FromThePit Returns in 2026 to Document Aotearoa’s Live Music Scene

Aotearoa’s live music scene will once again be documented through the lens of its creative community, with FromThePit set to return for its eighth year in 2026.

The annual photography exhibition brings together 58 photographers this year, capturing artists across stages, venues, and grassroots spaces nationwide.

The result is a broad snapshot of New Zealand’s evolving music ecosystem, spanning genres and scenes while highlighting both established and emerging photographers.

At the centre of the 2026 program is a large-scale audio-visual showcase featuring 100 images selected from hundreds of submissions.

Paired with a soundtrack of local music, the presentation leans into immersive storytelling, offering a multi-sensory reflection of Aotearoa’s live entertainment sector.

The AV showcase will debut at the Taite Music Prize, before screening at the New Zealand National Convention Centre in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Beyond the exhibition itself, FromThePit continues to position itself as a development platform for the wider creative community. A series of workshops and events will run throughout the year, focused on building skills, fostering connection, and supporting the next generation of live music photographers.

The 2026 edition arrives as the live sector continues to recalibrate, with organisers framing the project as both documentation and reflection.

The images, they say, go beyond performance shots, capturing the atmosphere and connection that define Aotearoa’s music culture.

The project is curated by Dave Simpson, Chontalle Musson, Stella Gardiner, Jennifer de Koning, and Brenna Gotje, and is supported by partners including Sony, Audioculture, Auckland Council, Independent Music NZ, and the New Zealand Music Commission.

FromThePit 2026 will roll out online and through pop-up exhibitions nationwide during NZ Music Month in May.

Further details, including exhibition dates and screening opportunities, are available via FromThePit’s official website.