Source: RNZ Pacific
Auckland based RnB singer Sam V has topped the table at this year’s Pacific Music Awards – and retained his crown as best Pacific Soul/RnB artist for the fifth year running.
The multi-award winning musician (Cook Island Māori – Mangaia, Dutch, New Zealand European) rose to fame after uploading videos to YouTube at the age of nine.
He went into Wednesday night’s awards leading with five nominations. Along with his RnB win, Sam V bagged best male artist and best Pacific song for his single ‘Small Taste’ with Jaedyn Randell.
Wellington gospel group Signature Choir also took home three awards – best gospel artist, a special recognition award and people’s choice.
Hip hop heavyweight Scribe won best Pacific music album for Scribe Is Dead – an unflinching look at his life since his 2003 album The Crusader became one of New Zealand‘s biggest hits.
To take the prize, Scribe beat his cousin, Ladi6. However, Ladi’s production team Brent Park-Tamati and Brandon Haru won best producers for the RnB singer’s ‘Le Vā’, released last year.
A.R.T – whose name represents their initials – backed up last year’s win as Pacific music group of the year. The Porirua trio came came into the 2026 event with five nominations.
Soul singer Iva Lankum won the best female artist and Kenzie from Welly received the best Pacific hip hop artist for the second year in a row.
Three Houses Down were named best Pacific roots/reggae artist and five-piece Samoan metal band, Shepherds Reign, won music video of the year for their single ‘Samoa Mo Samoa’ directed by Twayne Laumua.
Cook Island musical pioneer Will Crummer was presented with the Pacific people’s lifetime achievement award honouring his career spanning more than six decades and his enduring contribution to Pacific music.
Born in Rarotonga and raised in the village of Turangi, Crummer grew up surrounded by Cook Islands music and language. From his early recordings with Viking Records to the later revival of his Rarotongan repertoire, his work helped preserve and share the music of the Cook Islands with audiences across generations.
2026 Pacific Music Awards winners
Best Pacific Female Artist
Iva Lamkum – ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’ – WINNER
Kenzie From Welly – Greenstone Door
Ladi6 – Le Vā
LOU’ANA – Disco Witch
Talia Perese – Talia Perese
Tree – The Rose Era
Best Pacific Male Artist
Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe, ‘Small Taste’, ‘Pay No Mind’ WINNER
Junior Soqeta – ‘So Amazing’, ‘Girl I Surrender’, ‘Lomaloma’, ‘i daulomani (etu feat. Junior Soqeta)’, ‘All Over Again’, ‘Sweet Sensation’
Lepani – ‘Young Gun’, ‘Feel It’, ‘Y’, ‘Never Meet Your Dreams’, ‘Young Gun (Acoustic)’
MELODOWNZ – Melo & Bass (EP), ‘Same As Before’, ‘Kavafied feat. Revus’
RNZŌ – RNZŌ SZN
Scribe – Scribe is Dead
Best Pacific Group
A.R.T – Nana’s Garage (EP), Blank Canvas (EP) WINNER
Brotherhood Musiq – ‘Amazing Love’, ‘Got It Right’
Signature Choir – Reach the Sky EP
Three Houses Down – Lovers Roots EP
Village 90 – ‘On My Way’, ‘All I Want’
Best Pacific Language
Taonepuna Lakatani, Malcolm Lakatani & Pacific Kids Learning –‘Ulihega’, ‘Vevela Mai He Lā’ WINNER
