It’s that time of the year: Laneway 2026 is right ‘round the corner! The festival is definitely well needed after the wet weather we’ve been having lately and it couldn’t come soon enough to lift our spirits and remind us that it is indeed still summer.
Laneway is once again being held at Western Springs Stadium but this time on Thursday 5th of February, so enjoy your day off on Friday! Gates to Western Springs open at 12:30PM and the festival will finish at 10PM (5 minutes after the end of the last performances). Per usual, remember to bring sunblock and drink plenty of water to ensure you have both an enjoyable and healthy day. We know you know, but slip slop slap and all that.
Because there are so many wonderful musicians and bands on the stacked line-up this year, we’ll provide you with a refresher and further deets on some of our must-see artists this year. We hope to see you there!
Chappell Roan
Stage: Good Better Best | Set Time: 8:25PM – 9:55PM
Surreal to write, but dreams do come true – the Midwest Princess, Chappell Roan, is bringing her full arena tour concert (including the stage set-up) all the way to Tāmaki Makaurau! Considering how influential and prominent she is now – and although she’s released music since 2014 – it was only a couple years ago when Chappell Roan (born Kayleigh Amstutz) was opening for Olivia Rodrigo during the Guts World Tour when listeners began to finally realise she’s not only an obvious supernova in waiting, but a necessary voice in today’s musical and societal landscape. With the culmination of her releasing her chart-topping single ‘Good Luck, Babe!’, opening for Rodrigo, and both her individual NPR Tiny Desk and Coachella 2024 performances going viral, Roan quickly became a commercial success and Grammy Award winning musician – entering superstar status. The best things take time, which can be said for Roan’s release of her chart-breaking 2023 debut record, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, which included an array of singles which had been released as early as February 2022. Brazen, outspoken, a dedicated ride-or-die for her queer community – Roan’s Laneway performance will be one of the most camp, colourful and memorable music highlights of the entire year – that’s guaranteed! Getting Chappell Roan to this side of the planet felt impossible, as does getting most major popstars to us Kiwis, so don’t take her performance for granted and make sure you do everything in your power to dance your way to the Good Better Best stage in time for her dazzling show.
BENEE
Stage: Harikoa | Set Time: 4:35PM – 5:20PM
Kiwi pop singer-songwriter and princess BENEE (Stella Rose Bennett) is gracing us with her presence at this year’s Laneway Fest! Having released her second studio album Ur an Angel I’m Just Particles last November, BENEE continuously (to nobody’s surprise) reminds us that she’s currently one of the most innovative and boundary-pushing pop artists. Having written and recorded parts of the album during touring and opening for the likes of Olivia Rodrigo and Tate McRae, BENEE’s breakthrough with her 2019 smash-hit ‘Supalonely’ feels so far away from the force of a woman she is now. No matter how stacked the festival’s lineup is with international artists, there’s nothing like watching a local darling like BENEE perform on her own soil in front of her day ones.
Oklou
Stage: Everything Ecstatic | Set Time: 3:50PM – 4:35PM
An innovative and magical French pixie is how many describe Oklou. Oklou is the moniker of Marylou Mayniel, one of those precious artists who has been interconnected with many pop and electronic artists and mainly under the radar – until now. With her 2020 debut mixtape Galore, Oklou soundtracked many listeners’ (mine included) isolating lockdown period and gave us a synth-heavy portal to the outdoors, where we could mentally respite with flora and fauna through her vivid lyricism. Oklou’s 2025 debut album, choke enough, saw her focus on what’s most important amongst internal/external chaos: family, friends, motherhood, community. Her musical and visual atmosphere is hyper-specific to imagery of the likes of sheep, elven fantasy, moss, fog, woodlands and fables – you won’t be able to fight against the otherworldly pull her live performances have. She is constantly compared to the Irish queen of New Age music – Enya. She’s worked/collaborated alongside beloved contemporaries such as FKA twigs, Bladee, Flume, Danny L Harle, Underscores and Casey MQ. As Ethel Cain said in response to listening to choke enough: “I’m obsessed with this album, it’s like if they made pop music for bugs.” The third single from choke enough saw Oklou collaborate with Bladee, who is also playing at Laneway with fellow Drain Gang member, Yung Lean. I’m manifesting and typing into existence that Oklou will bring out Bladee to perform ‘take me by the hand’ together. In a sea of thousands at Laneway, be a whimsical bug at Oklou’s set.
