This year's WOMAD festival in New Plymouth grew by 6% compared to last year, mostly because more Aucklanders attending.
The annual World of Music and Dance festival is in its ninth year and is held annually over three days in March.
Taranaki arts festival chief executive Suzanne Porter said the growth in audience numbers was predominantly from the Auckland market.
She estimates there were 16,000 people at the event on the Saturday, its busiest-ever day.
An economic impact report has calculated the latest festival brought $14.5 million into the region's economy, up more than $3 million from the previous year.
