Date set for 2026 Whitianga Oceans Festival

Whitianga Oceans Festival, where coastal meets country, is celebrating 20 years with 2026 planned to be real hootenanny with music artists and performers already being lined up and a financial boost thanks to central and local government.

Save the date for Saturday 19 September for this iconic event, where the organisers have announced festival goers will see ocean and farm flavours blend with a twist of cowboy and western to attract foodies, music lovers, and holidayers, to make hay while the sun shines.

“The Whitianga Oceans Festival has received significant support through the government’s Event Boost Fund and Thames-Coromandel District Council’s Major Events Fund, which we are extremely grateful for. This backing will provide a real boost to what we can deliver for event goers,” says Linda Bird, Oceans Festival Committee Chairperson. “We’re getting our yee hah on and riding tall in the saddle!”

“This is one of many exciting events the Government is supporting in 2026. From world-class international and homegrown musical acts to sports fixtures and arts and cultural celebrations, these events will bring fans, visitors and a big boost to New Zealand’s economy,” Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says.

Whitianga Oceans Festival Tickets and Acts

The Oceans Festival is already in final stage talks with a range of country and western singers and bands, both local and international, who will be part of our event in one of the most beautiful coastal regions in the country,” says Linda. “It really will be where country music meets country rural.

Along with music, there’ll be premium seafood and meat bbq and grilling, beverages, competitions and prizes, a range of activations from line dancing to mechanical bull riding - all situated in a vibrant waterfront part of Whitianga.

Announcements on artists and other milestones will be made in the coming weeks, ahead of early-bird tickets going on sale the first weekend of May. Early bird tickets are $50 per person and then $60 thereafter. There are limited VIP tables at $1500 for a table of 10.

About the Whitianga Oceans Festival

The Whitianga Oceans Festival encompasses music food and beverages and entertainment. The event is held in September on Whitianga’s waterfront and attracts between 2,000 to 6,000 people. 2026 is its 20-year anniversary.

In 2024 the festival won the Best Sustainability Initiative category at the NZ Event Awards for integrating sustainability values into every aspect of its operations, from sourcing seafood to waste management.