Festival News - Shapeshifter, Kaylee Bell, Nice & Urlich join Mānuka Phuel Synthony Festival 2026 line-up - 18th November 2025

Presented by Mānuka Phuel

Duco Touring has today unveiled the next set of artists who will take the stage at Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival, at the Auckland Domain on Saturday 21 March 2026. Live electronic band Shapeshifter, country-pop star Kaylee Bell, DJ’s Nice 'n' Urlich, and rock-duo Made You Look are amongst the second release of acts, joining Faithless (Full Live Band), Peking Duk, SYNTHONY No. 7, Hot Dub Time Machine, The Black Seeds, and The Exponents - promising a festival experience packed with world-class electronic and live music.

Joining the lineup on the Pepsi DJ Stage is Beccie B, Flamingo Pier (DJ Set), Pixie Lane x Kazi Flip, Scary B Mean, Take Em To Church, and Tim Phin.

Shapeshifter, the pioneering live drum & bass band from Christchurch, join the Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival 2026 lineup, bringing their stadium-sized, genre-blending sound that fuses drum & bass, jazz, funk, rock, and electronica. With record-breaking New Zealand tours, sold-out European shows, and festival appearances from Glastonbury to Rhythm & Vines, the five-piece line-up - P.Digsss, Sam Trevethick, Nick Robinson, Dan McGruer, and Darren Mathiassen, delivers fully live, high-energy performances that push the boundaries of electronic soul and festival spectacle.

Kaylee Bell, hailing from Waimate, New Zealand, has achieved international success with awards including the 2013 Toyota Star Maker in Australia and the 2023 Global Country Artist Award. Known for her chart-topping singles across Australia and New Zealand, Kaylee has toured with icons such as Keith Urban and Ed Sheeran, bringing her signature country-pop sound to audiences around the globe, and now to NZ’s Auckland Domain for Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival.

Iconic soulful house music duo, Nice 'n' Urlich are returning to the domain in 2026. The duo made up of Peter Urlich and Bevan Keys performed at SYNTHONY in the Domain in 2024, and are back for more. From beginning as a Saturday-morning radio show in the mid-90s and now one of the country’s most beloved DJ acts, Nice 'n' Urlich remain synonymous with feel-good house and timeless party vibes.

Made You Look, also joins the line-up. The electrifying two-piece band is comprised of drummer-producer Shelton Woolright and vocalist-producer Alex Thompson. From unconventional beginnings in a boxing gym to festival performances, the duo brings infectious energy, genre-blending production, and undeniable stage presence to the main stage.

“Our ongoing partnership with SYNTHONY reflects Mānuka Phuel’s deep connection to music, performance and culture - it's a celebration of creativity, energy and the next generation of New Zealand sound. The 2026 lineup is the perfect expression of what Phuel stands for - bold and high-energy. Phuel exists to power creators and competitors alike - the phuel behind every beat, every moment, and SYNTHONY is the ultimate stage to share that" says Alex McDonald, Co-creator of Mānuka Phuel.

The Pepsi DJ Stage will feature Beccie B, Beccie is known for her high-energy DJ sets, with support credits for artists including Mall Grab, Peggy Gou, and Flume, and a string of sold-out club shows across the motu.

NZ festival favourites, Flamingo Pier (DJ Set) are making their debut SYNTHONY Festival appearance, on the Pepsi DJ Stage. The trio, Luke Walker, Dom Jones and Brad Craig will be bringing their signature mix of disco, classic house with forays into Latin funk, balearic and psychedelia.

Also set to return to the Pepsi DJ Stage are Pixie Lane x Kazi Flip, an Aotearoa-based DJ and percussion duo, transforming dance floors into high-energy communal experiences, blending house and electronic music with live percussion.

Drag Queen, Showgurl, MC and DJ Scary B. Mean will bring her blend of showgirl glamour and DJ mastery to the Pepsi DJ Stage. Scary B. Mean opened and MC’d SYNTHONY Pride at Spark Arena in 2024, and is back for more SYNTHONY fun.

Brand new collaboration Take Em To Church is joining the Pepsi DJ stage lineup. Made up of vocalist and producer Tali and DJ/Producer MissB, they’ll bring classic house hooks with driving grooves, live vocals and keys.

DJ, tastemaker, REMIX magazine creative director and well-known personality in the NZ music industry, Tim Phin, rounds out the DJ talent. A defining figure in Aotearoa’s dance scene, he’s shared the stage with global heavyweights like Diplo, Calvin Harris, and Skrillex, and continues to shape the sound of house music at major events across the country.

MĀNUKA PHUEL SYNTHONY FESTIVAL Saturday 21st March 2026
Auckland Domain 

FAITHLESS (FULL LIVE BAND) (UK)
PEKING DUK (AU)
SHAPESHIFTER
KAYLEE BELL
NICE 'N' URLICH
MADE YOU LOOK
SYNTHONY No.7 (NEW SET LIST)
HOT DUB TIME MACHINE (AU)
THE BLACK SEEDS
THE EXPONENTS
BECCIE B
PIXIE LANE X KAZI FLIP
SCARY B. MEAN
FLAMINGO PIER (DJ SET)
TAKE EM TO CHURCH
TIM PHIN 

Emma Duncan (Pepsi) says “Pepsi’s fizzed to be back at Synthony, 2026 is set to be bigger, bolder and better! We’re here to quench the thirsty and max the flavour at the Pepsi DJ Stage. From the first drop to the last encore, music hits different with Pepsi. We don’t follow the crowd - we remix it. Thirsty for more? See you at Synthony!”

The 2025 edition of Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival saw a sold-out crowd of 40,000 descend on Auckland Domain, with a $1.8 million production and 2,000-strong working crew. Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival has fast become a landmark moment on the summer calendar - blending electronic music, orchestra, visuals and nostalgia into NZ’s biggest one-day music event.

Nick Hill CE Tātaki Auckland Unlimited says, “Auckland Council Events is proud to keep supporting Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival as it continues to go from strength to strength. This world-class event really captures the energy of an Auckland summer, drawing music lovers from around the country to one of our city’s most iconic spots. It’s a huge boost for our visitor economy and a great showcase of what makes Auckland such an exciting place to be.”

Over 20,000 tickets have already sold for the 2026 event. Fans are encouraged to get tickets now before they sell out. In addition to General Admission (All Ages) tickets, fans can secure Premium GA tickets (18+), Amex VIP Garden, or Amex VVIP Garden all-inclusive options.

To purchase tickets, register for updates, or for more information, go to: SYNTHONY.COM

Tour Dates:

Saturday 21st March 2026

Ticket Sales:

SYNTHONY.COM

---