Ten-time Grammy nominated artist Diplo will headline the 2023 Bay Dreams festival.
Organisers have announced a raft of international names as part of the first line-up for the summer 2023 festival event, to be held in Mount Maunganui and Nelson in January 2023.
The annual event was cancelled in 2022, with organisers citing COVID-19 uncertainty and problems with managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) for international artists.
But now organiser Mitch Lowe says the upcoming summer event will be a "festival experience that is talked about" long after it's finished.
Thirty-thousand people are expected to attend the Mount Maunganui event, with 50,000 due to party in Nelson next year.
Diplo is best known as a founding member of Major Lazer and has also collaborated with some of the world's biggest artists, including Dua Lipa, Justin Bieber and Sia. He has also just released his solo album, self-titled Diplo, which features the global hit 'Don't Forget My Love'.
Joining Diplo will be Australian indie rock band Sticky Fingers, who will return to the festival after a four-year hiatus, and English drum and bass act Hybrid Minds.
Rounding out the lineup are rapper Denzel Curry, Indiana rap icon Freddie Gibbs, OneFour, Elderbrook, Bou and artist and producer SG Lewis.
A wealth of local talent will also be taking the stage in Mount Maunganui and Nelson this January, with local acts including Elipsa, Tori Levett, Ashez, Repair, Lil Bubblegum and DJ Sirvere, plus crowd favourites Beccie B, LMC, Ana Agius, Jess Rhodes, Kaylr, Kid Rey, Button B, Indecisive, K Mully, Persona, Ponz, Rayne, So&So, Twofold, Hail B2B Yams, Savvy, Suune, EReal Estate and NFX.
Lowe says it's great to be back after a rocky couple of years for the live entertainment industry.
"We have been through many changes the past couple years and have grown in even more ways as a company. We've pushed the boundaries on shows throughout the year, and we will be taking all of our learnings and implementing them at Bay Dreams 2023, to make sure it's a festival experience that is talked about long after Diplo plays his final tune."
Bay Dreams 2023 will be held at Trustpower Baypark in Mount Maunganui on January 3 and at Trafalgar Park in Nelson on January 5, 2023.
A "24 hour ticket deal" for Bay Dreams starts on July 27 at 7pm.
