Top music festivals

Get the scoop on the best music festivals happening around Aotearoa New Zealand (and don't forget the sunscreen).

Pasifika Festival

Pasifika Festival
Auckland
Pasifika Festival, Auckland

Dates

14-15 March 2026

Genres

Pacific music, choir music, R&B

Pasifika Festival is a vibrant, family-friendly celebration of Pacific Island cultures. As the largest festival of its kind in the world, it brings together music, dance, art, and food from across the Pacific, including Aotearoa New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Tokelau, Tahiti, and Hawaii.

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Beach Hop

Beach Hop
Coromandel
Beach Hop Rock'n'Roll Festival, Coromandel

Dates

25-29 March 2026

Genres

Rock and roll, blues

Maybe you weren’t even born when rock and roll ruled the airwaves and the American motorcar was the ultimate style icon – but you can still experience it at Beach Hop. Beach Hop brings five fun-filled days of rock and roll and classic cars to the stunning Coromandel Peninsula each March. Expect over 1,000 gleaming classic cars on display, including a spectacular parade through town, plus live rock and roll and blues performances. The festival spans three picturesque towns – Pauanui, Waihi, and Whangamata – each hosting its own unique events.

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ULTRA Music Festival

ULTRA Music Festival, Melbourne
ULTRA Music Festival, Melbourne, New Zealand
wellington

Wellington

Dates

10 April 2026

Genre

Electronic

Experience the global phenomenon as ULTRA Worldwide, the world’s premier electronic music event, makes its highly anticipated debut in Wellington. Founded on over 20 years of success in Miami, this legendary festival combines an unrivalled lineup of Tier 1 international talent with the most technologically advanced, large-scale production on the planet. Brought to New Zealand by Audiology, this landmark event offers fans a rare opportunity to witness the biggest names in electronic music on a truly world-class stage. Don't miss your chance to be part of the most significant dance music milestone in New Zealand history.

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Six60 & Synthony

Six60 & Synthony
Auckland
Six60 & Synthony, Auckland
christchurch-canterbury

Christchurch - Canterbury

Dates

16 May 2026

Genres

Pop-rock, electronic

Two of New Zealand’s biggest live acts are coming together for a historic night of music at the brand-new One NZ Stadium.

Presented by Mānuka Phuel in association with Kiwibank, Once in a Lifetime brings SIX60 and SYNTHONY to Christchurch for the stadium’s first-ever concert, joined by special guests Kaylee Bell, Cassie Henderson, and Castaway.

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Rhythm and Vines

Enjoy a fantastic festival, Kiwi culture and a spectacular vineyard setting in Gisborne - the Chardonnay Capital of New Zealand.
Tairāwhiti Gisborne
Rhythm and Vines, Tairāwhiti Gisborne

Dates

December 2027

Genres

Hip-hop, rock, electronic

While Rhythm and Vines features an impressive lineup of international and local acts, half of the attendees buy tickets without knowing who will be performing – they come for the vibe. Set in a vineyard in north of Gisborne, the festival features multiple stages, camping among the vines, and more than a few waterslides, making it a right of passage for under-25s.  The event officially kicks off on 29 December, running through to the first sunrise of the New Year.

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Rhythm and Alps

Rhythm and Alps, Cardrona
Wānaka
Rhythm and Alps, Cardrona, Wānaka

Dates

December 2027

Genres

Drum and bass, techno, bass house, rock, house

Set against an alpine backdrop like no other, Rhythm & Alps blends music and nature in a way that’s uniquely Kiwi. Each year, the festival welcomes a diverse mix of local legends and international heavyweights across electronic, hip-hop, indie, and beyond, drawing a crowd that’s as passionate about good music as they are about good times. The three-day celebration takes place in the Cardrona Valley over New Year’s Eve. 

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AUM New Year’s Festival

AUM Festival
Auckland
AUM Festival, Auckland

Dates

December - January 2027

Genres

House, drum and bass, techno, psytrance, rock, folk

Ring in the New Year at AUM, Auckland’s largest New Year celebration. Over three incredible nights, the festival features four stages with hundreds of artists from New Zealand and around the world. Expect a diverse soundtrack spanning house, drum and bass, techno, bass music, psytrance, plus rock and folk. Beyond music, AUM is known for its art installations, and circus and dance acts.

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Electric Avenue

Electric Avenue
Christchurch - Canterbury
Electric Avenue, Christchurch - Canterbury

Dates

February 2027

Genres

electronic, bands

In February, Hagley Park comes alive for Electric Avenue, Aotearoa’s biggest music festival. Over two unforgettable days, the event features world-class international electronic acts alongside a diverse mix of live bands and artists, including many of New Zealand’s top acts. 

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Northern Bass

Northern Bass music festival
Northland & Bay of Islands
Northern Bass music festival, Northland & Bay of Islands
northland

Dates

December 2027

Genres

Drum and bass, jungle, bass music, dubstep, hip-hop, grime

New Zealand’s biggest New Year’s Eve party unfolds over two unforgettable nights, beginning on 30 December. Held in the picturesque town of Kaiwaka, an hour north of Auckland, it’s the ultimate destination for drum and bass fans. Expect a powerhouse lineup of international and local talent – past headliners include Dizzee Rascal, Goldie, and Lee Mvtthews. With numbers capped at 6,000, you’ll enjoy an intimate, immersive atmosphere, along with perks like hot showers and a nearby grocery store.

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