Northern Bass 2026 runs on 30 and 31 December at 433 Settlement Road, Kaiwaka, just over an hour north of Auckland, and it is the festival’s 15th anniversary. The first line-up of 31 acts includes Andy C, JME, DJ Zinc, Ivy Lab and The Upbeats, more names are still to come, and set times are not out yet.
Northern Bass started as a one-night party at Haruru Falls in 2011 and grew into a New Year’s fixture for drum and bass fans. After a smaller, two-day “JNGL25” edition last summer, organisers are back with three stages across two nights for 2026. Here is everything you need to know about dates, the line-up, tickets, camping and getting there.
When is Northern Bass 2026?
Northern Bass 2026 is on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 December 2026, with the New Year’s Eve night running into 1 January 2027. It is a two-night festival with three stages, branded as the 15th anniversary edition, and it is again held in Kaiwaka near Mangawhai in Northland.
Tickets went on presale at 8am on 24 March 2026 and on general sale at 8am on 25 March. According to the official press release, sales have been tracking well ahead of the same point in 2025.
Who is in the Northern Bass 2026 line-up?
The first Northern Bass 2026 line-up was announced on 17 July 2026 and has 31 acts. The best-known names are UK drum and bass DJ Andy C (playing with Tonn Piper), grime star JME, DJ Zinc, Ivy Lab, Swindle and Kiwi favourites The Upbeats. The festival says more acts are still to be announced.
Here is the full first announcement, as listed on the official line-up page and reported by Muzic.nz.
- 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
Northern Bass has not labelled any act as the headliner. Andy C returns after playing the 2024 festival, and The Upbeats were also on the 2025 bill. We will add the second announcement here as soon as it lands.
When are the Northern Bass set times out?
Northern Bass 2026 set times have not been released yet. As of 3 November 2026 the official line-up page lists acts only, without stages or days. Set times for New Year’s festivals usually appear in the final weeks before the event, and this page will add the timetable by stage once organisers publish it.
Northern Bass tickets and passes
Northern Bass 2026 tickets are sold through Flicket, the festival’s official ticketing partner. You can buy a 2-Day Pass (day or camping), a 30th Only day pass, or a 31st Only pass (day or camping), and prices rise through limited release tiers. The Fuzen Lounge VIP upgrade usually sells out early.
| Ticket | Covers | Camping |
|---|---|---|
| 2-Day Pass | 30 and 31 December | Day or camping option |
| 30th Only | 30 December | Day pass only, no camping |
| 31st Only | New Year’s Eve | Day or camping option |
| Fuzen Lounge VIP | Viewing area, VIP bar, private toilets, queue jumps | Add-on |
Current 2026 prices were not listed on the public ticketing page when we checked, so see Flicket for the tier on sale today. For comparison, the NZ Herald reported 2025 prices of $170 for one day and $220 for two days. The 2025 festival sold out with more than 3500 people on the waitlist, so buying early matters.
Where is Northern Bass held?
Northern Bass is held at 433 Settlement Road, Kaiwaka, in the Mangawhai area of Northland, just over an hour’s drive north of Auckland. Settlement Road is closed to traffic from State Highway 1 during the festival except for official festival access, so follow the signs and the official transport options.
Camping at Northern Bass
Northern Bass camping comes with the camping versions of the 2-Day Pass or the 31st Only pass. General camping suits tents under 3m by 3m, and there are also pre-pitched Bass Hotel bell tents for two, three or four people, a quieter Green Camp, and ready-made Ultimate Festival Kits for people who want to travel light.
- Campervans up to 6m by 3m are allowed. Sedans and hatchbacks cannot be used as campervans.
- Caravans up to 4.5m are allowed, with the towing vehicle parked separately.
How do you get to Northern Bass?
The easiest way to get to Northern Bass is on an official festival bus or shuttle. Return buses run from Auckland CBD and towns across Northland and Rodney, and a Mangawhai shuttle loops between the village and the site. You need a festival ticket to buy a bus ticket, alcohol is not allowed on the buses, and full bus ticket details were still marked as coming soon when we checked.
- Regional buses: Auckland CBD, Warkworth, Wellsford, Kaiwaka, Matakana, Omaha, Whangārei, Ruakaka, Uretiti, Waipu, Waipu Cove and Langs Beach.
- Mangawhai shuttle: from the Mangawhai Club and Village Hall every 15 to 30 minutes. It runs to the festival from 10am to 11pm, and back from 11.30pm to 4.30am on 30 December and 11.30pm to 5.30am on New Year’s Eve.
- Taxis: pre-booked only, with drop-off at Gate B, 433 Settlement Road.
- Parking: free on site. Roadside parking is not allowed and vehicles will be towed.
All of these details come from the festival’s event information page. Gate opening times, the age rule and the list of banned items had not been published in full when we checked, so read the official FAQ before you pack.
Northern Bass line-ups from past years
Northern Bass has booked big UK drum and bass and grime names for years. The 2023 festival had IAMDDB, Metrik, Sub Focus and Netsky, 2024 brought AJ Tracey, Shy FX, Roni Size and Andy C, and the 2025 JNGL25 bill included Aitch, Dizzee Rascal and a Pendulum DJ set.
| Festival | Dates | Biggest names on the bill |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (15th anniversary) | 30–31 December | Andy C + Tonn Piper, JME, DJ Zinc, Ivy Lab, Swindle, The Upbeats (first announcement) |
| 2025 (JNGL25) | 30 December 2025 to 1 January 2026 | Aitch, Dizzee Rascal, Pendulum (DJ set), DJ Hype B2B DJ Hazard, Alix Perez, The Upbeats |
| 2024 | 29–31 December | AJ Tracey, Hybrid Minds + Tempza, Bou, Shy FX, Andy C, Camo & Krooked B2B Mefjus, Roni Size, Ghetts, Chali 2na |
| 2023 | 29–31 December | IAMDDB, Metrik, Home Brew, Sub Focus, Netsky, Goldie, Hedex |
The 2025 edition was deliberately smaller. Organisers cut the format to two days around the Jungle Stage and capped capacity at 6000, roughly half of previous years. “Attendance didn’t quite hit the mark,” director Gareth Popham told the NZ Herald. The 2023 festival is remembered for 114mm of rain and ankle-deep mud, and the 2021–22 event was postponed to January 2022 and then cancelled because of Covid.
Other New Year festivals in NZ
Northern Bass is one of several summer festivals over New Year. If drum and bass is not your thing, Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne runs 28 to 31 December in its last year at Waiohika Estate. Later in summer come Electric Avenue in Christchurch and Laneway Auckland, and our NZ concerts guide lists the big summer gigs.
Frequently asked questions
How many days is Northern Bass?
Northern Bass 2026 is two nights, 30 and 31 December, finishing in the early hours of 1 January 2027. Earlier editions such as 2023 and 2024 ran over three days from 29 December.
Does Northern Bass sell out?
Yes, it can. The 2025 festival sold out with more than 3500 people on the waitlist, and the VIP Fuzen Lounge usually sells out first.
When did Northern Bass start?
Northern Bass started in 2011 as a one-night party at Haruru Falls in Northland. The 2026 festival celebrates 15 years.
Who runs Northern Bass?
Gareth Popham is the festival’s promoter and director, and speaks for Northern Bass in its announcements.
Is there a Northern Bass bus from Auckland?
Yes. Official return buses run from Auckland CBD as well as Warkworth, Wellsford, Whangārei and other towns. You need a festival ticket to book one.
