After taking a year off, New Zealand’s most beloved bespoke festival is back.
Splore 2026 will return to Tāpapakanga Regional Park, Auckland, with a bold new vision reshaped, re-energised and ready to reclaim its place at the heart of summer.
Set for the 20th to the 22nd of February, Splore 2026 promises an immersive, three-day celebration of music, art, community, and wellbeing.
With fresh programming, new creative spaces, and curated experiences designed to remove barriers, Splore is evolving to meet the moment without losing the spirit that’s kept it going since 1998. But this return is about more than a festival. It’s a rallying cry for culture.
“Festivals everywhere are under pressure, but Splore’s story is one of adaptation. We took a breath so we could build a future. Strengthen the foundations, tend to our roots,” said Splore Festival director John Minty.
Taking a break in 2025 has allowed the Splore team to recalibrate in the face of rising costs, shifting audience habits and a turbulent events landscape both here and abroad.
Flexible payment plans offered by Splore and iTICKET also offer festivalgoers the option to pay off their tickets over time on their terms.
“Our longstanding partnership with Splore isn’t just a collaboration; it’s a testament to both our organisations obsessing over what our customers truly need and keeping our finger firmly on the pulse of the ever-evolving festival scene,” said Reece Preston, Managing Director of iTICKET.
“As proud, 100 percent Kiwi-owned and operated businesses, we’re thrilled to have developed our incredibly flexible and super affordable new PayPlan feature. We built this in-house with direct input from the Splore team, ensuring it genuinely serves our community. Splorers can pay their way with dynamically calculated weekly, fortnightly, or monthly instalments, spreading the cost and ensuring they never miss out on this summer’s ultimate festival.”
From new music programming and artist development to more innovative camping options and greater accessibility, 2026 will offer a curated escape with deep connection, creativity and care at its heart.