ROLE MODEL
Stage: Never Let It Rest | Set Time: 5:30PM – 6:20PM
ROLE MODEL is the stage name of American musician Tucker Pillsbury. Adored by many (you will hear this from the guaranteed screaming from the crowd during his set), ROLE MODEL has been garnering attention since 2017, but he reached a new height of success when opening for Gracie Abrams’ 2024 The Secret of Us Tour; with the release of his 2024 sophomore album, Kansas Anymore; and his 2025 single, ‘Sally, When The Wine Runs Out’. When Laneway 2026’s lineup was announced, comment sections were filled with “TUCKER!!!” and other variations of swooning. ROLE MODEL looks as cool as his music sounds, and his stage presence is infectious. During his performances of ‘Sally’, ROLE MODEL likes to bring out a friend or fellow artist to be his Sally for that performance (there’s been Niall Horan, Lewis Capaldi, Hilary Duff and even his mum). Who will get to be ROLE MODEL’s Sally at Auckland’s Laneway? Guess you’ll have to watch his set to be in the know. We wouldn’t put it past him to make it someone fun!
The Dare
Stage: Everything Ecstatic | Set Time: 5:00PM – 5:45PM
Who describes the epitome of cool, nonchalant and vibing out in indie-sleaze suit silhouettes like those of fashion designer Hedi Slimane? Correct answer: the Dare’s Harrison Patrick Smith. Constantly compared to the likes of James Murphy’s legendary NYC band LCD Soundsystem, the Dare’s music is to sweat to, make-out to, dance to and stay up to exhausting hours of the AM to. Those in NYC and adjacent art/music scenes had been aware of the Dare before the release of his debut 2023 The Sex EP, with Smith releasing music under the moniker Turtlenecked. Fast forward to 2024 and the Dare is everywhere: hanging and DJ’ing with your faves (such as at Charli XCX’s PARTYGIRL Boiler Room set in Ibiza), being spotted at various fashion weeks, contributing to the indie-sleaze revival (the music video to ‘Perfume’ is reminiscent of an old Calvin Klein advert), and producing Charli XCX’s song ‘guess’, with its remix version featuring Billie Eilish. His second EP, What’s Wrong with New York?, released in 2024, and his latest EP, Freakquencies: Volume 1, released last August – a busy man indeed. You can expect the Dare’s set to be sultry, crazed and one of the most exhilarating performances of the day.
Wet Leg
Stage: Good Better Best | Set Time: 6:25PM – 7:15PM
It was only in 2023 when English indie-rock band Wet Leg’s front-women Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers collected 2 Grammy Awards. Witnessing that occur is still so clear in the mind because it was a moment which felt like being unashamedly feral in music was back on the table. This ethos came to complete fruition with their 2025 sophomore record, moisturizer. An album that was intentionally made to sound its best when performed at its rawest – live – moisturizer is music to validate and liberate your deranged inner lover; it’s music that depicts how being in love can make you tender and also make you want to climb the walls and writhe around (in rage, in passion). The artistic growth Teasdale and Chambers have had since their Grammy winning 2022 self-titled debut album is not only inspiring, but relatable to those of us who feel the need to goblin out in a world so chaotic. Teasdale’s delightfully menacing and bewitching vocals, paired with vulnerable lyricism and experimental instrumentation, makes moisturizer one of the best albums released last year. With ‘catch these fists’, ‘Chaise Lounge’ and ‘CPR’ on their current setlist, it’s safe to say that Wet Leg’s Laneway performance will be memorable and relentless in both the band’s performance and their audiences’ response to feeling set free.
