January music festivals are set to return to Aotea in 2026 with the launch of the Afterglow Festival — a new event bringing top New Zealand acts to the island after a quiet summer this year.
Afterglow will run from January 24 to 26 and features a headline performance from one of Aotearoa’s most well-known and genre-bending artists, Tiki Taane. Known for his early work with Salmonella Dub and a chart-topping solo career, Taane will also appear in a separate set alongside DJ Axis.
Also confirmed are Black Comet, a high-energy galactic funk group fronted by Laughton Kora, with Dan Antunovich, Poihakena Reid and Adam Tobeck; and Lost Tribe Aotearoa, an eight-piece roots and dub band from Raglan.
Auckland-based electronic collective FloorPlay will perform with live guitar, synth and percussion, joined by DJs ADZ, Neski and DJ Row-Z.
There was no January festival on Great Barrier Island in 2025, after several years of the much-loved Wingman Festival. While Wingman plans to return in the future, Afterglow is a fresh addition to the calendar, bringing live music to the motu over Auckland Anniversary Weekend.
Earlybird tickets are on sale now at afterglowfestival.nz . Ticketholders can access discounted flights through Barrier Air between Thursday 22 and Tuesday 27 January, using a promo code received after purchase.
