The Best Music Festivals in New Zealand

Despite being one of the most gorgeous countries in the world, the spiritual home of Middle-Earth, and a country filled with some of the coolest people in the world, New Zealand just has to go one step further and have a huge range of top-quality music festivals to go along with it. Pretty selfish of them if you ask us. 

Yet, despite them hogging all the good stuff for themselves, there is one main difference between music festivals in New Zealand and those on this side of the world, and that is that the dates are flipped, as their summer is our winter. This does mean that many of the 2023 editions of these festivals have already happened. But, do not worry, as that gives you a full year to save up and plan for your ultimate musical escapade, and you'll have the very best idea of what to expect. 

With all this in mind, New Zealand has to be your next stop for a festival, as is it not everyone's dream for it to be a festival season all year round?

Rhythm & Alps

When: Friday 29th - Sunday 31st December 2023

Where: Cardrona Valley, Wanaka, New Zealand

With 10,000 in attendance and over 50 acts across 4 stages, Rhythm In The Alps is easily one of the most picturesque festivals on offer in the country. Nestled in the beautiful Cardrona Valley, a valley best known for its winter sports with world-class skiing and snowboarding and cross-country skiing. But for one weekend at the end of the year, they transform the foot of the valley into a huge party. 

With the likes of Chase and Status, Andy C, King of the Rollers, Sampha The Great, and Bou playing in 2022, you just know when this year-ending bash comes around in 2023 the vibes are going to be flying around once again. With a western tilt to the tunes and stunning surroundings, this should definitely be high on your list of music festivals in New Zealand to attend, as you'll get the best of both worlds, and truly experience what the country has to offer.

Jim Bean Homegrown

When: Saturday 18th March 2023

Where: Wellington Waterfront, New Zealand

One of the few festivals on this list you still have time to attend this year, although you've got to be bloody quick about it, Homegrown Festival, brought to New Zealand by Jim Bean, is the biggest celebration of Kiwi music in the calendar, coming to five massive stages on the beautiful Wellington Waterfront once again. 

The organisers pride themselves on delivering a distinctly Homegrown experience; where everyone is treated with respect and Aroha, nothing is a problem, and every effort is made to ensure your day is as enjoyable as possible. Plus the fluidity of the experience and stage across the waterfront means that you will be able to enjoy both the festival and all of the things the capital ahs to offer. If you want to ingratiate yourself into the Kwiw culture whilst you're here, then this is the festival for you. 

Laneway Festival 

When: TBA for 2024

Where: Western Springs, Auckland, New Zealand

Now this one is quite special. It's incredibly rare that you'll find a festival elsewhere in the world that tours like a band does. But, Laneway is just that guy. Travelling down under and stopping off all across Australia and then, of course, in the wonderful city of Auckland. It brings a specially curated wagon of incredible talent to every venue for a day of music that never disappoints. 

While this year's edition of the festival had to be unfortunately cancelled, Laneway will be returning to Auckland in 2024 for another year of epic festival shenanigans and top-notch music. Whilst everyone missed out on this one in 2023, keep your eyes peeled for announcements, as from what we've seen from previous years, it's going to be a belter, and you've got a full year to plan the thing!

Rhythm & Vines

When: Friday 29th - Sunday 31st December 2023

Where: Gisborne, New Zealand

Celebrating twenty years since its inception, Rhythm and Vine is globally known as the first festival on the planet that gets to welcome the first sunrise of the New Year. If this alone isn't an instant pull (seriously how many times have you woken up on the 31st to see the New Zealanders on social media already setting off fireworks) then the quality of its lineup will be the hook, line, and sinker. 

Founded by some University friends in 2003, the festival has grown exponentially since, and in this time has become a right of passage for over 350,000 Kiwis and a string of international tourists and touring artists. Such artists are no mean feat either. The 2022 edition saw the likes of Camelphat, Chase and Status, Spacey Jane, Folamour, Dizzie Rascal, Friction and so much more. So you just know that this year is going to be just as good, if not better. Oh, and did we mention the views are absolutely stunning? It's a music festival in New Zealand to be fair, it's hard not to be.

Aum New Years Festival 

When: Saturday 30th December 2023 - Tuesday 2nd January 2024

Where: South Head, Auckland, New Zealand

One of the coolest on the calendar when it comes to Music Festivals in New Zealand, with a range of music, performance art, wellness/healing and themed nights that always try to stray from what's popular and comfortable, Aum is a soul-lifting, e=inclusive, community-driven event of the highest order.

Found in South Auckland, nestled within a forest with a campsite beside a lake, the festival is picturesque with a psychedelic edge (Just look at that stage pictured above). For the organisers, music is their religion, and the dancefloor is their church. Expect the filthiest of beats pumping from state-of-the-art sound systems and a general aura that will take hold of your soul and not let go. For those of you who like their festivals with a zen vibe, we cant recommend Aum enough.

Shipwrecked

When: TBA for 2024

Where: Te Arai, Auckland, New Zealand

Born out of humble origins, being the brainchild of a small group of mates who wanted an epic weekend of camping with music, Shipwrecked is a swashbuckling adventure full of underground music, fantastical art forms, visuals and games, and of course the best people. Located between three lakes in the Te Arai region near Auckland, the festival is idyllic in setting and insane in nature.

They transform the setting into a musical playground, with a vast array of stages of all sizes, and activities both maritime and terrestrial that you and your pals can sink your teeth into. With acts both local and international and a site so well designed, this is one of those places that makes you feel cool by proxy and one of the best music festivals in New Zealand.

Electric Avenue

When: TBA for 2024

Where: North Hagley Park, Christchurch, New Zealand

Whilst you might have just missed out on this year's edition of Electric Avenue, with it happening on the weekend of the 25th of February, that doesn't mean you can't start planning for next year's edition, as by all accounts this year was absolutely knocked out of the park. With headliners like Lorde, L.A.B., Sub Focus, and Synthony, with other huge names like Fat Freddys Drop, Peking Duk, and Future Islands filling out the rest of the bill, its safe to say you can be assured that the lineup won't disappoint. 

Yet, that's only the start, Electric Avenue boast one of the biggest crowds about when it comes to music festivals in New Zealand, and is Christchurchs biggest musical celebration of the calendar, located right in the heart of Hagley Park. Plus, with three stages and a range of diverse artists, they'll be something for you and all your pals to enjoy.

WOMAD - The Worlds Festival

When: Tuesday 7th - Monday 19th March 2023

Where: New Plymouth, New Zealand

If you're going to be travelling halfway across the planet for a festival, then why not make it one that celebrates the cultures of all the places you have flown over, and WOMAD in New Zealand is built for exactly this reason. The World of Music and Dance festival is an award-winning three-day party that is inclusive and celebratory of all the cultures found in the country.

A feast for the senses, the festival is not only about live music. Within you can find workshops led by internationally recognised musicians, treat your tastebuds to delicious and exotic food, experience the multifaceted world of global art, and generally just soak up the inclusive, electric atmosphere. Whatever your culture, creed, or birthplace, they'll be something here to celebrate it, and we cant recommend it enough.

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.