Tickets for the 2026 World of WearableArt show have gone on sale, with the event set to return to Wellington this spring.
The show, titled GLO!, will run from 17 September to 4 October at TSB Arena, transforming the waterfront venue into a series of themed performance spaces.
World of WearableArt chief executive Meg Williams said the concept centres on the idea of creative energy expressed through wearable art and live performance.
“Everything in the world carries a special energy; what we’re playfully calling GLO!,” she said.
“There’ll be fire and flame, unreal nature and performance that seemingly defies physics.”
The production will feature six themed sections, including Metallic, Open, Aotearoa, Avant-garde, Kinetic and the returning Bizarre Bra category.
The Bizarre Bra section will appear for the first time since 2023. First introduced in 1995, the category has become a crowd favourite, known for unconventional designs using everyday materials.
Williams said its return had been driven by audience demand.
“The results are unexpected, witty, camp and truly bizarre,” she said.
International creative director Brian Burke will return for his fifth year leading the show’s production. His previous work includes major global events such as the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix opening and closing ceremonies.
Burke said the 2026 concept responds to a growing demand for connection and creative expression.
“People want to feel connected again to creativity, inspiration, and what makes them happy,” he said.
Designed as a live experience, the show will move between large-scale spectacle and more intimate moments.
The annual event brings designers from New Zealand and around the world to Wellington, showcasing wearable art through a staged performance.
The 2026 World of WearableArt show runs from 17 September to 4 October at TSB Arena. Tickets are available now through the official World of WearableArt website.
