Brandwave

Auckland Writers Festival vs Nelson Arts Festival:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Nelson Arts Festival had more branded searches than Auckland Writers Festival among arts and culture festivals in New Zealand. Nelson Arts Festival had about 480 branded searches, while Auckland Writers Festival had 260. Nelson Arts Festival made up 2.2% of all arts and culture festival searches we track, and Auckland Writers Festival accounted for 1.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about arts and culture festivals, Nelson Arts Festival appeared in two of the five answers and Auckland Writers Festival in one. Nelson Arts Festival was mentioned before Auckland Writers Festival in every answer that named either.

Among arts and culture festivals in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Nelson Arts Festival, about 85% more searches than Auckland Writers Festival

Nelson Arts Festival 480 searchesAuckland Writers Festival 260 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Nelson Arts Festival, mentioned in 2 of 5 answers, Auckland Writers Festival in 1

Nelson Arts Festival in 2 of 5Auckland Writers Festival in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Nelson Arts Festival, named ahead of Auckland Writers Festival in 2 of 2 answers

Nelson Arts Festival first in 2Auckland Writers Festival never first

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Top arts and culture festivals in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Nelson Arts 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. Auckland Writers Festival was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Nelson Arts Festival was listed before Auckland Writers Festival in every answer that named either.

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

See every answer about arts and culture festivals

5 answers

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 Auckland Writers Festival or Nelson Arts Festival more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Auckland Writers Festival and Nelson Arts Festival 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.

Auckland Writers Festival and Nelson Arts Festival among arts and culture festivals in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Nelson Arts Festival, Auckland Writers Festival. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthWorld of WearableArtWOMAD AotearoaPasifika FestivalTe MatatiniWhānau Mārama NZ International Film FestivalNelson Arts FestivalCubaDupaAuckland Arts FestivalAuckland Writers FestivalAotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts
Oct 202531.3%4.8%21.8%9.1%7.3%11.8%4.5%5.5%3.6%0.27%
Nov 202515.8%6.4%25%17.1%7.9%1.4%9.7%10%5.3%1.4%
Dec 202516.4%11.6%17.8%12.8%8.4%0.71%13%13.7%4.8%0.89%
Jan 202615.7%7.8%15.6%8.6%6.3%0.88%24%13.4%6.3%1.4%
Feb 202615.2%3.7%19.4%8.6%3.4%0.48%29.5%13.5%5.2%0.91%
Mar 20265.7%1.9%22.9%3.7%1.7%0.22%42.4%10.5%10.9%0.14%
Apr 202622.6%3.9%11.1%13.2%7.4%0.62%4.3%4.4%32.3%0.21%
May 202618.9%3.8%9.4%9.4%10.8%0.45%2%2%43.1%0.1%
Jun 202624.5%5.4%14.8%12.5%32.7%1.3%2.6%2.6%3.6%0.08%
Jul 202613.1%8.2%5.2%3.3%66.2%1%0.89%1.1%0.95%0.03%
Aug 202617.5%5.7%6.6%6.6%57.6%2.5%1.4%0.94%1%0.03%
Sep 202665.3%9%8.6%7.3%3.5%2.2%1.5%1.2%1.2%0.09%

How has the Auckland Writers Festival and Nelson Arts Festival comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand arts and culture festivals in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Auckland Writers Festival fell from 8th to 9th among arts and culture festivals in New Zealand.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Nelson Arts Festival in New Zealand fell 63.1% over 12 measured months, from 1.3K to 480 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Auckland Writers Festival’s and Nelson Arts Festival’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.

Auckland Writers Festival

3 branded search terms

  • auckland writers festival
  • auckland writers festival tickets
  • aucklandwritersfestival

Nelson Arts Festival

1 branded search term

  • nelson arts festival

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among arts and culture festivals

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