The 2026 APRA Silver Scroll Awards are on Wednesday 14 October 2026 at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Auckland’s Aotea Centre. Five songs are in the running for the Silver Scroll: “Afters” by Troy Kingi featuring MĀ, “LALELEI” by LEAO, “One Stop” by Aldous Harding, “Someone’s Daughter” by Deva Mahal and “Wrong Party” by Fazed on a Pony.
The Silver Scroll is New Zealand’s top songwriting award, and unlike most music awards it is decided by songwriters themselves. This year’s ceremony is also part of APRA AMCOS’s 100-year anniversary celebrations.
Date, venue and key details
| Date | Wednesday 14 October 2026 |
| Venue | Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre |
| City | Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland |
| Organiser | APRA AMCOS |
| Top 20 announced | 8 July 2026 |
| Finalists announced | 10 September 2026 |
| 2025 winner | “Aua Atu Rā” – Marlon Williams and Te Pononga Tamati-Elliffe (KOMMI) |
APRA had not published broadcast or livestream details in its finalist announcement on 10 September 2026.
Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka finalists
| Song | Artist | Songwriters |
|---|---|---|
| “Afters” | Troy Kingi feat. MĀ | Troy Kingi, Maarire Brunning-Kouka |
| “LALELEI” | LEAO | David Feauai-Afaese, Navakatoa Tekela-Pule, Levi Gemmell, Larsen Taylor |
| “One Stop” | Aldous Harding | Hannah Topp |
| “Someone’s Daughter” | Deva Mahal | Deva Mahal, Chris Wethey |
| “Wrong Party” | Fazed on a Pony | Peter McCall |
Big names missed the final five. The Top 20 announced in July included Lorde‘s “David”, songs by BENEE and Tami Neilson’s “Neon Cowgirl” featuring Neil Finn, alongside newer acts such as ratbag, alayna and HOPE.
Maioha Award | Tohu Maioha finalists
The Maioha Award, presented since 2003, recognises contemporary waiata with te reo Māori at their heart.
| Song | Artist | Songwriters |
|---|---|---|
| “Mānawa Maiea Matariki” | TAWAZ, Stan Walker, Hera, Hone, Nepia, Rani and Hops | Tawaroa Kawana, Rangi-Ānehu Mātāmua |
| “Puna Ora” | Aro | Charles Looker, Emily Looker |
| “Toitū Te Tiriti” | Geneva AM | Geneva Alexander-Marsters, Eric Scholes |
Kapa Haka Songwriting Award finalists
Te Tihi o te Maunga Tito, the kapa haka songwriting award, has three finalists:
| Waiata | Rōpū | Composers |
|---|---|---|
| “Ka Mutu Te Aroha” | Te Whare Haka o Te Puku | Dr Hinurewa Poutū, Tawaroa Kawana |
| “Te Tapuni” | Te Taumata o Apanui (TOA) | Rob Ruha |
| “Wai Ka Tuku Wai Ka Hono” | Te Kapa Haka o Whāngārā Mai Tawhiti | Tā Derek Lardelli, Te Rauhuia Ngata, Ani Piki Tuari, Hamiora Tuari |
SOUNZ Contemporary Award finalists
- “curio” – Ihlara McIndoe (the 2025 winner, for “of coral and foam”)
- “Light Lines” – Dylan Lardelli
- “Partial Forms” – Michael Norris and Nicholas Denton Protsack
- “Soft Logic” – Samuel Holloway
Screen music finalists
Best Original Music in a Series
- Claire Cowan – Bust Up
- Lachlan Anderson – Crackhead
- Mahuia Bridgman-Cooper – Tangata Pai (winner of this category in 2025 for The Gone season two)
Best Original Music in a Film
- Jonathan Crayford – Caterpillar
- Karl Steven and Rob Thorne – Mārama
- Karl Steven – Pike River
How the winners are chosen
A panel of industry figures picks the Silver Scroll Top 20; this year it included songwriters and producers such as Cass Mitchell, Chelsea Nikkel, JessB and Mara TK. The Maioha Top 11 was chosen by judges with expertise in te reo Māori composition, including Byllie-jean Zeta, Hēmi Kelly and Stormie Kereopa-Lloyd. APRA’s members, the country’s songwriters, then vote to decide both the finalists and the winners.
Recent Silver Scroll winners
| Year | Song | Songwriters | Ceremony |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | “Aua Atu Rā” | Marlon Williams, Te Pononga Tamati-Elliffe (KOMMI) | Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch |
| 2024 | “Kātuarehe” | Anna Coddington, Noema Te Hau III, Ruth Smith, Kawiti Waetford | St James Theatre, Wellington |
| 2023 | “Expert in a Dying Field” | The Beths | – |
| 1965 (first award) | “Teardrops” | Wayne Kent-Healey (performed by Herma Keil & The Keil Isles) | – |
Marlon Williams’ 2025 win was his second Silver Scroll, making him the ninth songwriter to win the award more than once. The Warratahs were inducted into the New Zealand Music Hall of Fame at the same ceremony.
Frequently asked questions
When are the Silver Scroll Awards 2026?
Wednesday 14 October 2026, at the Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Auckland’s Aotea Centre.
Who are the Silver Scroll 2026 finalists?
“Afters” (Troy Kingi feat. MĀ), “LALELEI” (LEAO), “One Stop” (Aldous Harding), “Someone’s Daughter” (Deva Mahal) and “Wrong Party” (Fazed on a Pony).
Who won the Silver Scroll in 2025?
Marlon Williams and Te Pononga Tamati-Elliffe (KOMMI) won for “Aua Atu Rā”.
Who votes for the Silver Scroll?
APRA members, New Zealand’s songwriters, vote for the finalists and the winner after an industry panel selects the Top 20.
Is Lorde nominated for the Silver Scroll 2026?
Her song “David” made the Top 20 but is not one of the five finalists.
