Fieldays 2026 Traffic Information

Changes for the 2026 Event

For 2026, we are making one change to help reduce wider network congestion during the morning peak from the 2025 event.

This year we will be implementing from the start of the event a “No Right Turn” restriction from Raynes Road onto SH21 (Airport Road) during the morning period.

This restriction was introduced part‑way through last year’s event after the first day, in response to queueing pressures created on Airport Road. Well‑meaning drivers were allowing vehicles to merge from Raynes Road, which extended delays for all travellers on Airport Road back toward Tamahere. Once the restriction was put in place, the Tamahere Interchange flowed significantly better for the remainder of the event. Based on that improvement, we are applying the restriction from Day 1 this year.

An overview map of the area and the planned traffic flow management is included below.

Expected Traffic Patterns

Historically, Wednesday generates the highest level of unexpected congestion, largely due to regular commuters forgetting the event is underway and many attendees travelling to the event for the first time. On Thursday and Friday, although total attendance is higher, we typically see less disruption as commuters adjust their travel times or use alternative routes. We also see fewer exhibitor vehicle movements on these days.

Peak congestion periods are generally:

• Morning: 8:00am – 9:30am
• Afternoon: from 4:00pm, increasing after 5:00pm, and easing from approximately 6:15pm

To provide context, the peak traffic volumes moving to and from Fieldays are comparable to the volumes crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge during its busiest periods. Some delay is therefore expected, and our team will continue to prioritise safety and efficient movement for everyone around the Mystery Creek Events Centre.

Observations from Last Year’s Event

Last year we observed a noticeable improvement in how quickly the wider network returned to normal during both the morning and afternoon peaks. Morning congestion cleared earlier than in previous years, with general traffic flows stabilising sooner across the surrounding network.

In the afternoon, we achieved a milestone not seen before: on the Friday of the event, traffic leaving Fieldays cleared early enough that our team began packing down the temporary traffic management by 6:00pm. Only a few years ago, congestion on the Friday evening peak regularly extended well past 7:00pm, so this improvement reflects the effectiveness of the updated traffic patterns and the cooperation of road users.

Live Information and Updates

As with previous years, we will provide live online updates throughout the event, including:

• Status of road restrictions
• Estimated travel times
• Real‑time congestion information

This helps road users make informed decisions and supports the distribution of traffic across the network.