The Twominds collective began as a group of mates playing tunes at Ōtautahi flat parties in 2020.
That grassroots energy propelled them to their first festival in 2023, and by its fourth year, Twominds 2026 has created a dance euphoria unlike any other.
Impressively, the festival draws larger crowds each year without losing its “by us for us” spirit. “What makes Ōtautahi a special place to host this festival is how the people here are absolutely committed to their music communities, our underground music scene is greatly supported, and we see that in ticket sales,” said marketing manager and ticketing lead Liam Donnally.
While the 2026 lineup boasted heavy hitters like Salmonella Dub, Shy FX, Mala, and CC:Disco, the event doesn’t simply rely on international names. Instead, it has grown a dedicated following through an ethos of community-first experiences and a reputation built on word-of-mouth. This phenomenal undertaking was fuelled by a young and ambitious energy. “80% of the core crew for this event are under 30, we feel like a bunch of kids with a huge amount of reasonability. For 2026 capacity has tripled and stage designs have been reinvented this year and the whole layout is different from previous years,” said Liam.
The Creative Backbone
This vision wouldn’t be a reality without a “keen-for-anything” volunteer crew. This year, over 300 people signed up to help in what became a total creative takeover. Between the functional grit of setting up fences in hi-vis, volunteers poured their souls into the details, crafting groovy signage, spray-painting graffiti art, and assembling everything from a custom skate ramp to a pop-up mini-golf course.
Growing Kinder
As the festival grows bigger, it is also growing kinder. This year included the introduction of low-income tickets to further break down barriers. “We don’t want to shut off a bunch of people due to pricing barriers,” said Liam. Accessibility was a visible priority, with access tickets allowing for free support persons and elevated viewing platforms for wheelchair users to ensure everyone had a front-row seat to the action.
From the Pines to the Pacific
The beauty of the festival taking place at Spencer Beach Top 10 Holiday Park is it’s proximity to the ocean. At 10am on Saturday, campers walked through the pine forest for yoga on the beach and a swim. Shaquille, known by her DJ name Half Queen, guided the group through the flow just hours after her own DJ set. “Yoga and DJing are the same blueprint, it’s all about leading people into movement,” she said. When asked what drew her to the festival, she commented on its diversity: “It’s an independent DIY gig and I really fuck with the Kaupapa and how every year it gets more diverse with artists from overseas.”
The Forest and the Afterglow
In the afternoon of the Saturday the crowds became larger, many clumping together at The Forest stage. In amongst the tall pines, the area around The Forest Stage was adorned with scrap fabric garlands, second-hand couches and a gallery wall of vintage paintings. The Forest had plenty of room for people to get amongst the music and stretching deeper into the woods, couches and carpets were set up for people to chill out and take in the music from afar. Nearby, the skate competition at the CUBA ramp drew a crowd of over a hundred as skaters shredded to a backdrop of heavy DNB.
The crowd oozed self-expression, filled with cargo pants, jorts, and 90s vintage fits. This sense of community resonated with the artists as much as the fans. Geneva AM, a finalist for the 2026 Tate Music Prize, said, “I was so excited to come down to the South Island for this project, the attitude of the people here from the earthquakes and all coming together is beautiful. This year I was blown away by the set design and the energy of the crowd; it was touching to see people moved by the music.”
This “wholesome” mix is what keeps attendees like Georgia coming back, while vendors like Phil of Biggie Blazed Collective find the festival uniquely welcoming. “The team is so fluid, flexible and fun, and the festival reminds me of The Roots where everyone is caring of each other, I’m here because I want to be able to give my energy back,” Phil remarked. Similarly, Talitha and Charlie of Spiral Revival noted their own growth alongside the event: “As the festivals gotten bigger, so have we.”
As the sun set and the music ramped up, the weekend’s spirit was captured by a passing festival goer: “It’s a pretty mean festival aye.”.
Us from the Symbiosis team couldn’t agree more.
