“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.”
Splore director John Minty says the festival has become difficult to sustain. Photo / Dean Purcell
Minty said after 18 years of financial viability, the festival hit headwinds with costly Covid postponements and cancellations.
“The cost of living crisis led, for the first time, to low ticket sales for the 2024 event.
“We took a rest last summer, hoping things would pick up for the 2026 event but so far that hasn’t happened to the degree that we wanted.”
He said the hope for a lifeline from the Government’s $70 million Event Boost Fund was not successful, “despite a comprehensive and what I thought was a very persuasive application”.
Speaking with Newstalk ZB’s Heather du Plessis-Allen this morning, Minty said while it may be premature to cancel the festival outright, “the writing seemed to be on the wall”.
“I could ... hang on for another year and just hoping things get better for next year, but I’ve got to the point where I’ve been involved in Splore for 20 years, and I just feel that personally, from a financial point of view, I just can’t really take that risk again hoping that things will improve,” he said.
The Splore 2026 line-up ... the festival's last. Photo / Splore
“They may, or they may not, so I don’t particularly want to take that risk.”
Splore was special because it’s a multi-day camping festival, Minty added, which have become “quite rare” in New Zealand now.
“The benefit of a three-day camping festival, it creates a community. People are committed for that whole three days; they’re camping, making new friends,” he said.
“It’s maybe the camping side that’s quite difficult for people. I mean, the younger generation are not so much into going into tents, et cetera. So maybe it’s more the six-hour concert in a park, which is more attractive as a trend.”
Heading the three-day, all-ages festival is Norwegian electronic duo and childhood friends Röyksopp, playing their first New Zealand show in 14 years.
The pair, nominated for two Grammy Awards since their 1998 debut, are booked in after a run of sold-out Australian shows and will perform a two-hour DJ set.
Global artists also confirmed to play are Jamaican dancehall star Sister Nancy, UK trip-hop and downtempo DJ Nightmares on Wax, renowned MC General Levy, Melbourne rapper Miss Kaninna and Berlin’s own techno DJ Franca.
Splore Festival 2026 full line-up
Where: Tāpapakanga Regional Park
When: February 20 - 22, 2026
Who: Röyksopp (dj set), Sister Nancy, + Legal Shot, Nightmares on Wax, General Levy + Joe Airwa, Mind Enterprises, Parson James, Miss Kaninna, C.Frim, Illustrious Blacks, Beatles Dub Club, Franca, Tami Neilson, Coco Solid, Jess B, Christoph El Truento, Estère, Dick Move, Romi Wrights, Te KuraHuia, Benny Salvador, Chiccoreli + Tali, DylanBiscuit b2b ajhoneysuckle, BBYFACEKILLA b2b Snakelegs, GoldTooth, Half Queen, ilish, Kaiviti, Marjorie Sinclair, NymphLoads, ORIKoL, Vercetti, WAEWAEXPRESS, Arcadia, Love Language, Hudge, Bobby Brazuka, Dastardly Bounder, DJ Banty, and Rose Alice.
