Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026: A Classic Easter Weekend in the South
Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026: Spitfires, Tiger Moths and a 12 helicopter formation over Easter, the drive from Queenstown, and when the airshow returns.
Every second Easter, the skies over Wanaka fill with Spitfires, Mustangs and Tiger Moths, and tens of thousands of people come to watch. In 2026, Warbirds Over Wanaka ran over Easter weekend from 3 to 5 April at Wanaka Airport, and even a cold, cloudy weekend could not stop it being one of the great days out in the South Island.
From Queenstown it is an hour over the Crown Range, which makes it one of the best event road trips in the region and a very good reason to have your own car from Evolve Rentals.
When was Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026?
Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026 ran from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 April 2026, over Easter weekend, at Wanaka Airport. The organisers estimated around 60,000 visitors.
It is a biennial airshow, held every second Easter, so there was no show in 2027. The next one is scheduled for Easter 2028, from 14 to 16 April.
What flew at Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026?
Despite the cold and cloud, the show delivered three days of flying. The Second World War warbirds included two Spitfires, a Mustang, a TBM Avenger and three Yak fighters, among them a newly restored Yak 7B.
Some of the most memorable moments were the formations. Twelve civil helicopters flew in a mass formation, a Classics Formation brought together five Tiger Moths, a Fox Moth and a Chipmunk, the Harvards flew formation aerobatics, and the NZ Red Stars put up a 12 ship Yak 52 display. A Tiger Moth even gave a ribbon cutting demonstration, which is exactly as precise and as ridiculous as it sounds.
Two United States Air Force F22 Raptors had been scheduled to fly in from Christchurch, but they were withdrawn a week before the show. As one aviation reviewer put it afterwards, Wanaka is still the most spectacular location in the world for an airshow.
Why is Warbirds Over Wanaka such a big event?
Because of what it does for the region as much as what happens in the sky. The organisers say the 2026 airshow contributed more than $57 million to the regional economy, up 40% on 2024, and it was voted New Zealand's Most Favourite Event at the New Zealand Event Association Awards for the third time running.
The setting does a lot of the work. Aircraft flying low over the Wanaka basin, with the mountains behind them in autumn colour, is not something any other airshow can copy.
How do you get from Queenstown to Wanaka for Warbirds?
There are two ways, and both are good drives.
The Crown Range is the direct route, about 69 kilometres and an hour's drive. It crosses New Zealand's highest sealed alpine pass at 1,076 metres, with steep gradients and tight corners, and it is spectacular. The legal requirement to carry chains runs from May to October, so it does not apply at Easter, but check the road report before you set off.
The alternative runs through Cromwell on State Highway 6 and takes about an hour and 15 minutes. It is the better choice in poor weather, and it passes Highlands Motorsport Park if you want to add a stop. Our post on a day out at Highlands covers what is there.
Take one route there and the other home, and give yourself time. Airshow traffic into Wanaka is heavy, and the organisers publish directions and transport options on the Warbirds Over Wanaka website before each show.
Tips for airshow day
Dress for four seasons. The 2026 show was cold and cloudy, and an April day at Wanaka Airport can swing from frosty morning to hot afternoon, so bring layers, a hat and sunscreen.
Bring ear protection for small children. Warbirds and modern jets are loud, and a set of earmuffs turns a scary afternoon into a great one.
Arrive early and be patient leaving. With tens of thousands of people heading to one airport, the roads in and out are the busiest part of the day.
How do you make an Easter weekend of it?
Stay a night. Wanaka is a lake town with plenty to fill the days either side of the show, and for 2028 the organisers are planning a free community event on the lakefront on the Friday afternoon.
Our day trip to Wanaka Lavender Farm covers one of the easiest and prettiest stops in the area, and our guide to Easter in Queenstown has what is open and what is on back over the hill.
If you are coming from overseas, read our guide to driving in New Zealand before you tackle the Crown Range. It is a good road, but it rewards knowing what to expect.
Getting the car sorted
In Queenstown, we bring the car to you. Nobody else in Queenstown does that. Someone from our team meets you where you are staying, walks you round the car and hands over the keys, so Easter morning starts on the Crown Range rather than in a queue.
Easter is one of the busiest weekends of the year, and an airshow Easter even more so. When Warbirds returns in 2028, book your car with Evolve Rentals early.
FAQs
When was Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026?
From Friday 3 to Sunday 5 April 2026, over Easter weekend, at Wanaka Airport.
When is the next Warbirds Over Wanaka?
The airshow is held every second Easter. The next one is scheduled for 14 to 16 April 2028.
How far is Wanaka from Queenstown?
About 69 kilometres and an hour's drive via the Crown Range, or about an hour and 15 minutes via Cromwell on State Highway 6.
Do you need chains on the Crown Range?
Chains must be carried on the Crown Range from May to October. That requirement does not apply at Easter, but always check the road report before you go.