A who’s who of international and national acts are on the lineups for this summer’s round of festivals. Something for everyone to get their groove on, from The Chemical Brothers and State of Mind to The Human League and Nik Kershaw; Ocean Alley, Benee and Dolphin Friendly to L.A.B and Blindspott; and Sean Paul, UB40 and Wyclef Jean.

Music

New Year's Eve

Rock the Bowl - Surf meets rock at Aotearoa’s newest festival, at the beautiful Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth. Acts announced include: Ocean Alley, Shapeshifter, Sublime with Rome, Coterie, Ladyhawke, Masaya, The Grogans.New Plymouth, 29 Dec, trademarklive.co.nz

A Summer’s Day Live - This year’s outing of one of the country’s favourite summer festivals visits four North Island holiday spots over the festive season. Acts announced include: Dire Straits Legacy, Nazareth, Hello Sailor Napier, Tauranga, Matakana, New Plymouth, 29 Dec – 3 Jan, trademarklive.co.nz

Rhythm & Alps - Bring in 2024 with 10,000 of your closest friends in the spectacular Cardrona Valley, deep in the Central Otago mountains near Wānaka. Acts announced include: Benee, Fat Freddys Drop, Ocean Alley, Peking Duk, Synthony. Wānaka, 29 – 31 Dec, rhythmandalps.co.nz

Rhythm & Vines - From its site at Waiohika Estate vineyard, this is the first festival in the world to welcome the first sunrise of the new year. Acts announced include: Wilkinson, Hedex, Peking Duk, Gin Wigmore, BBYFACEKILLA. Gisborne, 29 – 31 Dec, rhythmandvines.co.nz

Northern Bass - Calling all bass heads, dub heads and old-school ravers – this one’s for you. Feed your ears in the summer hotspot of Mangawhai. Acts announced include: Unknown T, Calibre, Goldie, Hedex, Lee Mvtthews, Montell2099, Netsky, Sigma, Sub Focus. Mangawhai, 29 – 31 Dec, northernbass.co.nz

NYE ‘23 - Coroglen Tavern, The Coromandel’s legendary music venue, has three days of sweet sounds and sick beats this year. Acts announced include: The Upbeats, State of Mind, Tiki Taane, Dolphin Friendly, The Black Seeds, Dillastrate. Coromandel, 29 – 31 Dec, nye23.co.nz

Rolling Meadows - Drum ‘n’ bass, hip-hop and EDM for the hardcore crew, plus a bit of skate action on the side. Acts announced include: Netsky, State of Mind, Drax Project, Melodownz, Church & AP, Dillinja. The Bone Line, 30 – 31 Dec, rollingmeadows.co.nz

Highlife NYE - Aiming to attract a “slightly more seasoned” audience, Matakana’s Highlife NYE is R22+. Getting glam is encouraged. Acts announced include: David Penn (Defected), Ron Carroll (Glitterbox), Tim Phin, Hamish + Rangi, Karn Hall, Paris Is Burning. Matakana, 31 Dec, highlifenye.co.nz

2024

Juicy Fest - The touring hip-hop and R&B festival lands in Christchurch, Wellington, Tauranga and Auckland this summer. Acts announced include: T.I., Ashanti, T-Pain, Trey Songz, The Game. Christchurch venue TBA, 3 Jan, juicyfest.co

Bay Dreams - Both legs of this festival are on the move for 2024. Bay Dreams North will shift from Mount Maunganui to Tauranga and Bay Dreams South from Nelson to Queenstown. Acts announced include:  NLE Choppa, Kelis, Destroy Lonely, Yelawolf, Luude, DJ Riton, Sigma, Bad Boy Chiller Crew, DJ Skepsis. Tauranga, 3 Jan; Queenstown, 5 Jan; baydreams.co.nz

