Thousands of young musicians set to take the stage for the 2026 Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats season
- Jun 8
- 1 min read
Young musicians throughout Aotearoa are gearing up to showcase their talents in the highly anticipated Smokefreerockquest & Smokefree Tangata Beats 2026 season. The annual Smokefreerockquest tour will travel across 22 regions between May and June, offering over 3,300 secondary school students the opportunity to showcase their talents and perform original music on professional stages.
Smokefreerockquest is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most influential launchpads for emerging artists, with many former participants going on to become some of the nation’s most recognised musicians. Smokefree Tangata Beats runs alongside Rockquest and celebrates the identities and cultures of Tangata Whenua and Pasifika communities.
Matt Ealand, General Manager of Rockquest Promotions, says, “We’re so excited to see the level of talent and creativity shared by the rangatahi at this year’s Smokefreerockquest and Smokefree Tangata Beats events, which continues to grow year after year. The regional events are a wonderful opportunity for young musicians to get up in front of their local audience – often for the very first time – and share their art with their community.”
The Freemasons Foundation supports significant change-making projects that bring people together to make New Zealand (and the world) a better place. Rockquest Promotions is proud to partner with the Foundation to deliver Smokefreerockquest & Smokefree Tangata Beats in Auckland, as well as support for the national finals in Wellington.
