Next year's edition of Splore will be the final one, the music and art festival's owner has announced, citing "lower than hoped" ticket sales.
Festival owner and curator John Minty said that, after 18 years of financial viability, the festival met headwinds due to Covid-related postponements and cancellations.
Minty said the cost-of-living crisis had led to low ticket sales for last year's 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”.
It was hoped the festival could receive a lifeline through the Government's $70 million event boost fund.
Despite what Minty described as a "comprehensive" and "very persuasive application", the application was not granted.
“I have been involved with Splore at Tāpapakanga for 20 years, and I feel now is a time to move on.
"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.
"However, it’s becoming more difficult to sustain a festival of Splore’s quality and depth, so rather than diluting it I’d rather it finish with a bang”.
Next year's festival runs from February 20 to February 22, and will be held at Tāpapakanga Regional Park in Auckland's east.
This year's lineup includes Sister Nancy, Nightmares on Wax, Mind Enterprises, General Levy, Tami Neilson, Miss Kaninna, Parson James, Illustrious Blacks, Beatles Dub Club, Coco Solid, Christoph El Truento, Te KuraHuia, Romi Wrights, Jess B, Franca, Dick Move, Estere, Half Queen and many more.
It joins other music festivals that have been forced to cancel, postpone, or wind down operations.
Reggae festival One Love was postponed with hopes to return in 2027; Bay Dreams was cancelled due to rising costs last year; and WOMAD organisers said that the festival would take a "purposeful rest" due to increasing costs and shifting conditions.
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