After more than a decade as one of New Zealand’s most beloved independent music festivals, The Others Way will not return in 2026 or beyond.
Organisers Banished Music said the decision came after years of mounting financial pressure, rising industry costs and an increasingly unstable live music and funding landscape, making the festival no longer sustainable to deliver.
Since launching in 2015, The Others Way has become a defining celebration of independent music, creativity and community on Auckland’s Karangahape Road, earning a reputation as a vital platform for emerging artists and music discovery.
Reuben Bonner, Festival Director, said this festival has always been delivered by and for a community of weirdos and wonders. It has also existed uniquely as a platform for discovery and a celebration of independent music and creativity.
Banished Music attended The Others Way as music fans for seven years (2015-2022), and then were bestowed the great honour of taking the helm to deliver it for three more magical years (2023-2025).
Watching it grow, seeing artists connect with audiences in such a meaningful way, and feeling the energy that filled those spaces each year has been one of the great joys of all time.
Bonner added that in 2026, making a living as a mid-level independent music promoter in New Zealand was hard and that, despite various efforts, Banished Music has not been able to secure the secret formula to deliver the festival in a way that meets both their standards and financial obligations.
2025, unwittingly being our send off and Swan Song, was a majestic finale for The Others Way. Closing down K Road for the party of the year felt like a real moment in time. We hope you felt it too!
The team also expressed its deepest gratitude to everyone who has been part of The Others Way journey, including the venues, production crews and site staff, sponsors and funding partners, the Flying Out and Flying Nun visionaries who started this thing in the first place, the mighty Banished family, artists from near and far, and all music lovers who bought a ticket over the years.
