Festival News -The last SPLORE - 16th December 2025

An End of an era…

SPLORE Festival announces the end of an era - 12th December 2025

Tāmaki Makaurau, Tuesday, 16th December 2025: In a statement issued today, Splore Festival’s long-time owner, John Minty, has decided Splore 2026 will be the last, due to lower than hoped for ticket sales.

Minty says “I have been involved with Splore at Tāpapakanga for 20 years and I feel now is a time to move on. I am incredibly proud of all that the festival has achieved and the devoted crew and Splorers who have created such magic and community over that period. However, it’s becoming more difficult to sustain a festival of Splore’s quality and depth so rather than diluting it I’d rather it finish with a bang”.

He says after 18 years of financial viability the festival hit headwinds with costly Covid postponements and cancellations and the cost of living crisis which led, for the first time, to low ticket sales for the 2024 event. “We took a rest last summer hoping things would pick up for the 2026 event but so far that hasn’t happened to the degree that we wanted”. A hoped for lifeline from the Government’s $70 million Event Boost Fund was not forthcoming despite a comprehensive and what he thought was a very persuasive application.

Splore is an independent, Aotearoa-owned and is meticulously curated by artists, thinkers and creatures of the night. Supporting independent culture is an act of community care, says Minty, a choice to uplift the real human-scale experiences in an age of corporate mega-festivals and supermarket-brand entertainment. Debuting in Kariotahi in 1998, Splore has been Aotearoa’s longest running music and arts camping festival.

Splore 2026 features its usual over-the-top, eclectic, original and diverse programme of music, art, performance, wellness and family activities. The music programme includes Sister Nancy, Nightmares on Wax, Mind Enterprises, General Levy, Tami Neilson, Miss Kaninna, Parson James, Illustrious Blacks, Beatles Dub Club, Coco Solid, Christoph El Truento, Te KuraHuia, Romi Wrights, Jess B, Franca, Dick Move, Estere, Half Queen and many more.

Last week’s Performance and Wellbeing announcement outlined the eclectic 2026 performance, cabaret and wellbeing programme, the much-loved Lucky Star coffee cart turned entertainment extravaganza, a new creative collaboration with Auckland Pride and a sneak peek at some of the artists shaping today’s visual culture in the soon-to-be-announced visual arts programme. Extended information about this year’s 160+ strong lineup can be found here.

The ever-popular Lucky Star zone will be back exclusively at Splore with a huge line up that almost qualifies as a festival in its own right, featuring Dylan C, Patsy Skeet, Sanoi, Mermaid Bait, Zuke, Nikita Tu-Bryant and many more.

Also back is a comprehensive Wellness Programme featuring yoga and meditation, special screenings of the ‘Three Days in February’ film by Serena Stevenson and a chill music ‘After Dark’ programme.

Splore’s ever-popular cabaret show moves to Main Stage, featuring Chris Oh, House of Coven as well as roving performers popping up all around the park. A children's programme is also featured.

In its time running, Splore has been more than a festival - it has been a living, breathing playground for self-expression, a place where music, art and nature collided to create moments of pure freedom and connection. It has always stood for authenticity, inviting people to show up exactly as they are, to dance barefoot, to discover new sounds, and to find kinship among like-minded souls. As this chapter comes to a close, the spirit of Splore lives on in every shared sunrise, every painted body, and every beat that brought us together. “So for all Splorers out there let’s make this 2026 event a beautiful, farewell celebration party on the beach” - John Minty, Splore Festival Director.

SPLORE FESTIVAL 2026

February 20-22 2026, Tāpapakanga Regional Park

 INTERNATIONAL GUESTS

Röyksopp (dj set) (NO) || Sister Nancy (JM) + Legal Shot (FR) || Nightmares on Wax (UK) || General Levy (UK) + Joe Ariwa (UK) || Mind Enterprises (ITA) || Parson James (USA) || Miss Kaninna (AU) || C.Frim (AU) || Illustrious Blacks (USA) || Beatles Dub Club (UK) || Franca (DE)

 LOCAL LIVE & DJS

Tami Neilson || Coco Solid || Jess B || Christoph El Truento (live) || Estère || Dick Move || Romi Wrights || Te KuraHuia || Benny Salvador || Chiccoreli + Tali || DylanBiscuit b2b ajhoneysuckle || BBYFACEKILLA b2b Snakelegs || GoldTooth || Half Queen || ilish || Kaiviti || Marjorie Sinclair || NymphLoads || ORIKoL || Vercetti || WAEWAEXPRESS || Arcadia || Love Language || Hudge || Bobby Brazuka || Dastardly Bounder || DJ Banty || Rose Alice

 PERFORMANCE + CABARET

Chris Oh! || The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave || House of Coven || Oblivion Westwood ||

The Conservatory || Chemistry Roller Crew || Tyler Nacho || Blip The Siren || Cirque du Solittle || Flame Entertainment || Fraser Hooper || Free Hugs || Kayla Paige || Letitia Lickkit || The Dynamic Duo || The Paul Klaass Street Show || The Snacrobats

 THE LUCKY STAR PRESENTS

AlleyKat || ASHEZ || Barn Dance with a Twist || Benthamism || Breath Wright || Ceci Leemeco || Conrad Coom || Culture Embassy || Darcy & Daisy Lammington || Dylan C || Harry Charles || JJ’s Reggae Bingo || Libby K || Lord Woo || Loop Electronica Sessions || Lucky Star All Stars Band || Mamadafunk || Matt Rapid & Elise Adlam || Mermaid Bait || Mix n Match || Mozzarella Cheese Making Rave || msjos || Narzys Birdie Bonanza || Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant || Patsy Skeet || Pretty Fly & A White Guy || Princess Room || Queen B & The Nobles || Ravensdaughter || Rock N Roll Alley || Sanoi || Sister Act || Stevie T || Take ‘Em To Church || The Fantastic Mr Penguin || The Huneybee Wild || The Mara || Tommy and The Woo || Tysonidero || Zuke

 WENDY’S WELLNESS

FACILITATORS: Amanda Wright || Chardin || Christine Spicer || Claire Conza || Franki Cole || Joanna Walden || Julia Vajda de Albuquerque || Katie Greengrass || Kiri Walden || Lauren Filer || Loren Honey || Louise Mills || Maryam Al-Roubaiai || Maya Nova || Meg Bell || Raquel Minh || Sarah Spence || Summer Knight || Tor White || Taane Mete + Jock Barnes Graham || Tracey Bennett || Zoe Kee-Sue

PRACTITIONERS: Christopher Jones || Jackie Segers || James Hancox || Kimberly Mabbett || Lana Raill || Laura Jean || Phoebe Hart || Rā Balderas 

AFTER DARK: Chloe Palmer || Deep Dive || Love Language || Misled Convoy || Nikita 雅涵 Tu-Bryant || Three Days In February || Toroa || Xuno’s Conscious Audio Creations

WELLNESS POP-UP: Em Wafer  || Kayla Gordine || Serena Stevenson

View fullsize

John Minty and Brazilian DJ Luísa Viscardi

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Festival Dates,  & Links

Ticket Sales:

https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/feb/splore-festival

Follow Splore:

WEB | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK

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