Aotearoa’s premier New Year’s electronic music festival, Northern Bass, has officially launched its milestone year by unveiling a stacked first artist drop for its upcoming 15th Anniversary edition.
Returning to its beautiful summer home at 433 Settlement Road in Mangawhai / Kaiwaka from 30 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, the heavy-hitting event is locked in to celebrate a decade and a half as New Zealand’s ultimate outdoor destination for drum & bass, jungle, grime, and electronic music.
The Northern Bass 2026 lineup brings together a pristine blend of international heavyweights, local icons, and rapidly rising stars. Heading up the electronic bill are global drum & bass pioneer Andy C (performing alongside Tonn Piper), legendary UK bass producer Culture Shock, and foundational UK grime MC JME.
They are joined by beloved Kiwi festival favorites Lee Mvtthews and The Upbeats, alongside buzzing UK rap prospect Songer.
“Fifteen years is an incredible achievement for everyone who’s been part of Northern Bass,” says festival promoter Gareth Popham. “The festival has grown every year, but the heart of it has always been bringing together amazing artists, incredible production, and a community that lives for this event. This milestone edition is a chance to celebrate how far Northern Bass has come while looking firmly to the future.”
Ticket warning: Demand outpacing record-breaking 2025 event
Organisers are warning music fans to secure their Northern Bass tickets 2026 immediately. The 2025 iteration of the festival broke records, completely selling out early in the month and leaving more than 3,500 people stranded on waitlists. According to festival data, ticket tracking for the 15th anniversary is already pacing well ahead of last year’s historic numbers.
“Last year’s response was unbelievable, and knowing thousands of people missed out has only motivated us to make this anniversary edition even bigger,” Popham adds. “This first lineup is just the beginning, and we’ve still got plenty more to reveal.”
Since its initial launch in 2011, Northern Bass has firmly established itself as one of the best New Years music festivals in NZ, pairing world-class, immersive visual production with cutting-edge electronic sub-genres.
Northern Bass 2026 Lineup (First Artist Drop):
The multi-day festival features a diverse roster of global electronic talent, including:
- 4AM KRU
- A Little Sound
- Anais
- Andy C + Tonn Piper
- Axis
- Break
- Charli Brix
- Clova
- Culture Shock
- DJ Zinc
- Dylan C
- EMWA
- Irah
- Ivy Lab
- JME
- Joe Hunt
- Lamour
- Lee Mvtthews
- Pearly
- Pirapus
- Quix
- Robustt
- Rova
- S.P.Y
- Songer
- Subsonic
- Suune
- Swindle
- Tali
- The Upbeats
- Waxx Off
Festival passes and camping add-ons are available for purchase now via the links below.