Pasifika Festival vs WOMAD Aotearoa:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Pasifika Festival and WOMAD Aotearoa were level in searches among arts and culture festivals in New Zealand, with an estimated 1.9K versus 2K branded searches, at 8.6% and 9% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about arts and culture festivals, WOMAD Aotearoa appeared in three of the five answers and Pasifika Festival in two. WOMAD Aotearoa was mentioned before Pasifika Festival in two out of three answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
WOMAD Aotearoa and Pasifika Festival are searched for about as often as each other.
Who does AI mention more?
WOMAD Aotearoa, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Pasifika Festival in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
WOMAD Aotearoa, named ahead of Pasifika Festival in 2 of 3 answers
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Top arts and culture festivals in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, WOMAD Aotearoa was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Pasifika Festival was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. WOMAD Aotearoa was listed before Pasifika Festival in two out of three answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Auckland Arts Festival4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
WOMAD Aotearoa3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Te Matatini3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Pasifika Festival2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Nelson Arts Festival2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
World of WearableArt1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Whānau Mārama NZ International Film Festival1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Auckland Writers Festival1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
CubaDupa0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about arts and culture festivals
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which arts and culture festival should I book in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best arts and culture festivals in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best arts and culture festival in New Zealand for live performances?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“film festival nz”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“arts festival nz”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.
Is Pasifika Festival or WOMAD Aotearoa more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Pasifika Festival and WOMAD Aotearoa by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten arts and culture festivals we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for WOMAD Aotearoa, Pasifika Festival. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | World of WearableArt | WOMAD Aotearoa | Pasifika Festival | Te Matatini | Whānau Mārama NZ International Film Festival | Nelson Arts Festival | CubaDupa | Auckland Arts Festival | Auckland Writers Festival | Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 31.3% | 4.8% | 21.8% | 9.1% | 7.3% | 11.8% | 4.5% | 5.5% | 3.6% | 0.27% |
| Nov 2025 | 15.8% | 6.4% | 25% | 17.1% | 7.9% | 1.4% | 9.7% | 10% | 5.3% | 1.4% |
| Dec 2025 | 16.4% | 11.6% | 17.8% | 12.8% | 8.4% | 0.71% | 13% | 13.7% | 4.8% | 0.89% |
| Jan 2026 | 15.7% | 7.8% | 15.6% | 8.6% | 6.3% | 0.88% | 24% | 13.4% | 6.3% | 1.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 15.2% | 3.7% | 19.4% | 8.6% | 3.4% | 0.48% | 29.5% | 13.5% | 5.2% | 0.91% |
| Mar 2026 | 5.7% | 1.9% | 22.9% | 3.7% | 1.7% | 0.22% | 42.4% | 10.5% | 10.9% | 0.14% |
| Apr 2026 | 22.6% | 3.9% | 11.1% | 13.2% | 7.4% | 0.62% | 4.3% | 4.4% | 32.3% | 0.21% |
| May 2026 | 18.9% | 3.8% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 10.8% | 0.45% | 2% | 2% | 43.1% | 0.1% |
| Jun 2026 | 24.5% | 5.4% | 14.8% | 12.5% | 32.7% | 1.3% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 3.6% | 0.08% |
| Jul 2026 | 13.1% | 8.2% | 5.2% | 3.3% | 66.2% | 1% | 0.89% | 1.1% | 0.95% | 0.03% |
| Aug 2026 | 17.5% | 5.7% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 57.6% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 0.94% | 1% | 0.03% |
| Sep 2026 | 65.3% | 9% | 8.6% | 7.3% | 3.5% | 2.2% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.09% |
How has the Pasifika Festival and WOMAD Aotearoa comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: WOMAD Aotearoa took it in July 2026, Pasifika Festival took it in August 2026, WOMAD Aotearoa took it in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Pasifika Festival’s share of searches among arts and culture festivals in New Zealand moved from 21.8% to 8.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.4K to 1.9K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, WOMAD Aotearoa’s share of searches among arts and culture festivals in New Zealand moved from 4.8% to 9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 530 to 2K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand arts and culture festivals in September 2026?
2 changes

In September 2026, WOMAD Aotearoa overtook Whānau Mārama NZ International Film Festival and 2 others to rank 2nd among arts and culture festivals in New Zealand, with 9% of the searches.
In September 2026, Pasifika Festival gained share of searches among arts and culture festivals in New Zealand, from 6.6% to 8.6%.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Pasifika Festival’s and WOMAD Aotearoa’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Pasifika Festival
1 branded search term
- pasifika festival
WOMAD Aotearoa
2 branded search terms
- womad
- womad nz
Other head-to-heads among arts and culture festivals

World of WearableArt vs WOMAD Aotearoa: compare popularity
World of WearableArt vs Pasifika Festival: compare popularity
World of WearableArt vs Te Matatini: compare popularity
World of WearableArt vs Whānau Mārama NZ International Film Festival: compare popularity
WOMAD Aotearoa vs Te Matatini: compare popularity
WOMAD Aotearoa vs Whānau Mārama NZ International Film Festival: compare popularity

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