WOW Unveils Exciting 2025 Vocal Lineup

From opera to pop, to neo soul and rock n roll, the 2025 WOW Show: RISE is set to star five of the country’s most spectacular young vocalists.

WOW’s 2025 lineup of headline artists will comprise exciting new Kiwi pop star Riiiki Reed, neo-soul singer Tusekah, opera singer Lila Crichton, and two dynamic recent graduates from Wellington’s Te Auaha musical theatre programme, RV Quijano and Mackenzie Htay.

They join a cast of more than 68 models, dancers and circus artists, and 85 finalist wearable art designs, in Aotearoa’s largest arena spectacle, currently in rehearsal ahead of its opening on 18 September.

Show Director Malia Johnston says each carefully-selected performer will bring a unique element to this year’s WOW, which sees an imagined city ignited by its creative community.

“We’re thrilled to be working with some of Aotearoa’s most exciting young artists, each bringing their own special style and energy,” says Johnston.

“This year’s line-up celebrates a rich tapestry of voices. Alongside performances in English, a special moment in the show brings five languages together in song — a tribute to the artists’ diverse cultural heritage.”

This year’s musical stars include Wellington-born singer-songwriter Riiki Reid, fresh from the release of her new EP and two hit singles. With a style spanning alternative pop, dance and R&B, Reid has opened for Lorde and performed with Kiwi supergroup Fly My Pretties.

Acclaimed Samoan-born opera singer Lila Crichton will also be taking to this year’s WOW stage, bringing his talent as a tenor, gospel singer and R&B vocalist. A classically-trained artist who has performed with the New Zealand Opera, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and as a one-man show at the New Zealand Fringe Festival, Crichton draws on his Pasifika heritage to infuse his spine-tingling vocals with soul.

South African born, Auckland-based singer-songwriter Tusekah will also make her WOW debut in 2025. With a range of hit singles, she’s bringing her unique brand of smooth neo soul, incorporating Zulu language and aspects of her African heritage.

The youngest performers in this year’s lineup are musical theatre performer and salsa dancer RV Quijano, and dancer and actor Mackenzie Htay. Both Wellington-based and recent graduates of Te Auaha creative arts school, each have been hailed as ones to watch.

“The bar for WOW selection is high,” says Johnston. “Performers have to have something special, and this year is no exception. These artists are all distinct, with different musical aesthetics, but they come together beautifully on the WOW stage. Each brings a fresh approach to performance. They are a heady mix of energy and exciting talent. They all have the world at their feet — and we can’t wait to see them RISE on the WOW stage.”

2025 WOW Show: RISE is on at the TSB Arena in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, from 18 September to 5 October 2025. Tickets are now on sale now at worldofwearableart.com

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