One Love Festival - A magnet for some of the biggest names in reggae from across the country and the world. Acts announced include: Sean Paul, UB40, Wyclef Jean, Shaggy, Julian Marley, Third World, Nesian Mystik, Sons of Zion, House of Shem. Tauranga, 27 – 28 Jan, onelovefestival.co.nz

Nostalgia Festival - This festival showcases feel-good New Zealand and international artists against a backdrop of local food, craft drinks, roving theatre, markets and more. Acts announced include: Daily J, Fazerdaze, Louis Baker, Mel Parsons, The Warratahs, D.C. Maxwell, Lou’ana, Yurt Party. Ferrymead Heritage Park, 10 Feb, nostalgiafestival.co.nz

Splore - “Mindful party animals” dress up and get down on the shores of Tāpapakanga Regional Park, Franklin in three days of music, performance and visual arts. Acts announced include: Sampha, Greentea Peng, The Pharcyde, Norman Jay, Wednesday, Strawpeople, Hedlok (Che Fu + King Kapisi). Auckland, 23 – 25 Feb, splore.net

Electric Avenue - 30,000 rockers, ravers and dub heads take over Hagley Park for a day of bangers, sick beats and sunshine. Acts announced include: The Chemical Brothers, Six60, Shapeshifter, Hybrid Minds, L.A.B, Lime Cordiale, JessB, 1 Drop Nation. Hagley Park, 24 Feb, electricavenuefestival.co.nz

Selwyn Sounds - With an annual lineup studded with the stars of yesteryear and an all-ages rating, this Canterbury festival is popular with music lovers young and old(er). Acts announced include: The Human League, Go West, Nik Kershaw, The Mockers, The Choirboys. Lincoln, 2 March, selwynsounds.co.nz

Two Minds - This festival “made by dance music fans for dance music fans” returns for a second year. Lineup to come. Spencer Park, 15 – 17 March, twomindsfestival.co.nz

Homegrown - What it says on the box – putting Kiwi music on the festival stage since 2008. Acts announced include: Bic Runga, Teeks, L.A.B, Blindspott, Devilskin, Head Like A Hole, Lee Mvtthews. March Wellington Waterfront, homegrown.net.nz

Food + Drink

South Island Beer Festival - Over 30 beers and ciders from craft breweries all over the South Island. Ilam Homestead, Sat 25 Nov, sibf.nz

South Island Wine & Food Festival - A celebration of South Island flavours set to a live soundtrack against the backdrop of Hagley Park. Hagley Park, Sat 2 Dec, winefestival.co.nz

Great Kiwi Beer Festival - The big daddy of beer festivals, with over 300 craft beers and ciders on tap in the January sun. Hagley Park, 27 Jan, greatkiwibeerfestival.co.nz

Marlborough Wine & Food Festival - Held in the heart of Marlborough's wine country, this is New Zealand’s most enduring festival of food, wine and music. Blenheim, 10 Feb, marlboroughwinefestival.com

Wellington Wine & Food Festival - Add champagne, gin and cocktails to the usual festival fare with this one (that’s so Wellington). Waitangi Park, 24 Feb, wineandfoodfestival.co.nz

North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival - The “coolest little wine festival in the country” showcases the region’s top drops and seasonal eats courtesy of a wealth of food vendors and wineries. Glenmark Domain, 3 Mar, ncwineandfood.co.nz

Hokitika Wildfoods Festival - Stalls full of weird and wonderful goodies, as well as a feral fashion show and wonderful West Coast beer. Cass Square, 9 Mar, wildfoods.co.nz

Havelock Mussel and Seafood Festival - Savour the freshest fish straight from the ocean and the flavours of Marlborough's finest seafood. Havelock Domain, 16 Mar, havelockmusselfestival.co.nz

Ripe: The Wānaka Wine & Food Festival - Enjoy premium wine and food from Central Otago producers served against a backdrop of panoramic lake and mountain views. Glendhu Bay, 23 Mar, ripewanaka.nz