National Finalists for 2026 Smokefree Rockquest & Smokefree Tangata Beats Revealed

Rockquest Promotions are thrilled to reveal the 25 National Finalists for Smokefree Rockquest & Smokefree Tangata Beats 2026, presented by the Wright Family Foundation and powered by the Rockshop. These rangatahi acts reflect the immense breadth of talent and creativity emerging from the next generation of Aotearoa’s music community.

Smokefree Rockquest National Finalists – Bands:

● Deaf Raccoon – John McGlashan College, Logan Park High School (Otago)
● Fork – Bream Bay College (Northland)
● Go Getter – Bethlehem College (Bay of Plenty)
● Grizzlyfish – Ōtūmoetai College (Bay of Plenty)
● Lux – Wellington High School and Com Ed Centre, Tawa College (Wellington)
● Sidetracked – Rutherford College, Hobsonville Point Secondary School (Auckland Central)
● Talking Furniture – Bayfield High School (Otago)
● Trolley – Havelock North High School (Hawkes Bay)

Highly Commended:

● Crying Ivy – Western Springs College-Ngā Puna o Waiōrea, Saint Kentigern College (Auckland Central)
● Parade – Hamilton Christian School (Waikato)
● Littles Road – Wakatipu High School (Central Otago)

Smokefree Rockquest National Finalists – Solo/Duos:

● Bella Watson – Waimea College (Nelson)
● Ioteva – Manurewa High School (Manukau)
● Lily Moore – Havelock North High School (Hawkes Bay)
● Mind The Gap – Burnside High School (Canterbury)
● Oscar Walsh – Takapuna Grammar School (North Shore)
● Sophie Toyne – Whanganui High School (Whanganui)
● Stella Riley – Papamoa College (Bay of Plenty)

Highly Commended:

● Sandy Corsame – Tauranga Girls’ College (Bay of Plenty)
● Boston and Janetta – Cashmere High School, Burnside High School (Canterbury)
● Cameron Beattie – Long Bay College (North Shore)

Smokefree Tangata Beats National Finalists:

● Copium – Tolaga Bay Area School (Tairāwhiti)
● Deffex – Mount Maunganui College (Te Moana-a-Toitehuatahi)
● DnA – St Mary’s College (Tāmaki Makaurau)
● Ngā Hau e Whā – Whanganui High School (Whanganui)
● Rau Huia – Rotorua Boys’ High School (Rotorua)
● Ribbit – Papatoetoe High School (Tāmaki Makaurau)
● Supa Fly – Tamatea High School (Te Matau-a-Māui)
● Tentations – Manurewa High School (Tāmaki Makaurau)
● Teuila – Massey High School (Tāmaki Makaurau)
● Tuwharetorian – Rangitīkei College (Whanganui)

The finalists earned their place after competing in one of twenty-two regions from the Far North to Southland, where more than 1,100 acts and over 3,700 student
performers brought their original music to a professional stage across 37 live events.

Regional 1st and 2nd place winners – as well as eligible Rockshop Second Chance acts – were invited to submit three-song performance videos, with almost one hundred acts assessed by a judging panel of local musicians, artists and industry professionals.

Judge and Smokefree Rockquest alumni Riiki Reid was amazed by the level of talent this year;

“I was very inspired, in awe and left feeling so hopeful for the future of Aotearoa music after witnessing the incredibly strong talent of this year’s competition. Each year we see students move from strength to strength, but to be spoilt by this year’s calibre was something else. I know that this year’s contestants will become very familiar faces within our music industry and community from here on out; that’s how much belief I have in these young musicians. I can’t wait to see them shine bright.”

Earlier this week the Top 55 acts from the 2026 season were announced. Alongside regional Musicianship Award recipients, these students become eligible for RQP’s Chloe Wright Scholarship, made possible by the Wright Family Foundation and offering two outstanding students three years of tertiary tuition fees.

The 25 finalists will perform at the 2026 National Finals, held across three days in partnership with Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University and bringing the events to Wellington for the first time in over two decades. Generous support from the Freemasons Foundation will help bring regional acts to the capital, ensuring cost isn’t a barrier to participation, while also making mentoring and workshop opportunities available to all finalists to support their musical development.

All 25 acts also have the opportunity to record a song in a professional recording studio thanks to the Ministry of Education.

The national winners will join an impressive list of Smokefree Rockquest alumni, including Aotearoa music legends Aldous Harding, Bic Runga, Balu Brigada, The Black Seeds, Six60 and Marlon Williams. They’ll also compete for a prize pool valued at over $60,000 from the Rockshop and NZ On Air. A full breakdown of all awards and prizes is available HERE.

Tickets on sale at 3pm on Monday 3 August from the RQP website.

● Rockquest Solo/Duo National Final – 17 September
● Rockquest Band National Final – 18 September
● Tangata Beats National Final – 19 September