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

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

Warbirds Over Wānaka event manager Andrena Davis received the award on behalf of the airshow - which won 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,” Andrena said.

“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.”

Read more: Best Warbirds ever: Organisers blown away by feedback

Andrena said 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,” she said.

“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 Wānaka in 2026.”

The next Warbirds Over Wānaka International Airshow will be held at Easter 2026.

PHOTO: Geoff Marks