Lakes Festival returns for its sixth edition this December, bringing another huge summer celebration to Christchurch's iconic Hagley Park. Escape the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary as Lakes Festival transforms the city into New Zealand's ultimate destination for electronic music.

Full first release lineup:

ARMAND VAN HELDEN • X CLUB. • OPPIDAN • BREAK • DJ ZINC • LENS • ROVA • DEAN TURNLEY • LADI6 • SIN & BROOK

ANTZ • CLOVA • CHOLE B2B JORDUN • DONS • EMILLIE • GRELLA • HUNTER • KEEPSAKES • RYDR • SUEDE • THE RAT • YANCEY

Racket Club Takeovers: Eurofreq • Hang The Saints • Haven

+ TWO MAJOR INTERNATIONAL HEADLINERS TO BE ANNOUNCED

Global house legend Armand Van Helden to play first ever South Island show

Headlining the first lineup announcement for Lakes Festival 2026 is global house music icon ARMAND VAN HELDEN, making his first ever South Island performance. One of the most influential house DJs and producers of all time, Armand Van Helden is renowned for timeless dance anthems including You Don't Know Me, My My My, Bonkers with Dizzee Rascal, I Want Your Soul, and Barbra Streisand.

Joining the bill are X CLUB., one of Australia's most exciting electronic exports. Renowned for their high energy fusion of techno, breakbeat, jungle and trance, the London-based duo have become one of the hottest names in global dance music, selling out headline shows across multiple continents and delivering standout performances at some of the world's biggest festivals.

Representing the next generation of UK garage is OPPIDAN, one of the genre's fastest rising stars. Fusing 2-step, UK garage, house, grime and bass music into her signature sound, she has become one of the most exciting names in electronic music thanks to her standout productions and high energy performances.

The drum & bass realm is equally well represented, with UK producer Break returning to deliver another masterclass on the Lakes stage. Joining him is legendary DJ and producer DJ Zinc, making his first South Island appearance since 2013, alongside one of the UK's fastest rising female talents, Lens. Flying the flag for New Zealand, ROVA returns to keep the energy at full throttle throughout the day.

Across three stages, Lakes Festival will showcase a stacked selection of quality talent, including leading Australian house act Dean Turnley, Aotearoa's queen of hip-hop and soul Ladi6, and New Zealand favourites SIN and Brook, who return with another bouncy, high-energy main stage set.

Following an incredible debut in 2025, Racket Club returns to the tennis courts with another curated showcase of underground electronic music. Featuring stage takeovers from Ōtautahi collectives Eurofreq, Hang The Saints and Haven, the stage celebrates the depth and diversity of Christchurch's thriving local scene.