature Film | Pike River, Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant, Kiri & Lou Go Raa! |
| Best Documentary (feature) | Tenor: My Name is Pati, Prime Minister, Sgt. Haane |
| Best Current Affairs Programme | Q+A with Jack Tame, Paddy Gower Has Issues, Mata Reports |
| Best News Coverage | Mt Maunganui, Tom Phillips Shooting, Marokopa |
| Best Children’s Programme | Katie’s Kurī, Baddies, Tralala |
Acting and presenting finalists
Pike River has two of the three finalists for best female performance in a feature, Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm, alongside Lisa Harrow for Caterpillar.
| Category | Finalists |
|---|---|
| Best Performance, Female Role (feature) | Melanie Lynskey (Pike River), Lisa Harrow (Caterpillar), Robyn Malcolm (Pike River) |
| Best Performance, Male Role (feature) | Dacre Montgomery (Went Up The Hill), Derek Jacobi (Moss & Freud), Matt Whelan (Workmates) |
| Best Performance, Female Role (series) | Morgana O’Reilly (Bust Up), Roimata Fox (Bust Up), Holly Shervey (Crackhead) |
| Best Performance, Male Role (series) | Jayden Daniels (Tangata Pai), Tom Sainsbury (Small Town Scandal), Jay Ryan (The Ridge) |
| Best Presenter, News and Current Affairs | Jack Tame, Samantha Hayes, Patrick Gower |
| Best Presenter, Entertainment | Shaun Johnson (League Lounge with Shaun Johnson), Guy Williams (New Zealand Tomorrow), Tāmati Rimene-Sproat (Counting the Beat) |
| Reporter of the Year | Paula Penfold (ThreeNews), Michael Morrah (NZ Herald), Jack Tame (Q+A with Jack Tame and 1News) |
Who is up for Screen Personality of the Year 2026?
Ten finalists are in the running for 2026 Screen Personality of the Year, the only NZ Screen Award decided entirely by the public. They include Chris Chang of Breakfast, Rebecca Gibney, Shaun Johnson, Ryan Bridge, and Taskmaster NZ’s David Correos and Jackie Van Beek. The winner is revealed at the ceremony on 19 November.
- Rebecca Gibney (Happiness, Millionaire Hot Seat)
- Shaun Johnson (Ford League Lounge with Shaun Johnson)
- Ryan Bridge (Ryan Bridge Today)
- Chris Chang (Breakfast, FIFA World Cup 2026 coverage)
- Alex King (Shortland Street)
- Shiray and Gillies Kākā (Full Noise)
- David Correos (Taskmaster NZ, Celebrity Treasure Island, The Weed Eaters)
- Ganesh Raj (Eat Well For Less NZ)
- Jackie Van Beek (Taskmaster NZ, Educators, Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant)
- Turia Schmidt-Peke (Chat Her Up)
How to vote for Screen Personality of the Year
Voting is open now on the official New Zealand Screen Awards website, nzscreenawards.co.nz, and closes at 11.59pm on Friday 13 November 2026. The ten finalists were named on 27 October, and the winner will be revealed at the ceremony on Thursday 19 November 2026.
Country Calendar is the 2026 Screen Legend
Country Calendar receives the 2026 Screen Legend Award, 60 years after it was first broadcast on 6 March 1966. It is described as New Zealand’s longest-running television programme and is only the second TV show given the honour, after Shortland Street in 2019. It is also a finalist for Best Factual Series.
Producer Dan Henry said, “Country Calendar isn’t simply a television programme that has survived; it has thrived for 60 years.” Stuff reported that the show will be honoured at the November ceremony.
Who won the NZ Screen Awards in 2025?
At the 2025 NZ Screen Awards, held on 21 November 2025 at the Viaduct Events Centre, The Gone won Best Drama, Taskmaster NZ won Best Entertainment Programme and Scotty Morrison was voted Screen Personality of the Year. The Convert was the standout film, with five awards, including Best Director for Lee Tamahori.
| Category | 2025 winner |
|---|---|
| Best Drama Series | The Gone |
| Best Comedy Programme | Vince |
| Best Entertainment Programme | Taskmaster NZ |
| Best Reality Series | The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes |
| Best Factual Series | Moving Houses |
| Best Feature Film | Ka Whawhai Tonu |
| Best Director, Drama Feature | The Convert |
| Best Presenter, News and Current Affairs | John Campbell |
| Best Presenter, Entertainment | Brynley Stent and Kura Forrester (Bryn and Ku’s Singles Club) |
| Reporter of the Year | Indira Stewart |
| Best Current Affairs Programme | The Hui |
| Screen Personality of the Year | Scotty Morrison |
1News reported that the 2025 ceremony was held at the Viaduct Events Centre and that TVNZ dominated the news and current affairs categories. Taskmaster NZ is back in the entertainment shortlist this year with Season 6.
Past Screen Personality of the Year winners
Screen Personality of the Year has gone to a mix of news anchors, breakfast hosts and reality stars. Scotty Morrison won in 2025, and earlier winners include Hilary Barry, Matty McLean, Toni Street and Bree Tomasel.
| Year | Screen Personality of the Year |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Scotty Morrison |
| 2024 | Bella Kalolo |
| 2023 | Aesha Scott |
| 2022 | Bree Tomasel |
| 2021 | Nicola “Nix” Adams |
| 2020 | Hilary Barry |
| 2019 | Matty McLean |
| 2018 | Hayley Holt |
| 2017 | Toni Street |
Frequently asked questions
What date are the NZ Screen Awards?
The 2026 ceremony is on Thursday 19 November 2026 at the Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.
How many categories are in the NZ Screen Awards?
There are 57 categories in 2026, spanning film, television, and news and current affairs.
Who has the most NZ Screen Awards nominations in 2026?
Pike River leads with 15 nominations in film. In television, Bust Up leads with 12 and The Ridge has nine.
Who hosts the NZ Screen Awards 2026?
Entertainment journalist Kate Rodger hosts the 2026 ceremony.
When does NZ Screen Awards voting close?
Public voting for Screen Personality of the Year closes at 11.59pm on Friday 13 November 2026.
