# WOMAD Aotearoa 2027 in New Plymouth: Group Planning > WOMAD Aotearoa 2027 returns to Brooklands Park, Taranaki, on 12–14 March. Dates, clashes and planning notes for groups. Source: https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-29-womad-aotearoa-2027-new-plymouth-groups/ Events 29 October 2026 · Explera Trade Desk · 3 min read ![Festival-goers photographing a lit stage with their phones](https://www.explera.co.nz/assets/photos/rear-view-excited-fans-having-fun-music-festival-taking-pictures-stage-with-their-smart-phones-copy-space_637285-607-1400.webp) **Short answer:** WOMAD Aotearoa returns on 12–14 March 2027 at the Bowl of Brooklands in Brooklands Park, Taranaki, after the organisers paused the 2026 festival. It is the same weekend as Crankworx Rotorua, the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival and two Bruno Mars shows in Auckland, so groups combining Taranaki with other regions should hold rooms and coaches early. WOMAD is a festival of music, arts and dance from around the world, held in New Plymouth's Brooklands Park. This briefing is for travel agents and tour operators who want to add the festival, or simply a Taranaki stop, to a North Island programme in March 2027. ## When and where is WOMAD Aotearoa 2027? - **Dates.** Friday 12 to Sunday 14 March 2027, as published by the organisers. - **Venue.** The Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Park, Taranaki. The park is in New Plymouth, the main town of the region. - **The 2026 pause.** Organisers did not hold the festival in 2026. They called it a "purposeful rest", citing rising costs and uncertainty over artist availability, transport and insurance. - **Line-up.** Artists had not been announced when we checked. We confirm the programme and ticket types with the organisers before quoting a package around the festival. ![A band performing on an outdoor stage](https://www.explera.co.nz/assets/photos/country-music-band-singing-outdoors_23-2149498499-1400.webp) *A band performing on an outdoor stage* ## What else is on that weekend? March 2027 is busy across New Zealand. The same weekend also has: - **Crankworx Rotorua.** 10–14 March 2027 at Skyline Rotorua. See our [Crankworx briefing](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-27-rotorua-mountain-biking-crankworx-2027-groups/). - **Hokitika Wildfoods Festival.** Saturday 13 March 2027 on the West Coast. - **Bruno Mars in Auckland.** 13, 14 and 16 March 2027 at Eden Park. These are listed in our [February and March 2027 events briefing](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-12-new-zealand-february-march-2027-events-group-planning/). A group flying into Auckland that week competes for rooms and coaches with concert crowds, and a group touring Rotorua and Taranaki together meets two events in one weekend. ## How does a festival weekend fit a group programme? - **Base in New Plymouth.** Rooms in a smaller city fill quickly on a festival weekend. We hold them with clear release dates as soon as a group is likely. - **Getting there.** New Plymouth has an airport with domestic flights. By coach, Taranaki links to Waitomo, Tongariro and Whanganui; see our [driving times guide](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-10-new-zealand-driving-times-distances-coach-days/). - **Days around the festival.** The Coastal Walkway, Pukekura Park, the Len Lye Centre and forest walks in Egmont National Park fill the days, and the maunga is covered in our [Taranaki Maunga briefing](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-09-taranaki-maunga-te-papa-kura-o-taranaki-groups/). - **Weather.** March is early autumn. Outdoor stages need rain plans and warm layers for the evenings. ![A wooden pathway beside the sea with a bird flying over the water](https://www.explera.co.nz/assets/photos/black-bird-flying-ocean-near-wooden-pathway-daytime_181624-7995-1400.webp) *A wooden pathway beside the sea with a bird flying over the water* ## How Explera DMC New Zealand can help We are the [Taranaki DMC](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/taranaki/) for travel agents and tour operators, and we build festival weekends into North Island programmes with [group tours](https://www.explera.co.nz/services/group-tours-new-zealand/), [hotels and lodges](https://www.explera.co.nz/services/hotels-and-lodges-new-zealand/) and [coach and private transfers](https://www.explera.co.nz/services/coach-and-private-transfers-new-zealand/). See also our [group booking lead times guide](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-13-new-zealand-group-booking-lead-times-huts-rooms-ferries/). ## FAQ **When is WOMAD Aotearoa 2027?** From Friday 12 to Sunday 14 March 2027, according to the organisers. **Where is WOMAD Aotearoa held?** At the Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Park in New Plymouth, Taranaki. **Was WOMAD held in 2026?** No. The organisers paused the 2026 festival, calling it a "purposeful rest". **What else is on in New Zealand that weekend?** Crankworx Rotorua runs 10–14 March 2027, the Hokitika Wildfoods Festival is on 13 March and Bruno Mars plays Eden Park in Auckland on 13, 14 and 16 March. **Has the 2027 line-up been announced?** Not when we checked. We confirm the programme with the organisers before quoting a festival package. ## Sources - [WOMAD Aotearoa](https://www.womad.co.nz/), organisers' site, checked 27 October 2026 - [WOMAD no more in 2026](https://waateanews.com/2025/09/11/womad-no-more-in-2026/), Waatea News, 11 September 2025 ## Talk to the trade desk Explera DMC New Zealand trade desk — b2b@explera.co.nz, WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090, B2B portal [b2b.expleradmc.com](https://b2b.expleradmc.com). Destinations in this briefing [New Plymouth & Taranaki](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/taranaki/)[Rotorua](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/rotorua/)[Hokitika](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/hokitika/)[Auckland](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/auckland/)[Waitomo Caves](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/waitomo/)[Whanganui & the Whanganui River](https://www.explera.co.nz/destinations/whanganui/) Work with our New Zealand DMC [New Zealand DMC](https://www.explera.co.nz/)[New Zealand DMC services](https://www.explera.co.nz/services/) ## Talk to the trade desk *Your New Zealand DMC partner* From a single FIT to series groups and full MICE programmes, every New Zealand proposal is costed by hand against your brief at net rates. Request a quote with the form, or send your requirements as a new email with a descriptive subject line. [Request a quote](https://www.explera.co.nz/contact-us/#quote) [Register on the B2B platform](https://b2b.expleradmc.com/web/signup) [b2b@explera.co.nz](mailto:b2b@explera.co.nz) [WhatsApp +66 93 656 8090](https://wa.me/66936568090) ## More from the trade blog. *Keep reading* [All posts](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/) [Subscribe via RSS](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/rss.xml) - [World of WearableArt 2027 Wellington: Groups Guide](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-29-world-of-wearableart-2027-wellington-groups/) - [Laneway Festival Auckland 2027: Western Springs Groups](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-28-laneway-festival-auckland-2027-western-springs-groups/) - [New Zealand Regional Events Autumn 2027: Group Planning](https://www.explera.co.nz/blog/2026-10-28-new-zealand-regional-events-autumn-2027-groups/)