A.R.T – Nana’s Garage (EP), Blank Canvas (EP)
GLEN JXN JACKSON – Niue 1976
Junior Soqeta –‘So Amazing’, ‘Girl I Surrender’, ‘Lomaloma’, ‘i daulomani (etu feat. Junior Soqeta)’, ‘All Over Again’, ‘Sweet Sensation’
Tree – The Rose Era
Best Pacific Gospel Artist
Signature Choir – Reach the Sky EP WINNER
Brotherhood Musiq –‘Amazing Love’, ‘Got It Right’
Punialava’a – ‘Sauaga i Aiga’, ‘Samoa Ua Potopoto’, ‘Aiga Sa Petaia’, ‘Lo’u Alofa Afulumemea’, ‘Manatua le Mananoa’, ‘Le Lalolagi Fa’atalitali’
Tree – The Rose Era
Best Pacific Hip Hop Artist
Kenzie From Welly – Greenstone Door WINNER
Diggy Dupé & choicevaughan – Brown Velvet (EP)
MELODOWNZ – Melo & Bass (EP), ‘Same As Before’, ‘Kavafied feat.Revus’
Scribe – Scribe is Dead
Best Pacific Soul/RnB Artist
Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe, ‘Small Taste’, ‘Pay No Mind’ WINNER
A.R.T – Nana’s Garage (EP), Blank Canvas (EP)
Ladi6 – Le Vā
Myshaan –‘Missed Your Chance’, ‘Inside My Head’, ‘Pacific Beauty ft Kennyon Brown’, ‘Angel’, ‘Paint Them With You’
Best Pacific Roots/Reggae Artist
Three Houses Down – Lovers Roots EP WINNER
Fejoint, Switch.E & Folau – ‘Oiaue’
Island Vibes – ‘Remember Who You Are’, ‘Umu’, ‘Samoa O Oe Le Penina’, ‘Tonga Tu ketau Tue’, ‘Hiki Nima’, ‘Sunshine’
Junior Soqeta – ‘So Amazing’, ‘Girl I Surrender’, ‘Lomaloma’, ‘i daulomani (etu feat. Junior Soqeta)’, ‘All Over Again’, ‘Sweet Sensation’
Shane Walker- ‘Mama’, ‘Waima Girl’, ‘Whakapara Girl’
Best Pacific Song
Sam V – ‘Small Taste’ Written by: Sam Verlinden, Edward Liu, Jaedyn Randall, Sam Nakamura WINNER
Island Vibes – ‘Tonga Tu Ketau Tue’ Written by: Island Vibes
Iva Lamkum – ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’ Written by: Iva Lamkum, Diaz Grimm, Josh Fountain, James Newman
Lepani – ‘Young Gun’ Written by: Lepani Tuifagalele
Scribe – ‘Glowstick’ Written by: Malo Luafutu, Zac Harding
Best Pacific Music Video
Shepherds Reign – ‘Samoa Mo Samoa’ Director: Twayne Laumua WINNER
A.R.T – ‘Over Now’ Director: Michael Hunt
Brandn Shiraz – ‘Youngin from Kuki II’ Director: Esther Mauga
Iva Lamkum – ‘Don’t Mind If I Do’ Director: David Truasheim
Three Houses Down – ‘Turn Around’ Director: Three Houses Down
Vallé – ‘Hold Me’ Director: John Ross
Best Producer
Brent Park-Tamati & Brandon Haru – Le Vā, Ladi6 WINNER
EDY, Astro, Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe, Sam V
Josh Fountain –‘Don’t Mind If I Do’, Iva Lamkum
Nathan Judd – Disco Witch, LOU’ANA
Best Pacific Music Album
Scribe – Scribe is Dead WINNER
A.R.T – Blank Canvas
Ladi6 – Le Vā
Sam V – Take A Chance On V: Deluxe
Best International Pacific Artist
Fiji – ‘Daydream’ WINNER
Etu – SUNFLOWER
JAHBOY –Rockstar EP
Jaro Local – ‘Aburongo’, ‘Olbaut Olbaut (remix)’
Wameblood – ‘Puki’, ‘Kumul Fly’, ‘Batchiba’
People’s Choice Award – Best Pacific Artist
Signature Choir
Radio Airplay Award
Shane Walker – ‘Coasty Girl’
Streaming Award
Shane Walker – ‘Coasty Girl’
Most Promising Pacific Artist
Talia Perese
Creative New Zealand Award
Anne Filimoehala
Lifetime Achievement Award
Will Crummer
Independent Music Award
Letoa
Special Recognition Award
Signature Choir