Music Therapy Week 2026 is set to be celebrated across Aotearoa next month, with communities, practitioners, and organisations coming together to showcase the role music plays in supporting health and wellbeing.
The national awareness week, led by Music Therapy New Zealand, will run from 10 to 15 April and is guided by the theme Weaving Connections | Te Poutama Hononga.
The theme reflects the idea of bringing people, stories, and experiences together through music, strengthening relationships and building a deeper sense of connection within communities. It draws on a te ao Māori perspective, emphasising the interwoven nature of wellbeing, identity, and shared experience.
Music therapy is used across a wide range of settings in Aotearoa, including hospitals, schools, disability services, and community programmes. It supports people with physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs, using music as a tool for communication, expression, and connection.
The week will include events, workshops, and community sessions designed to raise awareness of the profession and highlight its impact. Practitioners will also use the opportunity to engage with whānau and communities, demonstrating how music therapy can support healing, resilience, and development across all ages.
Organisers say the focus is not only on celebrating the profession, but also on strengthening connections between people and services, particularly for those who may benefit from greater access to therapeutic support.
The kaupapa aligns with growing recognition of holistic approaches to hauora, where creative and cultural practices play an important role in improving wellbeing outcomes.
As Music Therapy Week approaches, the message is clear: music is more than entertainment, it is a powerful tool for connection, healing, and transformation across Aotearoa.
