New Zealand’s Splore Festival To End After 20 Years

Longstanding New Zealand festival Splore has announced it will not return after the 2026 edition.

Sales issues:

• Splore owner John Minty cited poor ticket sales as the reason.

• Having taken a year off in 2025 it was hoped things would bounce back in 2026, but that hasn’t eventuated.

The finale:

• The final Splore festival will take place in Tāpapakanga Regional Park on February 20-22.

• It will feature Röyksopp, Sister Nancy, Nightmares on Wax, General Levy, and more.

What they said:

• John Minty: “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.”