Spotify Could Give You ACTUAL Control Of Your Algorithm

Spotify is set to make some big changes in 2026, rolling out a beta test in New Zealand that lets users control their algorithms.

• Spotify's Gustav Gyllenhammar Talks Australia's Position In The Music World: 'One Of The Most Successful Markets'

Premium listeners in New Zealand will have early access to the beta feature, Prompted Playlist, from today. The feature marks the first time users have been in control of their own algorithm, plus the broader Spotify experience.

The New Zealand trial could make “Ausifying” your algo a little easier if rolled out here. 

Prompted Playlists will allow users to describe exactly what they want to hear, while tapping into their entire Spotify listening history. The playlists will reflect current obsessions as well as the full history of one’s musical tastes.

According to a statement from Spotify, listeners can get as specific as they please with their prompts. From “music from my top artists from the last five years” to “plus deep cuts I haven’t heard yet,” listeners can also list genres and activities and receive a new playlist.

The new feature has been described as “the next evolution of your Spotify,” following on from playlists including Discover Weekly and Release Radar, and tools such as Smart Shuffle, playlist song suggestions, and mixing tools.

Spotify notes that listeners can fine-tune playlist results by editing their prompts or simply starting fresh. Users will also receive descriptions and context for the song selections, so the playlist feels specifically tailored to each listener’s musical taste.

Users will have the option to set Prompted Playlists to refresh daily or weekly, so they can change with their moods. As it’s a beta feature, things will change before next year.

Prompted Playlists won’t be the last of new, interactive features rolling out on the platform in 2026. The streaming giant notes that the new feature is “part of a broader shift” in how Spotify thinks about personalisation and listeners' expectations.

“This is just the beginning of a new phase where listeners take the lead and make even more of every minute,” they said, going on to describe 2026 as an “epic” year for listeners and artists. Could Australia be the next to experience the new feature?

Prompted Playlists follows the rollout of Spotify’s Venue Pages feature, which prioritised NSW in October.

With its new feature, the streaming giant has partnered with the NSW Government to locally amplify the global rollout of Venue Pages, all while spotlighting four beloved NSW venues: Crowbar, the Metro Theatre, the Oxford Art Factory, and La La La’s.

Venue Pages will allow Aussie listeners to search for and follow their favourite venues, establish a hyper-local, daily gig feed, and find tickets to shows directly through Spotify. By searching for your favourite venue, you’ll also find out which local artists are playing where and when.