Electric Avenue has turned a sellout into a smaller local second chance, with 4000 extra tickets to be released for people living in Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri.

The additional capacity follows an agreement that lets the festival use part of an adjoining Hagley Golf Course fairway. Organisers say moving some festival infrastructure into that space will free up more room for fans inside the main Hagley Park site.

The change lifts the event's daily capacity to about 50,000 for the 26 and 27 February 2027 festival. The wider bill has already pulled national attention, with Calvin Harris and Kings of Leon named among the headliners.

The local-only release is the practical part for Christchurch readers. The first ticket allocations disappeared within minutes, leaving many residents watching a home-city event become inaccessible almost as soon as it opened.

Managing director Callam Mitchell has framed the extra release as a way to recognise the people who live around the festival and have supported its growth. Full purchase details, including eligibility checks and timing, are still to be announced.

The decision also shows the pressure major Christchurch events now carry. Success brings visitor spend and national visibility, but it also forces organisers, council and nearby users of public land to solve crowding, access and neighbourhood questions before the gates open.