Charli XCX (centre), Clairo (right) and Beabadoobee are headlining Laneway Festival 2025. Photo / Getty Images
Charli XCX (centre), Clairo (right) and Beabadoobee are headlining Laneway Festival 2025. Photo / Getty Images
Laneway Festival will begin its six-city run at Auckland’s Western Springs Stadium on February 6.
The popular one-day music festival is headlined by Brat hitmaker Charli XCX this year.
The event attracted some controversy in December after under-18s had their tickets revoked.
Laneway is returning to Auckland for another year, bringing with it a pop-tastic line-up headlined by none other than reigning electropop doyenne Charli XCX.
The touring festival begins its six-date run in Tāmaki Makaurau on Thursday, February 6, at Western Springs Stadium before heading to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Anticipation for the event began building after telltale green billboards were spotted in New Zealand and Australia, fuelling rumours that Charli XCX – whose zeitgeisty, slime-green album Brat took social media by storm last year – could be headlining the festival.
These suspicions were confirmed on October 9, when Laneway released the 2025 line-up with Charli – real name Charlotte Aitchison – at the very top, followed by the likes of Clairo, Beabadoobee, Barry Can’t Swim, Bicep and Remi Wolf. The festival also teased a special guest, later revealed to be synth-pop artist Djo – the moniker of Stranger Things star Joe Keery.
But excitement for the event was tempered in December by an announcement that under-18s would no longer be able to attend the festival, despite many already having tickets. Last year, Laneway allowed 16 and 17-year-old fans to attend by establishing alcohol-free zones; however, the application to allow this in 2025 was rejected by the Auckland District Licensing Committee, citing concerns over the zones' effectiveness.
With Laneway now back to being an 18-and-over event, here is everything you need to know about the upcoming festival.
Charli XCX performs at last year's Roskilde Festival in Denmark. Photo / Getty Images
When is Laneway Festival and where is it held?
Laneway Festival will officially hit Tāmaki Makaurau on Thursday, February 6.
If you, too, baulked at the word “Thursday”, don’t fret: Laneway also coincides with Waitangi Day, a national public holiday, meaning most of us aren’t expected at the office. Phew!
The festival will once again be held at Western Springs Stadium, Auckland’s largest outdoor concert venue. Situated 3km to the west of downtown Auckland, the stadium spans 10ha and can host up to 55,000 attendees. As a major venue, it’s also incredibly easy to get to via public transport – more on that later.
Address: Western Springs, Great North Rd, Auckland 1022
Who is performing at Laneway Festival 2025?
Laneway is known for hosting a diverse line-up of artists, from international heavyweights to home-grown talent.
British singer-songwriter Charli XCX is sitting atop the bill this year, a major drawcard for festival-goers. The 32-year-old became a household name among Generation Z and millennials last year following the release of her zeitgeisty electropop album, Brat. The project, which spawned the viral singles Apple, 360,and Girl, So Confusing (a remix of which featured New Zealand’s own Lorde), took social media by storm with its slime-green artwork and the associated online trend, “Brat summer”.
Other big-name acts on the bill include American indie-pop phenom Clairo, British singer-songwriter Beabadoobee, Scottish DJ Barry Can’t Swim, pop-funk artist Remi Wolf, Irish EDM duo Bicep and English neo-soul singer Olivia Dean.
Local artists on the line-up are Auckland two-piece band Elliot & Vincent, Hamilton-born hip-hop act RNZŌ, and Wellington-based indie rocker Vera Ellen.
While there are no special event bus services planned for Laneway this year, there are still plenty of travel options for attendees to get to Western Springs in time for their favourite acts.
Several bus services are within a short walk of the venue, including the frequent OuterLink service, which stops on nearby Meola Road every 10-15 minutes, and can be connected to the CityLink, InnerLink and TāmakiLink services from other parts of the city, Auckland Transport (AT) group manager of public transport operations, Rachel Cara, told the Herald.
AT is also increasing the frequency of regular scheduled bus services around Western Springs on February 6: check the Auckland Transport website or AT mobile app for routes and information.
There will be designated drop-off/pick-up zones outside Lakeside Park at Western Springs on Great North Road and at 679 Great North Road, which is outside the Universal Imports vehicle dealership.
