The 2026 Art Deco Festival Napier Delivers!
The 2026 Art Deco Festival Napier Delivers Exceptional Economic and Social Benefits for Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand
The iconic 2026 Art Deco Festival Napier has delivered extraordinary economic and social outcomes for Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand, according to a new independent report commissioned by the Art Deco Trust.
Prepared by Event Economics, a division of Fresh Info, the report confirms the four-day festival (19–22 February 2026) attracted 22,969 unique attendees, including 6,943 visitors from outside Hawke’s Bay and overseas, generating a net economic benefit of $3.61 million to Hawke’s Bay and $5.87 million to New Zealand.
Visitor attendance driven by the Festival resulted in 18,131 visitor-nights across the region and $3.62 million in visitor spending (including sales tax), providing a significant boost to accommodation providers, hospitality, retailers, and local services.
Art Deco Trust Chair, Barbara Arnott, said the findings highlight the Festival’s importance not only as a cultural event, but as a major driver of regional wellbeing and economic resilience.
“These results are outstanding and affirm what we experience anecdotally every year — that Art Deco Festival Napier is a cornerstone event for Hawke’s Bay,” Arnott said. “A net benefit of $3.61 million to the region, alongside remarkable visitor satisfaction and pride outcomes, demonstrates the Festival’s value well beyond the four days it runs.”
Strong Social Impact and Community Pride
In addition to its economic contribution, the Festival delivered exceptional social outcomes. The report shows:
Art Deco Trust Heritage and General Manager, Jeremy Smith, said the social results were just as meaningful as the economic ones.
“Art Deco Festival Napier is about celebration, connection, community and heritage, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see that reflected so strongly in the data,” he said. “When nearly nine out of ten local residents say the Festival increases their pride in Hawke’s Bay, that tells us we are creating something that truly belongs to this community.”
National and Regional Significance
The report confirms the Festival’s reach extends well beyond Napier, delivering a net benefit of $5.87 million to New Zealand, reinforcing its status as one of New Zealand’s leading arts, culture and heritage events.
Mayor of Napier, Richard McGrath, said the Festival continues to play a critical role in positioning Napier as a liveable city for locals and a must-visit destination for New Zealanders and overseas visitors.
“Major events like the Art Deco Festival Napier showcase the best of our region to the country and the world,” McGrath said. “The demonstrated return on investment and strong visitor advocacy reinforce why continued support for events of this calibre is so important to Napier and the wider region.”
The Art Deco Festival Napier is proudly supported by the New Zealand Government’s Events Boost Fund, helping us bring more international visitors to Napier and Hawke’s Bay in 2026.
The Art Deco Trust Inc., acknowledges the generous support of presenting partner Napier City Council, our sponsors and partners, volunteers, performers, local businesses, and the Hawke’s Bay community, whose combined efforts contributed to the Festival’s overall success.
For more details, contact:
Jeremy Smith
Heritage Manager / GM
021 0900 4409
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