Electric Avenue 2026 was one for the ages, according to the numbers.
According to a statement shared with Rolling Stone AU/NZ today, an economic impact report from FreshInfo revealed that the sold-out 2026 edition of Australasia’s biggest music festival “generated a new record of close to 90,000 attendees across two days,” which “resulted in a visitor spend of almost $14 million.”
This figure eclipses the $10,5 million spent in Ōtautahi Christchurch by Electric Avenue attendees the previous year, when the festival first expanded to two days.
Team Event Managing Director Callam Mitchell says, “Electric Avenue 2026 built on the success of our two-day expansion and took the festival to another level. The expanded footprint, new stages, improved site flow and amenities, focused heavily on the overall guest experience.”
According to Mitchell, 32,000 tickets have already been sold for next year’s festival, despite any artists being announced yet.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ was at Electric Avenue 2026, and we had high praise for the festival.
“For a festival as established as this one, Electric Avenue continues to deliver,” we wrote.
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“From back in the day when it was a small-scale O-Week event open to now, where it’s Australasia’s biggest festival to date, bringing in a sold-out crowd, it still balances the fine line between homegrown and global.”
Check out our 5 takeaways from the 2026 edition, featuring the returning Split Enz, all-conquering pop star Kesha, and more.
According to today’s statement, the festival significantly boosted Christchurch’s accommodation providers, with the “city at 98% occupancy and the central city abuzz from Thursday through to Saturday.”
Electric Avenue 2026 reportedly generated 79,990 visitor nights with an average stay of 2.98 nights, andChristchurch’s hotel occupancy rate in February was 96.4%, the highest reported February from the last decade and well above the national average for February 2026 of 88.9%.
“Christchurch is firing on all cylinders. Visitors from far and wide are here in force, spending in our city and experiencing everything we have to offer,” Mayor Phil Mauger says. “We’re delivering superbly, and we’re just getting started. Christchurch is cementing its place as New Zealand’s events capital, and that’s something every resident can be proud of.”
