Whitianga Oceans Festival Taking a Break until 2026

Message from the Committee Chair 

Whitianga Oceans Festival Committee Chair, Linda Bird said:

The committee which has run the event since 2005 has made the call to cancel this years festival; because as guardians of the event we have to take notice of the decline in ticket sales across NZ in the event industry and in the Oceans Festival itself last year.

We apologise to all our locals who benefit from the festival however, the sustainability of the event must be our priority. We do recognise how important this is for our local economy and our community and intend to return with a bang in 2026 and once again provide an event to support local groups with fundraising opportunities and an early boost to the shoulder season for our businesses.

The festival committee stated that they are excited to welcome everyone back for an unforgettable 2026 festival. 

Thank you from the Whitianga Oceans Festival Festival Team

The Whitianga Oceans Festival team expressed heartfelt gratitude to sponsors, vendors, volunteers, and the local community for their unwavering support and enthusiasm. They noted the further updates and announcements regarding the festival’s future will be shared in due course.