Lucy Dacus
Stage: Good Better Best | Set Time: 4:40PM – 5:25PM
Many know singer-songwriter and guitarist Lucy Dacus for being one third of the 3-time Grammy Award winning supergroup Boygenius, alongside Phoebe Bridgers and Julien Baker. However, real ones know Dacus has been an indie-rock queen since before the supergroup’s formation in 2018. 2016 saw Dacus release her debut album, No Burden, which was then followed by her sophomore record, Historian, in 2018. With Dacus being a member of Boygenius and experiencing newfound fame following the release of their 2023 debut album, The Record, she experienced a surge which saw her past bodies of work gain further traction. Historian’s lead single, ‘Night Shift’, had a viral-trend moment on TikTok, leading to Dacus releasing a charmingly witchy and moving music video for the song 5 years after its initial release. Dacus’ fourth record, Forever Is a Feeling, released in 2025 and reached #1 on the Billboard US Americana/Folk album charts. The album, which features the song ‘Bullseye’ with Hozier, includes four singles – with Dacus releasing music videos for both ‘Ankles’ and ‘Best Guess’. Forever Is a Feeling consists of her most vulnerable songwriting to date, seeing her delve into her queerness and relationship with band member Julien Baker. We expect her Laneway performance to induce a lot of tears and adoration from her incredibly devoted fanbase.
Mt. Joy
Stage: Good Better Best | Set Time: 3:00PM – 3:45PM
Truth be told, it wouldn’t be a proper Laneway Festival without a quintessential indie band playing. Formed in Philadelphia, now based in Los Angeles, alternative folk-rock band Mt. Joy have been one of the most notable groups on the indie scene since their 2018 self-titled debut record. Lead vocalist Matt Quinn’s voice is charged, yet warm and inviting, making his deeply emotive lyricism – infused with the five-piece band’s instrumentation – an immersive and touching listening experience. Last May they released their fourth album, Hope You Have Fun; the third song on the record, ‘In The Middle’, happens to be a gorgeous collaboration with fellow Laneway 2026 performer, Gigi Perez. Their ballad, ‘Lucy’, was written about losing loved ones to terminal illness: “and I’m dancing with an angel / and I’m crying, it’s painful / ‘cause the dream that she’s made for will live on forever.” It’s necessary to get a dose of indie-rock at Laneway, and it’s even better when Mt. Joy are the one to offer it.
Wisp
Stage: Everything Ecstatic | Set Time: 2:40PM – 3:25PM
Wisp is the stage name of breakthrough singer-songwriter Natalie R. Lu. The epitome of Gen Z finding TikTok virality, Wisp suddenly garnered millions of listeners in a short burst due to her single, ‘Your Face’, going viral in what almost felt like an instant. For a long stretch of time (and continuing to this day) the song has become inescapable on TikTok, reaching over 177 million plays on Spotify alone. Countless musicians are discovered through the app, but Wisp has always stood out because of her shoegaze roots that are inspired by Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine. Her ethereal voice glides and reverbs to the clouds, giving her sound a sheen of pop layering. Wisp’s 2025 debut album, If Not Winter, has gone on to prove that she’s one to watch, and you can expect her Laneway performance to induce a state of bliss amongst all the busyness and festival noise.
Gigi Perez
Stage: Never Let It Rest | Set Time: 2:10PM – 2:55PM
Want to know what an up-and-coming musical sensation looks like? Let us put it this way: singer-songwriter Gigi Perez’s third independent release, ‘Sailor Song’, was posted online less than two years ago and currently has over 1.6 billion streams on Spotify. And more than that, Perez’s songs ‘Sometimes (Backwood)’ and ‘Celene’ found viral fame on TikTok prior to ‘Sailor Song’ going 4x Platinum in both Australia and Canada. Hailing from the US, Perez, like that of Wisp, found virality through uploading her songs to TikTok and Soundcloud. Initially releasing music to process her grief after the passing of her sister, Perez found comfort and community within her newfound following. Perez’s online success led to her commercial breakthrough and the release of her 2025 debut album, At the Beach, in Every Life. Her debut record showcases Perez’s stellar songwriting and lyricism which touch on the relatable themes of sexuality, love, religion and loss. Laneway Festival has always championed and uplifted the next generation of talent, so it’d be a loss if you don’t catch Gigi Perez’s Laneway debut.
Listen to Laneway Festivals’ official 2026 playlist below so you’re familiarised and prepared for the day.
