Lineups are dropping and tickets are selling for this summer’s bounty of music, food and drink festivals. There are some comings and goings from the fare of the last few summers, with Splore’s three-day festival taking a break until 2026 and the touring Summer’s Day Live giving way to the new Timeless Summer Tour, which has Christchurch as a destination. No official announcement yet about whether Bay Dreams returns for 2025.

We will keep updating this as info and lineups drop. For now though, time to start your festival planning. And remember the doctor’s advice for any festival – be silly but don’t be stupid!

NY 24/25 

Rock the Bowl

Surf meets rock at the beautiful Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth. Acts announced include: Sublime with Rome, Pendulum DJ set, Ladyhawke, Elemeno P. New Plymouth, 29 Dec, trademarklive.co.nz

Rhythm & Alps

Bring in 2025 with 10,000 of your closest friends in the spectacular Cardrona Valley, deep in the Central Otago mountains near Wānaka. Acts announced include: Becky Hill, Andy C, Shapeshifter, Badger, Bag Raiders, Big Twisty (DJ Set), Cassie Henderson, Charlotte Plank, Dave Dobbyn, Elemeno P, Grafix, Issey Cross, Oppidan, Rova, Sin & Brook, The Butlers, Wax Mustang, X Club. Wānaka, 30/31 Dec, rhythmandalps.co.nz

Rhythm & Vines

From its site at Waiohika Estate vineyard, this is the first festival in the world to welcome the first sunrise of the new year. Acts announced include: Ice Spice, Sammy Virji, Luude, RL Grime, Koven, Meduza, Dave Dobbyn. Gisborne, 29 – 31 Dec, rhythmandvines.co.nz

Northern Bass

Calling all bass heads, dub heads and old-school ravers – this one’s for you. Feed your ears in the summer hotspot of Mangawhai. Acts announced include: A.M.C + Phantom, AJ Tracey, Alix Perez, Andy C + Tonn Piper, Flowidus, Haven, Hybrid Minds + Tempza, Inertia, Issey Cross, Lee Mvtthews, Melodownz + Dera Meelan + Deadforest, Tali, Tenpin, Unglued, Visages, Y-zer. Mangawhai, 29 – 31 Dec, northernbass.co.nz

Rolling Meadows

Drum ‘n’ bass, hip-hop and EDM for the hardcore crew. Acts announced include: Wiz Khalifa, Natasha Bedingfield, Hybrid Minds, Bou, A.M.C, Camo & Krooked, Koven. The Bone Line, 30 – 31 Dec, rollingmeadows.co.nz

2025

Juicy Fest

The touring hip-hop and R&B festival lands in Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga and Auckland this summer. Acts announced include: Ludacris, Akon, Keyshia Cole, Omarion, Fat Joe, Jacquees, SWV, Jeremih, Bizzy Bone, Layzie Bone, Jay Sean, Twista, Baby Bash, Pleasure P, Bobby V, Ying Yang Twins. QEII Park, 8 Jan, juicyfest.co

Timeless Summer Tour

New to the festival lineup for 2025, this concert series will tour Christchurch, Napier, New Plymouth, Mount Maunganui and Auckland. Acts announced include: Boy George of Culture Club, Little River Band, Bonnie Tyler, Mickey Thomas. QEII Park, 11 Jan, timelesssummertour.com/nz

Summer Concert Tour

Celebrating 15 years of cracker lineups, 2025’s iteration of this family favourite returns to Queenstown, Taupō and Whitianga. Acts announced include: Cold Chisel, Icehouse, Bic Runga, Everclear. Gibbston Valley Winery, 18 Jan, greenstoneentertainment.co.nz

One Love Festival

A magnet for some of the biggest names in reggae from across the country and the world. Acts announced include: Maoli, Rebel Souljahz, Katchafire, J Boog, Inner Circle, Fiji, Steel Pulse, Adeaze, House of Shem, Ardijah. Tauranga, 25/26 Jan, One Love '25 (onelovefestival.co.nz)

Nostalgia Festival

This festival showcases feel-good New Zealand and international artists against a backdrop of local food, craft drinks, roving theatre, markets and more. Lineup to come. Ferrymead Heritage Park, 8 Feb, nostalgiafestival.co.nz

Electric Avenue

The city’s biggest celebrates 10 years by morphing into two days, doubling the lineup and meaning something for everyone. Acts announced include: The Prodigy, Chase and Status, Wilkinson, The Kooks, Rudim3ntal, Khruangbin, Tash Sultana, Peking Duk, Empire of the Sun, Th’ Dudes, Ladi6. Hagley Park, 21/22 Feb, electricavenuefestival.co.nz

Selwyn Sounds

With an annual lineup studded with the stars of yesteryear and an all-ages rating, this Canterbury festival is popular with music lovers young and old(er). Acts announced include: OMD, Tom Bailey, Jon Stevens, Diesel, The Narcs. Lincoln, 1 March, selwynsounds.co.nz

Two Minds

This festival “made by dance music fans for dance music fans” returns for a third year. Lineup to come. Spencer Park, 14 – 16 March, twomindsfestival.co.nz

Homegrown

What it says on the box – putting Kiwi music on the festival stage since 2008. Acts announced include: Bic Runga, Teeks, L.A.B, Blindspott, Devilskin, Head Like A Hole, Lee Mvtthews. 14/15 March, Wellington Waterfront, homegrown.net.nz

Food + Drink

South Island Beer Festival

Over 30 beers and ciders from craft breweries all over the South Island. Ilam Homestead, Sat 23 Nov, sibf.nz

South Island Wine & Food Festival

A celebration of South Island flavours set to a live soundtrack against the backdrop of Hagley Park. Hagley Park, Sat 7 Dec, winefestival.co.nz

2025

Great Kiwi Beer Festival

The big daddy of beer festivals, with over 300 craft beers and ciders on tap in the January sun. Hagley Park, 25 Jan, greatkiwibeerfestival.co.nz

Marlborough Wine & Food Festival

Held in the heart of Marlborough's wine country, this is New Zealand’s most enduring festival of food, wine and music. Blenheim, 8 Feb, marlboroughwinefestival.com

Wellington Wine & Food Festival

Add champagne, gin and cocktails to the usual festival fare with this one (that’s so Wellington). Waitangi Park, 22 Feb, wineandfoodfestival.co.nz

North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival

The “coolest little wine festival in the country” showcases the region’s top drops and seasonal eats courtesy of a wealth of food vendors and wineries. Glenmark Domain, 9 Mar, ncwineandfood.co.nz

Hokitika Wildfoods Festival

Stalls full of weird and wonderful goodies, as well as a feral fashion show and wonderful West Coast beer. Cass Square, 8 Mar, wildfoods.co.nz

Havelock Mussel and Seafood Festival

Savour the freshest fish straight from the ocean and the flavours of Marlborough's finest seafood. Havelock Domain, 8 Mar, havelockmusselfestival.co.nz

Ripe: The Wānaka Wine & Food Festival

Enjoy premium wine and food from Central Otago producers served against a backdrop of panoramic lake and mountain views. Glendhu Bay, 22 Mar, ripewanaka.nz