Youth Calendar
What's happening in Central Otago
Play It Strange National Songwriting Competition 2026 (Online)
Dates: Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sun, 26 July 2026
Open to NZ secondary school students in Years 9-13, this flagship competition encourages rangatahi songwriters to creatively express themselves no matter the theme, genre, language or style.
This year's competition will be judged by a panel of judges. The recording quality of the entry is not taken into account in the judging process.
1st place wins:
$10,000 music video promo package thanks to NZ On Air
1:1 mentor session with a competition judge
Performance at our Annual Awards
Artist Development session with Sacha Vee
ALL finalists will have their song recorded in a professional recording studio (one day up to the value of $850+GST) to go on one of the 2026 National Songwriting Competition digital albums.
Photo: 2025 Winner Salem MÄhia Randall from Gisborne Boys High School
Photo Credit: Taylor Vincent
Location
February 2026
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
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Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery - Welkam Long Vanuatu.Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sat, 28 February 2026 @ 10am - 4pm Daily Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery - Floral Portraits by Rod Eales.Sun, 1 February 2026 - Tue, 31 March 2026 @ 10am - 4pm Daily Call for Entries: Rod Oram Memorial Essay Prize 2026 (Online)Sun, 1 February 2026 - Fri, 27 March 2026 Landfall Tauraka Young Writers’ Essay Prize 2026 (Online)Sun, 1 February 2026 - Tue, 31 March 2026 Play It Strange Junior Songwriting Competition 2026 (Online)Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sun, 3 May 2026 Play It Strange Waiata MÄori Competition 2026 (Online)Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sun, 21 June 2026 Play It Strange Strange Album Art Competition 2026 (Online)Sun, 1 February 2026 - Mon, 3 August 2026 Play It Strange National Songwriting Competition 2026 (Online)Sun, 1 February 2026 - Sun, 26 July 2026 Tickets on sale now, showing in May: The Big Bike Film Night NZ 2026 (Alexandra)8th, 12th, 15th & 22nd May Sun, 1 February 2026 - Fri, 22 May 2026 @ 7:30pm | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
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