Top New Zealand Festivals 2023

New Zealand festivals are home to cozy settings, foot-tapping beats, and diverse music repertoires. From the bumpy Northern Bass to the idyllic Rhythm & Alps, these are the festivals you can’t miss.

Here’s your ultimate guide to the top festivals in New Zealand in 2023.

Rhythm and Vines

Northeast New Zealand

There is no better to celebrate NYE than at a festival – or at least this is what Rhythm and Vines thinks. Three days of camping and genre-blending music, the New Zealand festival keeps things spicy with grime rappers, homegrown talents, and idyllic backgrounds.

Bay Dreams Mount Maunganui

North New Zealand

When it first launched in 2016, Bay Dreams Mount Maunganui was a 5,000-people music affair. Fast forward to today, the one-day festival became a must-stopover for every pop and R&B music fan.

Northern Bass

North New Zealand

Mix bass, electronic, and renowned musicians in a bowl and you will get Northern Bass. Located an hour drive from Auckland, the music festival brings in the New Year with heart-racing beats and foot-tapping sets – and those carefully designed stages are just a plus.

Snow Machine Festival NZ

South New Zealand

Who says snow slopes can’t go hand in hand with music beats? Located near New Zealand’s southern skiing resorts, Snow Machine Festival is the perfect apre-ski spot. Besides its unique location, the music event keeps festival-goers on their feet – or should we say snow boots? – with multi-genre sets.

Splore Festival

South Auckland

A free-spirited flower child at heart, Splore Festival is where you explore music beyond the beats. The boutique event invites festival-goers to relish in a Burning Man-like experience with art installations, vibrant fashion, and mindful partying.

Since every music fan is different, Splore Festival ensures it taps into this diversity with all-inclusive lineups.

Rhythm & Alps

South New Zealand

Three days of dancing and camping in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, Rhythm & Alps Festival is one of the country’s most idyllic music events. Beyond its unique location, the festival brings in over 50 international and local talents across its four stages.

Jim Beam Homegrown

Wellington

Instead of focusing on renowned artists, the cute and cozy Jim Beam Homegrown acts as a platform for New Zealand-born acts. When the music event takes over Weelington’s center, music fans know they’re in for a treat. With a multi-genre lineup, carnival rides and free-flow stages, Jim Beam Homegrown is a festival must.

Electric Avenue Music Festival

East New Zealand

A 12-hour dancing marathon Electric Avenue Music Festival promises a vibrant experience. Forget about its carefully curated stages and genre-blending music program because the festival’s biggest draw stands in its hard-to-score acts. A-list artists like Lorde and Flume have already graced the event’s stages with their performances.

Hidden Valley Festival

Auckland Area

Despite being a boutique event, Hidden Valley Festival knows how to pack a punch. Set in the countryside’s emerald fields, the New Zealand festival creates a world of its own where vibrant stage designs and Mother Nature reign supreme.

But the music event surpasses its festival status by celebrating heritage, culture, and history.

AUM New Years Eve Festival

Auckland Area

AUM might look like heaven for psychedelic music lovers, but if you peel off its layers, the festival is family-friendly. People from all walks of life attend the New Zealand festival for its commitment to being the brightest, most vibrant, and boldest music wonderland.