The Great Escape 2026 proudly welcomed Aotearoa / New Zealand as our Lead Country Partner, bringing an exceptional delegation of artists and industry leaders to Brighton as part of our 20th anniversary festival.
In partnership with the New Zealand Music Commission and Live Nation New Zealand, this landmark collaboration showcased the depth, creativity and global ambition of Aotearoa’s thriving music scene across three days of festival and conference programming.
As Europe’s leading festival for new music, The Great Escape exists to spotlight the most exciting emerging talent from around the world, making Aotearoa a fitting Lead Country Partner for our milestone 20th edition.
A standout showcase of new music
On Thursday 14 May, The Great Escape welcomed an official New Zealand showcase takeover at Patterns, with performances across two stages from LEAO, Vera Ellen, Muroki, Luca George, Who Shot Scott, Hemi Hemingway, Ringlets and Jude Kelly.
The wider New Zealand artist delegation also included Len Blake, Office Dog and ratbag, with artists performing across the wider festival programme throughout the week, bringing the energy and diversity of Aotearoa’s music scene to audiences and industry alike.
Conference conversations with a global outlook
The partnership extended into the conference programme with the panel discussion Far Out: Building a Global Music Career from the End of the Earth, co-presented by the New Zealand Music Commission and Live Nation New Zealand.
The session brought together artists and industry leaders from Aotearoa to explore how geography can shape international music careers, creative thinking and export success.
Connecting the global industry
To round off the partnership, the New Zealand delegation hosted an industry networking event at TGE Beach, creating new opportunities for artists, agents, labels, promoters, managers, festival programmers and media to connect.
Mark Kneebone, Managing Director of Live Nation New Zealand, said: “New Zealand’s appointment as Lead Country Partner at The Great Escape was a genuine milestone for our music industry. To bring these artists to Brighton and have them performing alongside some of the most exciting new artists in the world is a powerful statement about the quality and ambition of what Aotearoa is producing.”
Alan Holt, International Manager at the New Zealand Music Commission, added: “People were impressed. The artists all played exceptionally and were well received throughout the week. There were many comments about the high quality of artists from New Zealand this year.”
The Great Escape has always been about discovery, international connection and championing the next wave of artists, and Aotearoa’s Lead Country Partnership perfectly embodied that spirit.
We’re proud to have welcomed such an exciting delegation to Brighton for our 20th anniversary celebrations.