Alex Casey recaps the highlights of the Aotearoa Music Awards 2026, including a standing ovation for Lynda Topp and Stan Walker’s toilet snafu. Last night the Civic Theatre in Tāmaki Makaurau hosted the 61st Aotearoa Music Awards, a celebration of the last year in local music to cap off the end of Te Marama Puoro o Aotearoa, New Zealand Music Month. Hosted by RNZ’s Kara Rickard and comedian Tom Sainsbury, the evening had all manner of glittering stars present including Suzy Cato, Troy Kingi and Erin Simpson, and I’m told by a veteran attendee that it was easily “the most emo/special ever”.