For the first time in the festival’s history, The Great Escape is turning its global spotlight toward the South Pacific. New Zealand has been named the official lead country for 2026, marking a historic moment for a nation that consistently punches above its weight on the world stage.
In an ambitious takeover presented by the New Zealand Music Commission and Live Nation New Zealand, ten of the country’s most compelling musical exports will descend upon Patterns in Brighton. This four-hour showcase promises to be more than just a performance; it is a declaration of the depth, diversity, and sheer creative force currently defining the Kiwi scene. The showcase will see 10 of the country’s most exciting artists take over Patterns in Brighton from 12pm–4pm on Thursday 14 May 2026.
ASBO’S ONES TO WATCH AT THE GREAT ESCAPE 2026
This year’s selection is a high-octane blend of cultural reclamation and sonic innovation, featuring the explosive alternative hip-hop of WHO SHOT SCOTT?, the sun-drenched "black soul" of Muroki, and the genre-blurring pop brilliance of Luca George. Joining them is the multidisciplinary enigma ratbag, whose DIY world-building is set to be one of the festival’s most talked-about immersive experiences. In a landmark partnership between the NZ Music Commission and Live Nation, these artists are proving that New Zealand is currently the world’s most exciting exporter of future-defining sounds.
LUCA GEORGE: THE NEXT GLOBAL VOICE IN POP
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Singer-songwriter Luca George is rapidly ascending, amassing over 6 million streams and a social audience exceeding 72,000. Recently named one of Rolling Stone’s "Future 25," Luca was also hand-picked by Troye Sivan as the sole New Zealander for his curated APRA songwriting camp. His debut EP, You’ll Never Know Me Sober, features the Silver Scroll-nominated "Suit Of Blue." Global support is surging: "Better Apart" earned BBC Radio 1 Future Pop honors, while "brOKen" reached 400,000 listeners via the UK Student Music Network. A powerhouse on NZ airwaves with hits like "Crying In The Bathroom," Luca has also shared stages with Peach PRC and Calum Scott. With one million listeners and 50k TikTok followers, Luca George is officially pop’s most exciting new export.
WHO SHOT SCOTT: THE EXPLOSIVE RECLAMATION OF IDENTITY
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From fleeing Iraq as a child to becoming a disruptive force in Aotearoa’s music scene, Zaidoon Nasir—aka WHO SHOT SCOTT—fuses raw vulnerability with sonic explosivity. Named by Rolling Stone as a top artist to watch, his genre-blurring sound blends alternative hip-hop with punk energy. With over 300,000 monthly listeners, his "filthy and frantic" style has earned two Silver Scroll nominations and a #1 anthem on NZ College Radio. A global presence, his music is synced in the Borderlands 4 trailer and championed by MTV. Having opened for Snoop Dogg and toured Japan, he now approaches his most defining chapter: the debut album HAIRY. Dropping June 5, it transforms past displacement into a bold reclamation of self-worth, cementing his trajectory as a world-class innovator.
RATBAG: THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY ENIGMA OF ALT-POP
Meet ratbag: 23-year-old Sophie Brown, a musician and "maker of worlds." This multidisciplinary enigma blurs the boundaries between phonic landscapes and immersive visual art. Part alt-pop entity and part monster-maker, her universe unfolds as a raw, DIY diary where eerie nature meets tangled technology. Her sound is a bizarre concoction—fusing punk, shoegaze, art-pop, and new wave into something entirely unique. Through feral drawings and music crafted in forests, ratbag invites listeners into a boundless realm. With every sketch, she reveals a piece of her curated world. ratbag is everything you’ve known, but nothing you’ve heard.
MUROKI: THE RAGLAN VOICE OF ROOTS-POP
Raglan’s Muroki is a chilled-out powerhouse, evolving from a self-released debut championed by Elton John into a global sensation. After signing to Benee’s label, his platinum hit "Wavy" dominated charts across the Tasman. Blending Kenyan and Coromandel roots, his "black soul" sound is defined by the sleepy seaside intimacy of his hometown. From jamming on stage with Jack Johnson to his viral Triple J Like A Version of Tame Impala’s "Borderline," Muroki’s trajectory is undeniable. His latest Timezones EP, featuring the infectious "Love Cocoon," cements his reputation as Aotearoa’s most effortlessly funky export.