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Some of Aotearoa\u2019s best acts are heading to The Great Escape this year.<\/p>\n
The New Zealand Music Commission and Live Nation New Zealand today announced a landmark partnership naming New Zealand as the Lead Country Partner for the 20th anniversary of the beloved English festival, with support from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage and The British Council.<\/p>\n
As Lead Country Partner, New Zealand will host an exclusive industry panel, high-level networking events to promote NZ music worldwide, and a dedicated takeover of the iconic Brighton venue Patterns\u00a0on\u00a0Thursday, May 14th, featuring curated showcases of Kiwi acts.<\/p>\n
The 2026 NZ delegation features\u00a0Ringlets<\/a>, Office Dog<\/a>, Ratbag<\/a>, Hemi Hemingway<\/a>,\u00a0and\u00a0Jude Kelly<\/a>, in addition to the newly announced Luca George<\/a>,\u00a0Muroki<\/a>, Vera Ellen<\/a>, WHO SHOT SCOTT<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0LEAO<\/a>.\u00a0These 10 acts will perform alongside over 130 international acts.<\/p>\n Alan Holt, International Manager for the New Zealand Music Commission, shares:\u00a0\u201cI am thrilled for New Zealand to be the lead country at The Great Escape in 2026. The Great Escape has always been a significant part of the New Zealand Music Commission\u2019s international activities and has consistently been a joy to attend both from a networking\/showcasing perspective and as a place to experience fantastic music.<\/p>\n \u201cOver the past few years we have proudly supported artists like Aldous Harding, The Beths, DARTZ, LEISURE, NO CIGAR, and Teeks \u2014 to name just a handful \u2014 and this year we along with Live Nation New Zealand look forward to introducing the world to a new and sparkling collection of some of the best new music NZ has to offer!\u201d<\/p>\n Mark Kneebone, MD of Live Nation Aotearoa, adds: \u201cWe\u2019re\u00a0stoked to be teaming up with the NZ Music Commission for the 20th anniversary of the Great Escape festival.\u00a0Live Nation is about more than just putting on shows \u2013\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0about being a genuine part of the local scene and helping our artists break through on the world stage.<\/p>\n Get your daily dose of everything happening in Australian\/New Zealand music and globally.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThis partnership is a massive opportunity to give Kiwi talent a global platform, while also bringing that international energy back home to keep the local industry inspired and growing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Love Music?<\/h2>\n