Exciting newcomers join festival favourites for the 39th Marlborough Wine & Food Festival
Exciting newcomers join festival favourites for the 39th Marlborough Wine & Food FestivalPRESS RELEASE:
13 OCTOBER 2025
Sweet Mix Kids at the 2025 Marlborough Wine & Food Festival
Tickets for the next Marlborough Wine & Food Festival on Saturday 14 February 2026 are now available, as New Zealand’s original wine and food festival gears up for its 39th year.
Festival event manager Loren Coffey is delighted to announce Troy Kingi and Kaylee Bell will be headlining the day’s live music offerings.
“Troy always brings his multi-genre talents and lyricism to the stage – he really does have a song for everyone – while Kaylee has that toe-tapping energy to match the festival’s vibe.”
“Many people return year after year with their friends and family to enjoy the best of Marlborough’s beautiful wine country. Our goal is always to complement that experience with a range of entertaining performances, so there's something everyone will love,” Loren says.
Alongside Troy and Kaylee, Sweet Mix Kids and Jaydin Shingleton are returning to the festival for a second year, with more local acts planned to join the lineup. The laid-back vinyl and acoustic areas will also be returning for 2026.
The day is curated with a range of options. Everything you need for a great day comes with a General Admission ticket, or you can treat yourself with The Lounge or a VIP Retreat experience.
Loren says the classic festival experience is to pair the region’s great wine with its great food, whether people are savouring their favourites or finding new favourites among a diverse range of varietals and wineries.
“With over 30 top wineries, 20-plus eateries, a local brewery option and a range of non-alcoholic beverages, the festival truly offers an opportunity to get a taste for everything the Marlborough region has to offer.
“Immersive education is another big focus of the event, giving festival-goers a window into the worlds of the passionate people who make our region shine and the chance to broaden their love and appreciation for Marlborough’s wine and food.”
A new feature for the 2026 festival is a wine education zone called ‘The Curious Cellar’. Available to all ticket holders, the zone will host 30-minute talks from winemakers on a variety of fun topics – making wine appreciation even more accessible says Loren.
The Masterclasses will also be back again in 2026 for a deeper dive into wine appreciation, for an additional fee per class.
“One of the classes will focus on naturally fermented wine and food, and another will demystify the wine judging process through a fun and approachable blind tasting experience,” Loren says.
With Troy Kingi and Kaylee Bell confirmed for the main stage, foodies are eagerly waiting to hear who will headline the ever-popular Culinary Pavilion, which will be available for an additional entry fee in 2026.
Loren says that chefs will be announced before the end of November, hinting that it will be as delicious as ever, this being a festival that has previously hosted top celebrity chefs such as Al Brown, Andy Hearnden and Polly Markus.
Troy Kingi
Troy Kingi (Te Arawa, Ngāpuhi, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui) is an actor and multi-award-winning, multi-genre musician originally from Rotorua and Te Kaha.A prolific songwriter and serial collaborator, with voracious capacity and freakish efficiency,Troy is nearing the endpoint of his aspirational 10 10 10 Series (to release 10 albums in 10 genres in 10 years). His eighth and most recent album, Leatherman & the Mojave Green, was released in August 2024 and explores desert rock influences.
Kaylee Bell
Kaylee Bell is an award-winning Country Pop artist from Waimate who has shared the stage with global stars such as Ed Sheeran, The Chicks, Keith Urban, and Kane Brown. In 2024, Kaylee was crowned "Best Female Artist" at Australia’s prestigious Golden Guitar Awards.Her latest album, Cowboy Up, was released in September 2025, and includes eight tracks of her confident, emotionally rich lyrics that explore resilience, identity, and growth, all through the lens of her signature country-pop sound.
Jaydin Shingleton
Returning to the Wine & Marlborough Food Festival for a second year, Jaydin is a proud Ngāi Tahu artist who grew up in Westport with a passion for music sparked by the influence of his mother and grandfather. In 2019 Jaydin won the Norfolk Island Trans-Tasman Entertainer of the Year, the NZ Gold Guitar Award and New Zealander Entertainer of the Year. He was a semi-finalist in The Voice Australia in 2024
Sweet Mix Kids
New Zealand duo Sweet Mix Kids have an electrifying array of Aotearoa’s sounds and styles and say that they bring ‘life to the nightlife’ and ‘bring the party to planet YOU’. Sweet Mix Kids are as creative with their costuming as they are with their sound; festival-goers can look forward to seeing them in masks, eyewear and mirrored attire.
FESTIVAL FACTS
Saturday 14 February 2026
Renwick Domain on Uxbridge Street in Renwick
General Admission, VIP Retreat, The Lounge and Masterclass tickets are on sale
General Admission tickets include access to our brand-new, free wine education zone, The Curious Cellar
In 2026, the Culinary Pavillion is accessible for an additional entry fee
This is strictly an R18 event and Smokefree
There is on-site parking, and the site and facilities are mobility-friendly
Ticketed parking and return bus transport are available to purchase before the event
Exhibitors, wineries and entertainment are described on the festival website, with more detail to come: marlboroughwinefestival.com/
To discuss media opportunities, or to request copies of photos, please contact:
Stephanie Gray: 020 4052 4015