NOW That’s What I Call House Singing

Wellington College’s much-loved House Singing Competition returned in spectacular style this year, filling the G.W. Annenberg with energy, colour and wall-to-wall nostalgia. The 2026 theme, NOW That’s What I Call Music, invited each House to put their own stamp on some of the most iconic and feel-good tracks from across the decades and the result was an unforgettable evening of collective music-making.

With the audience packed and the atmosphere buzzing from the first note to the last, the competition once again showcased the creativity and community spirit of Wellingtonians across the Houses.

Nobody would have envied the judges in picking a winner, but congratulations to Apsley House, who were crowned overall winners with a rousing and emotionally charged performance of Dog Days Are Over by Florence and the Machine.

Across the evening, each House brought their own style and personality to the stage, with a brilliantly diverse set list that reflected the breadth of the NOW catalogue:

• Anglesey – Somebody To You (The Vamps)

• Apsley – Dog Days Are Over (Florence and the Machine)

• Benson – Umbrella (Rihanna)

• Beresford – Maneater (Hall & Oates)

• Blücher – The Greatest Show (Hugh Jackman & The Greatest Showman Ensemble)

• Combermere – Don’t Stop Believin’ (Glee Cast)

• Elizabeth – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (Elton John)

• Hardinge – Shut Up and Dance (Walk The Moon)

• Hill – I’m Still Standing (Elton John)

• Hopetoun – One Way Or Another (Blondie)

• Lynedoch – Uptown Funk (Bruno Mars)

• Murray – I Want It That Way (Backstreet Boys)

• Orange – Forget You (CeeLo Green)

• Picton – Pompeii (Bastille)

• Raglan – Just The Way You Are (Bruno Mars)

• Stanley – History (One Direction)

• Talbot – Candy (Robbie Williams)

• Wellesley – Don’t Stop Moving (S Club)

The evening concluded with a true Wellington highlight: a full-school karaoke singalong, bringing pupils and staff together for one final, joyous burst of music and community spirit, the perfect way to close an already unforgettable night.

The 2026 House Singing Competition once again proved why it is such a highlight of the Wellington calendar. A celebration of House spirit, shared performance and pure enjoyment, it was an evening that will live long in the memory.

Congratulations to all the performers, House teams and supporters who made the night such a success. With standards as high as ever, the countdown to next year has already begun.