This year’s hugely successful Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow, has been crowned New Zealand’s Favourite Event for the second time.

New Zealand’s premier airshow took out the People’s Choice award at this week’s New Zealand Event Association Gala Awards Dinner in Palmerston North.

Warbirds Over Wanaka Event Manager Andrena Davis received the award on behalf of the airshow which took out the same award the last time the event was held in 2018.

“This was the award we most wanted to win because it’s a public vote and we simply wouldn’t have such an amazing event without our fans throughout New Zealand and around the world who continue to support us in so many different ways,” says Andrena.

“We were thrilled when we won this award in 2018 but because of Covid we were not able to defend our title until this year.  But the six-year gap was no barrier – we had the most successful airshow ever and now we’ve gone back-to-back with this major award, we couldn’t be happier.”

“The fact we were up against some other amazing events held over the past year just makes the award even more special.”

Andrena says the award is really for the hundreds of people who make the airshow happen.  “From all the performers and exhibitors to our wonderful volunteers and management crew it’s a real team effort.”

“People keep asking us how we can top this year’s airshow but we are already very excited about some amazing new acts we are looking to bring to Wanaka in 2026.”