Kingston Calling 2027 is on Friday 19 and Saturday 20 February at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Maoli and Stan Walker head the Friday, and Six60 and Fat Freddy’s Drop head the Saturday, with 14 acts across the two days. The festival is R18, runs from 12.30pm to 10.30pm each day, and tickets are on sale now through Flicket.
This is a different event from the Kingston Calling that toured New Zealand in February 2026. That one was a UB40 tour booked for six New Zealand towns plus Pacific dates. The 2027 version is a two-day festival in one place, under Mauao. Below are the line-up by day, times, ticket details, the age rule and what happened last summer.
Who is playing at Kingston Calling 2027?
Fourteen acts play Kingston Calling 2027, seven each day. Friday 19 February is led by Hawaiian country reggae artist Maoli and Stan Walker, with SOJA, Arrested Development, Katchafire, Hori Shaw and A.R.T. Saturday 20 February is led by Six60 and Fat Freddy’s Drop, with Rebel Souljahz, Te Wehi, Aaradhna, Marley NZ All Stars and Myshaan.
| Friday 19 February 2027 | Saturday 20 February 2027 |
|---|---|
| Maoli | Six60 |
| Stan Walker | Fat Freddy’s Drop |
| SOJA | Rebel Souljahz |
| Arrested Development | Te Wehi |
| Katchafire | Aaradhna |
| Hori Shaw | Marley NZ All Stars |
| A.R.T. | Myshaan |
The overseas names lean towards reggae. SOJA is a reggae band from Virginia, Rebel Souljahz are a Hawaiian reggae group and Arrested Development are a hip-hop act from Atlanta, 1News reported when the line-up was revealed on 1 September 2026. Katchafire, Stan Walker, Six60 and Fat Freddy’s Drop carry the local side.
Six60 frontman Matiu Walters said: “It has been a while since we have been in the Mount, so Kingston Calling will be a special one for us.”
When is Kingston Calling and what time does it start?
Kingston Calling 2027 runs over two days, Friday 19 and Saturday 20 February 2027. Both days are listed from 12.30pm to 10.30pm on the What’s On Tauranga event listing. Set times, meaning when each act goes on stage, had not been published as of 9 November 2026.
| Day | Date | Hours | Headliners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | 19 February 2027 | 12.30pm to 10.30pm | Maoli, Stan Walker |
| Saturday | 20 February 2027 | 12.30pm to 10.30pm | Six60, Fat Freddy’s Drop |
We will add set times to this page when the festival releases them.
How much are Kingston Calling tickets?
Kingston Calling 2027 tickets are listed from $239, plus booking and service fees, on the What’s On Tauranga listing, which does not say whether that price covers one day or both. General admission and VIP options are offered, and tickets are sold through Flicket. Afterpay is available.
Presale opened at 7pm on Wednesday 9 September 2026 and general sale at 7pm on Thursday 10 September, the festival’s announcement on rova said.
Is Kingston Calling R18?
Yes. Kingston Calling 2027 is an R18 event, according to its What’s On Tauranga listing, so you need to be 18 or over to get in. The venue offers wheelchair access and accessible bathrooms, and a support person gets in free.
The organisers are also running the Ask for Angela and Ask for Andrew service and a Kingston Calling Safe Space Policy, so anyone who feels unsafe or uncomfortable on the day has a way to ask for help.
Where is Kingston Calling held?
Kingston Calling 2027 is held at Bay Oval, the cricket ground at Blake Park on Kawaka Street in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, below Mauao. It is a one-venue festival. None of the official listings we checked mention camping.
Bay Oval general manager Kelvin Jones told SunLive the festival builds on last summer’s Fisher and UB40 shows at the ground. “It’s nice to keep the momentum going,” he said. Transport and parking details for 2027 had not been published as of 9 November 2026.
Who runs Kingston Calling?
Kingston Calling is run by Fabrik, the events company founded by festival director Toby Burrows (Ngāti Hauā), and presented with Mai FM. The 2027 festival has backing from the Government’s one-off Events Attraction Package. Burrows says the name comes from an old way of gathering: “In times of old, people gathered around a call.”
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said: “Kingston Calling is the kind of event that showcases the best of our summer events calendar.”
What was Kingston Calling 2026?
Kingston Calling 2026 was a touring show headlined by UB40 featuring Ali Campbell, not a two-day festival. It was booked for Pacific shows in late January 2026 and then six New Zealand venues between 5 and 14 February, including Bay Oval on Waitangi weekend. Katchafire, The Black Seeds and Corrella were added to the line-up.
| Date | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 5 Feb 2026 | Whangārei | Semenoff Stadium |
| Fri 6 Feb 2026 | Napier | Tremain Field |
| Sat 7 Feb 2026 | Mount Maunganui | Bay Oval |
| Thu 12 Feb 2026 | Wellington | Waitangi Park |
| Fri 13 Feb 2026 | Pukekohe | Navigation Homes Stadium |
| Sat 14 Feb 2026 | New Plymouth | Bowl of Brooklands |
Wellington City Council listed January shows at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku’alofa and Apia Park in Samoa, and rova’s tour page added a Fiji date. That is why searches for Kingston Calling in Wellington, Napier, Whangārei, Pukekohe and New Plymouth still turn up. For 2027, only the Bay Oval festival has been announced. Other summer festivals are in our NZ concerts guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kingston Calling 2027 in Wellington?
No. As of 9 November 2026 the only Kingston Calling event announced for 2027 is the two-day festival at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. Wellington’s Waitangi Park was the venue for the UB40 Kingston Calling show scheduled for 12 February 2026.
Are Kingston Calling set times out?
Not yet. The festival had not released set times as of 9 November 2026. Each day runs from 12.30pm to 10.30pm.
Who is Maoli?
Maoli is a Hawaiian country reggae artist and one of the two Friday headliners at Kingston Calling 2027, alongside Stan Walker.
Can you buy a one-day ticket?
The listings we checked do not say whether single-day tickets are sold. The ticket page on Flicket shows the options on sale.
Is Kingston Calling all ages?
No. Kingston Calling 2027 is R18.