The nearest train stop to Western Springs is the Morningside Station on the Western Line, which is a 30-minute walk to the festival, or a short car journey to one of the designated drop-off/pick-up areas.
If you’re planning on taxiing or ordering a rideshare such as Uber, expect delays and congestion: several roads around the stadium will be closed, meaning traffic will likely be gridlocked.
American indie-pop artist Clairo will perform at Laneway. Photo / Getty Images
I’m under 18 - why can I no longer attend?
In December, it was announced ticket-holders under 18 were no longer able to attend Laneway after a ruling from the Auckland District Licensing Committee.
The decision came after the festival hosted 16 and 17-year-old fans at its 2024 event with designated alcohol-free zones.
“We have some unfortunate news to share. Despite the safe and successful inclusion of 16+ patrons at Laneway Festival 2024, the Auckland District Licensing Committee has rejected our application to allow 16 and 17-year-olds at our 2025 event,” the organisers said in a statement in December.
Refunds were issued to all under-18 ticket-holders in January.
The Herald obtained a copy of the licensing committee’s decision, which outlined the reasons for the application to host under-18s being declined. All parties had agreed the “split designation between R18 and undesignated areas did not work well last year”, the document said, noting the over-18 and under-18 zones had “hindered the flow of people throughout the venue”, “was not controlled effectively” and “alcohol was found in the undesignated areas”.
The committee acknowledged that if organisers “manage intoxication well and the agencies’ post-event reports are positive”, the festival may have a chance at being R16 in 2026.
Seasoned festival-goers will know the basics, but for first-timers and fresh 18-year-olds, make sure you have your ticket (either a physical copy or digitally on your phone) and valid photo ID. Accepted forms of ID include any current and valid passport, New Zealand driver’s licence, or Kiwi Access Card; a Hospitality NZ 18+ Card may also be used.
If you are unable to present an accepted ID, you will not be allowed entry (and you won’t be eligible for a refund).
You are also allowed to bring a clear, empty water bottle (read: not your giant emotional support Stanley cup) into the grounds. Free drinking water stations will be dotted around the site, so bring a bottle to fill up and make sure you stay hydrated throughout the festival.
For food and other beverages, make sure you have cash or a physical card on hand.
If you need to bring prescription medication, make sure it’s in its original packaging and the dispensary label matches the name on your ID.
Laneway Festival is licensed to sell food and beverages and well-stocked bars will be available on site. For those with dietary requirements, vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free options will be available.
As aforementioned, drinking water is free and clear bottles can be taken into the festival to fill up at the stations.
British singer Beabadoobee, one of the big-name acts who will be at laneway. Photo / Getty Images
What can’t I bring with me?
In case you missed the memo, most musical events are not BYO and Laneway is no exception. You can buy alcoholic beverages at the bars on site, but cannot bring your own drinks inside the grounds.
All bags are checked upon entry and several items will not be permitted past the gates. Aside from alcohol, these include folding or portable chairs, professional cameras, drones, and anything studded or spiked (so leave that 2000s-era studded belt at home).
Umbrellas are also not permitted: if the weather forecast is dismal, embrace the Glastonbury look and bring a plastic poncho or raincoat instead.
Illicit substances and paraphernalia are also, shock horror, prohibited. According to the festival’s website, vapes and e-cigarettes can be brought in, as long as they contain no more than 110ml of liquid. The venue will probably have specific smoking regulations and smoke-free areas, so keep that in mind.
If you were planning on popping out for dinner and returning for the later sets, you should probably reconsider: organisers have made it abundantly clear that once you’re out, that’s the end of the road (or should that be lane?)
“If you choose to leave the festival at any point, you will not be admitted back in,” the website reads.
Can I purchase resale tickets?
Ticketek Marketplace is the only authorised resale outlet for Laneway 2025: tickets purchased through other platforms cannot be verified or refunded. More information on tickets can be found here.
With all that being said, the time has come for Aotearoa to enjoy its very own “Brat summer” – so get out there and enjoy it.
Lana Andelane is an entertainment and lifestyle journalist. She was previously lifestyle editor at Newshub, where she began her career as a news producer. She enjoys writing about music, pop culture, fashion and beauty.
