World of WearableArt will return to Wellington next month, bringing more than 100 finalist garments from around the world to the stage for the 2026 WOW Show, GLO!
The annual spectacle runs from September 17 to October 4 at TSB Arena, combining the international wearable art competition with live music, dance, aerial performance and large-scale theatrical production.
This year’s show is being led by executive creative director Brian Burke and show director Malia Johnston and will feature six themed sections, or “worlds”.
According to World of WearableArt, the 2026 production will range from fire-forged metal and explosive movement to playful New Zealand nostalgia.
One of WOW’s best-known categories, Bizarre Bra, is also returning for the first time since 2023.
The category dates back to 1995 and has produced hundreds of unconventional wearable-art creations during its history.
The 2026 show will also feature newly engineered aerial apparatus designed specifically for GLO!, allowing performers to move through TSB Arena in new ways.
Featured performers include Jason Chasland, also known as Leather Lungs, opera singers Jasmine Jessen and Katherine Winitana, performer Pascal Ackermann and dance collective Shifting Centre.
The finalist designers come from a wide range of backgrounds, with their garments drawing on personal histories, cultural traditions, engineering, performance, fashion and fine art.
WOW will also extend beyond TSB Arena during the season.
A Bizarre Bra collection is due to be displayed at Wellington Airport ahead of the show, while the Bee in the City sculpture trail begins on September 14.
The LEGO Star Wars exhibition at Tākina will also be running during the WOW season.
A separate Taste of WOW dining experience is scheduled at the InterContinental Wellington from September 16 to October 4, combining food with wearable-art displays and performance.
World of WearableArt has become one of the major events on Wellington’s annual calendar, drawing designers, performers and visitors to the capital.
GLO! opens at TSB Arena on Thursday, September 17.
