TAIYO MARCHAND

Singer • Pianist • Street Performer • Australian Idol 2026

Who is Taiyo?

Taiyo is a 16-year-old multilingual Australian singer, pianist and street performer.
Currently the youngest participant of the 2026 season of Australian Idol, he has already built a global audience with almost a million fans on Instagram through years of busking, original music releases and multilingual performances.
Taiyo’s goal is simple and ambitious: to turn genuine human connection into powerful live performances on stages around the world.

2024 Taiyo Busking in Circular Quay with a large crowd.

Busking in Circular Quay, Sydney

  • Age: 16 (born February 2010)

  • Based in: (Manly) Sydney, Australia

  • School: Australian Performing Arts Grammar School (APGS), Sydney

  • Genres: Pop RnB

  • Instruments: Piano, vocals

  • Languages sung: English, French, Japanese, Portuguese

  • Known for: Street performances, multilingual covers, emotional delivery

  • Current highlight: Australian Idol 2026 (youngest contestant)

  • Audience: over 1 Million followers across:

  • What the artists say:

    "You're a busker, and you've shown you know how to connect with the audience." — Marcia Hines, Australian Idol

    "A well-rounded artist." — Kendji Girac, The Voice Kids France

Fast Facts

About

Taiyo is a 16-year-old singer and pianist from Sydney whose musical journey began busking on the streets. Born to a Japanese mother and a French father, he grew up immersed in multiple cultures and languages, shaping a naturally open and universal artistic voice.

Mostly self-taught, Taiyo learned music through experimentation, YouTube tutorials and live performance rather than traditional training. He began busking at the age of six with a simple goal: to bring happiness to people and to get a bit of cash. Since then, the street has remained his creative laboratory, where he tests songs, connects with audiences and refines his craft.

Over the years, Taiyo has released several independent EPs and built a global online following of over 800,000 people. He has performed across Australia and Europe, won multiple local music competitions, and reached the semi-finals of The Voice Kids France in 2023.

Now a student at the Australian Performing Arts Grammar School (APGS) in Sydney, Taiyo continues to balance education, busking and recording. In February 2026, he joined Australian Idol as its youngest contestant, opening a new chapter in his artistic journey.

Read more

  • "You're like an actual proper musician at 15. You are so committed to your craft. What the hell?" — Amy Shark, Australian Idol

  • "You are so incredibly young to be that talented." — Jessica Mauboy, Australian Idol

  • "People say you're too young to do this, but this is your calling, my brother. You are ready. I arrived in Australia at 16." — Marcia Hines, Australian Idol

  • "You're a busker, and you've shown you know how to connect with the audience." — Marcia Hines, Australian Idol

  • "Thanks to your experience performing in the street, you have the power to draw everyone in. So I wanted to say, from the bottom of my heart: bravo." — Slimane, The Voice Kids France

  • "A well-rounded artist." — Kendji Girac, The Voice Kids France

What the judges say

Taiyo on stage at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, Sydney.

Live Performances

Selected performances:

Music / Discography

EPs & Singles:
Taiyo, a young man with short hair and white earphones sleeping at a cluttered desk with pencils, a calculator, notebooks, a pen, a laptop, and a vinyl record player. Text overlay says 'Slow It Down' and 'Taiyo Marchand' as the cover of a song.
Young boy playing piano on the beach with ocean in background, wearing a straw hat and light-colored shirt, during daylight hours.

Interviews in English

  • Screenshot of a webpage with a logo and navigation menu, showing a headline about aTaiyo Marchand, 15-year-old performing songs in multiple languages without missing a beat.

    My Modern Net (2025)

    Article
  • Taiyo Marchand, A young boy standing on a stage in front of a colorful, neon-lit background, holding a microphone, with a grand piano beside him.

    SBS (2023) From busking to The Voice: The Aussie teen winning hearts in France

    English Article
  • Screenshot of a podcast episode titled '#2 Taiyo Marchand: Trilingual Australian busker winning hearts in France' from SBS Japanese, showing a small inset image of three people smiling and talking, and a larger image below of three people sitting at a table at SBS Audio with a backdrop that says 'SBS AUDIO'.

    SBS Japanese (2023) Taiyo Marchand: Trilingual Australian busker winning hearts in France

    Radio Interview English & Japanese
  • SBS Japanese (2023) - At 13, Taiyo is already a veteran busker travelling the world

    SBS Japanese (2023) - At 13, Taiyo is already a veteran busker travelling the world

    Audio Interview & Article
  • Social Media Post News

    Social Media Post News (2023) - How young piano musician Taiyo Marchand became a hit on the streets of Sydney

    Article
  • Taiyo Marchand, A young boy with a hat smiling at the camera, sitting at a white table with a wooden award plaque in front of him.

    Edstart (2022) - Self-taught musician building his career from the streets to the recording studio

    Article
  • Roland (2022) - Conversation with Taiyo Marchand

    Roland (2022) - Conversation with Taiyo Marchand

    Article & Videos
  • Manly Observer Article

    Manly Observer (2022) - Lively Little Manly Corso Busker Takes National Prize

    Article

Hi-Res Photos