Wellington is heading into a busy few months, with festivals, exhibitions, new venues and major concerts scheduled across the city through to early 2027.
Festivals take over September
Great Sounds Great will kick things off on September 5, with 40 New Zealand artists performing across 10 Te Aro venues in one night.
The TAHI NZ Festival of Solo Performance follows from September 9 to 19, featuring more than 25 local and international performers.
Later in the month, the Verb Readers & Writers Festival returns from September 23 to 27, bringing writers from New Zealand and overseas together for five days of talks, workshops and discussions.
The Wellington Jazz Festival will celebrate its 30th year from October 14 to 18, with more than 100 gigs planned across the capital.
Major exhibitions open
City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi will reopen on October 10 after being closed for three years for strengthening and renovation work.
The reopening exhibition will feature British visual artist Cornelia Parker and run until March 7 next year.
Te Papa has also opened He Toi Whakairo: The Art of Māori Carving, bringing together more than 140 taonga spanning seven centuries of whakairo.
Many of the works are being displayed publicly for the first time, and the exhibition will remain at Te Papa for five years.
Concert calendar stretches into 2027
High Tide returns to Waitangi Park on November 7, while the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will conclude its 2026 season at the Michael Fowler Centre later that month.
Two major concerts are already confirmed for next year.
System Of A Down and Faith No More will perform at Hnry Stadium on February 7, followed by Drax Project, Bret McKenzie and The State Highway Wonders at the reopening of Wellington Town Hall on February 20 after its 13-year closure.
New places around the city
Wellington has also gained a string of new cafes, restaurants and bars across the central city, Mount Cook and Berhampore.
The Welly Night Market has moved to 151 Victoria Street, while Willis Street has gained two new bookshops, XO Book Co and Aurelia Books. Unity Books has also expanded its existing store.
