Source: Radio New Zealand
By Noam Mānuka Lazarus, Massey University journalism student
Wellington festival Beers at the Basin, scheduled for February 2026, has been cancelled. 123rf
Wellington festival Beers at the Basin has been cancelled after it was previously postponed for more than a year, with organisers blaming a tough economic climate in the capital.
In an email to ticketholders on Friday, organisers said the festival at the Basin Reserve scheduled for February was “taking a break” and they “remain committed to exploring opportunities for the future.”
It said they had hoped postponing the event from November 2024 to February 2026 would bring “excitement and energy,” but it had not sold well.
“Wellington’s tough economic climate has contributed to lower than expected ticket sales, despite strong early interest.
“Recent indicators show that discretionary spending in the region, unfortunately, continues to remain low.”
That meant they couldn’t “confidently proceed” with the event.
“This difficult decision was made after reviewing a number of factors that impact our ability to deliver the event experience attendees, vendors, and partners expect from Beers at the Basin,” it said.
All tickets will be fully refunded, the email said.
Damien Hochberg from Arada Promotions, the festival’s promoter, declined to comment further.
The first Beers at the Basin event was held in 2017.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
