British Council New Zealand and the Pacific was proud to support eleven New Zealand artists at The Great Escape 2026, held 13–16 May in Brighton, UK.
Now in its 20th year, The Great Escape is Europe's leading festival for new music, presenting over 450 emerging artists across 35 walkable venues in the heart of Brighton, where the global music industry comes together to discover the next big thing.
For its milestone anniversary, New Zealand was named Lead Country Partner, a breakthrough moment for Aotearoa's music scene on the world stage. The partnership was led and funded by the New Zealand Music Commission and Live Nation New Zealand, supported by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage through the Cultural Diplomacy International Programme and British Council New Zealand and the Pacific.
The delegation included LEAO, Vera Ellen, Muroki, Luca George, Who Shot Scott, Hemi Hemingway, Ringlets, Jude Kelly, Len Blake, Office Dog and Ratbag.
British Council supported this partnership as part of our commitment to cultural exchange between New Zealand and the UK, directing our funding to the connection points at the heart of the programme: the industry panel and the reception. These events created space for artists and music professionals from both countries to share perspectives and open doors far beyond Brighton, strengthening ties between Aotearoa and the UK and amplifying the voices of a genuinely exciting new generation of talent.
Listen to the New Zealand artists who played at TGE on Spotify.
The Music
The official New Zealand showcase took over two stages for an afternoon of back-to-back performances from artists across the delegation.
The Panel
Far Out: Building a Global Music Career from the End of the Earth
Musicians and industry figures from Aotearoa discussed the strategies, mindset shifts and creative breakthroughs that happen when you have no choice but to think differently.
The Reception
This networking event brought together artists, industry professionals, delegates and international guests to connect, exchange ideas and build relationships.