NZ Festivals Guide 2026 | Summer Music Festivals New Zealand
One way to see New Zealand’s beautiful landscape, take in exceptional sights, and chat with locals, is to go festival hopping around the country. Dive deep into New Zealand’s music festival scene and you won’t regret it. Dance to the rhythm by the beach, catch global and local talent at NZ festivals for the 2026 summer season down under.
There is certainly no shortage of festivals in New Zealand, yet you will discover that most are held over the summer months (December to April). And if you are in Aotearoa over the New Year period, there are a plethora of great festivals at your fingertips.
Here’s a peek at some of the NZ Festivals that have caught our attention:
ruapuke royale
Web: ruapukeroyale.com
When: 20-22 March, 2026Where: Raglan, Waikato
We’re kicking this list off with a deliberate curveball. While the New Zealand summer circuit is typically defined by massive capacities and corporate headliners, Ruapuke Royale is a tiny, humble, community heartbeat in the wildly rugged Raglan landscape. But that’s exactly why it heads up our selection.
In a sea of commercial giants, this is your authentic anchor. It’s a true ‘roots’ experience where the barrier between artist and audience dissolves. If you want lasers and pyrotechnics, go to R&V. If you want mana, whānau (family), and deep, soul-shaking basslines in an intimate setting, you come to Ruapuke. It’s a hidden gem, and frankly, we debated keeping it to ourselves.
With a strict capacity of just 200 people, this gathering is intimate by design. By the time you see this, it may already be sold out. Check it out at: ruapukeroyale.com
Earth Beat Festival
Web: earthbeatfestival.com
When: 2027 Dates TBAWhere: Kaipara, AucklandListen on Spotify
Picture a full 5-day adventure at Ātiu Creek Regional Park on the stunning Kaipara shores.
This isn’t just another festival—it’s where cutting-edge creativity collides with zero-waste innovation, where you reconnect with old mates and forge new bonds, all while dancing through a paradisaical wonderland. Boutique, boundary-pushing, and buzzing with community spirit, Earth Beat is your escape from the chaos into pure celebration and culture.
We’re hoping one of New Zealand’s most iconic festivals will be back on the circuit in 2027.
Cubadupa
Web: cubadupa.co.nz
When: March 28–29, 2026 Where: Wellington, New Zealand
One of New Zealand’s most vibrant and creative festivals. We come back to the streets with a beautiful disruption over the last weekend of summer. With the streets closed to traffic in the Cuba Quarter, 100,000+ people of all ages celebrating the sights & sounds of Aotearoa and beyond, in this massive two day festival of the streets.
Revel in the creative heart of our capital with an abundance of live music spanning the genres across twelve stages. Interrupt your regular weekends programming and immerse yourself within site activation’s and creative installations.
One Love Festival NZ
Web: onelovefestival.co.nz
When: 2026 Dates TBA Where: Tauranga, New ZealandWatch Video
One Love has sold out for the last four years in a row and with the lineup getting stronger year after year, it is expected that tickets for the festival will always be in high demand.
Splore
Web: splore.net
When: Feb 20–22, 2026Where: Auckland, New ZealandListen on Spotify
Staged annually on the shores of Tapapakanga Regional Park, Splore runs for 3 days and deep into the nights – the lineup is always top notch with musical artists from New Zealand and abroad.
The upcoming Splore Festival is dedicated to celebrating the Motherkind, drawing inspiration from Mother Nature.
I’ve been to many festivals around the world. NZ Festivals have an intimacy that you don’t find at most festivals in other places.
Kayla (Festival Aficionado)
Rhythm & Vines
Web: rhythmandvines.co.nz
When: 28-31 December, 2025 Where: Gisborne, New ZealandListen on Spotify Watch Video
New Zealand’s premier music and camping festival located at the beautiful Waiohika Estate on the sunny. Where better to experience the first sunrise of the year than at New Zealand’s Rhythm and Vines? The gobally recognized 3-day music festival showcases the some of the world’s best musicians in one of the most beautiful locations on earth.
WOMAD NZ
Web: womad.co.nz
When: 2027 Dates TBAWhere: Taranaki, New ZealandListen on Spotify
WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) is a globally established festival that features a collection of artists from all over to celebrate culture, music, arts and dance. Held at the cosy and beautiful New Plymouth site in Taranaki , the 3-day festival is great for families, with a variety of camping options, good eats, a bustling market and plenty of activities.
Rhythm & Alps
Web: rhythmandalps.co.nz
When: 29–31 December, 2023 Where: Wanaka, New ZealandListen on Spotify
South Island’s sister of Gisborne’s Rhythm and Vines, the 3-day music event sees thousands of people gather in the beautiful Cardrona Valley, 15 minutes from Wanaka. A massive lineup of over 50 international and local acts perform across four stages. Drive in your campervan, hire a teepee, or pitch your own tent.
Homegrown NZ
Web: homegrown.net.nz
When: 14 March, 2026Where: Hamilton, New ZealandListen on Spotify
Homegrown is renown for showcasing the amazing musical talent New Zealand produces. Like some of the other festivals on this list, it is big so not for the faint-hearted. Some say it’s one of the best NZ festivals to attend.
Homegrown is one of New Zealand’s longest running festivals. Highly popular, there are usually with 5-7 stages and 50-60 Acts rocking the stages year after year.
Dimension NZ
Web: dimension.nz
When: 30 January, 2026 Where: Northland, New ZealandWatch Video
Leave the ordinary behind and discover the freedom and transcendent wonder of an authentic psychedelic festival experience.
The theme for 2026 is Forget the Ordinary – feel entirely unencumbered by your daily hassles and grind. Dress up, go wild, lose yourself to the music, discover the unusual – be yourself and nobody else!
Shipwrecked
Web: shipwrecked.co.nz
When: 6-8 February, 2026 Where: Te Arai, New ZealandWatch Video
Shipwrecked is a boutique music and arts festival brought to you with love. Nestled between three lakes in an idyllic landscape not far from the hum of Auckland.
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All nz festivals offer something unique.
At Earth Beat, we’re proud of what we bring to the scene.
Earth Beat sparked from a group of friends dancing together and dreaming of building an earth-positive community—to plant ideas and harvest tangible, new and alternative ways of living in harmony with Earth.
