Arts – Wellington News

Two writers in conversation on stage before an audience at the Verb Readers & Writers Festival.

Verb Readers & Writers Festival returns to Wellington July 23, 2026 Verb Readers & Writers Festival will return to Wellington from September 25 to 27, bringing more than 20 events and over 50 writers and artists… ...

Wellington College pupils perform a dramatic scene from Make Your Mirror Be Me, surrounded by glowing green light tubes.

Wellington College pupils bound for Edinburgh Fringe July 21, 2026 Eleven Wellington College pupils will perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August, presenting an original production developed through months of rehearsal and creative collaboration.… ...

Three people stand together outside a wooden building, with two wearing matching patterned outfits and flower head garlands.

Wellington finalists announced for 2026 community awards July 19, 2026 Eighty-one Wellington City groups, organisations and community initiatives have been named finalists in the 2026 Wellington Airport Regional Community Awards. The awards recognise volunteers and… ...

A teenage pianist seated at a grand piano, smiling and looking to the side

Wellington concert marks teen pianist’s NZSO solo debut July 17, 2026 Sixteen-year-old pianist Shan Liu will make his New Zealand Symphony Orchestra solo debut in Wellington this month. The Year 12 student will perform Prokofiev’s Piano… ...

Portrait of newly appointed New Zealand Fringe Festival director Luke Eisemann against a dark background.

Wellington’s Fringe Festival gets new director July 16, 2026 Creative Capital Arts Trust has appointed Luke Eisemann as the new director of the New Zealand Fringe Festival. Eisemann has worked with the festival since… ...

Principal Kihiro Kusukami supports First Artist Catarina Estevez Collins in a red ballet costume, beside a black-and-white archival image of a ballerina performing on pointe.

RNZB winter season honours ballet trailblazers in Wellington July 14, 2026 The Royal New Zealand Ballet will bring its 2026 Winter Season to Wellington’s St James Theatre for four performances from Thursday 16 July to Saturday… ...

Alt text: All Blacks players perform the haka in black jerseys before a rugby match.

All Blacks & Matariki events to draw crowds to capital July 10, 2026 Wellington is preparing for a busy Matariki long weekend, with a sold-out All Blacks test and major waterfront events expected to draw thousands of people… ...

The Bucket Tree in Tawa, a large macrocarpa trimmed into the shape of an upturned bucket.

Tawa’s Bucket Tree Wins National Title July 9, 2026 Tawa’s iconic Bucket Tree has been named New Zealand Tree of the Year 2026. The tree won the national title after strong public support during… ...

Wellington Raw Comedy Quest returns to Fringe Bar July 8, 2026 Wellington’s premier open mic comedy competition returns this month, giving new comedians the chance to test their material in front of a live audience. The… ...

Dreamgirls Art Collective members pose beside a car in front of a colourful Matariki-inspired mural in central Wellington.

Dreamgirls mural brings Matariki storytelling to Wellington streetscape July 7, 2026 A new public artwork celebrating Matariki has been created in central Wellington through a collaboration between Dreamgirls Art Collective and jewellery brand Pandora. The large-scale… ...

Collage of people using Wellington’s central library, including reading areas, Makerspaces, computers and archive material.

Wellington central library hits half a million visits July 3, 2026 Wellington’s reopened central library, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, has reached half a million visits since reopening in March, bringing more people into the… ...

Three plated dishes from Wellington restaurants recognised in the Michelin Guide, including a fish dish, a meat dish and a dessert being served with sauce.

Wellington restaurants shine in first Michelin Guide July 2, 2026 Three Wellington restaurants have received one Michelin Star each in the first Michelin Guide for New Zealand. Ortega Fish Shack, Logan Brown and Jano Bistro… ...

CubaDupa 2027 calls for artists July 1, 2026 CubaDupa is calling for artists to help bring its 2027 street festival to life in Wellington. Artist Expressions of Interest are now open for bold,… ...

Poster for Weavers of Te Ataarangi exhibition at Thistle Hall, showing people with woven artworks and exhibition details.

Weavers of Te Ataarangi opens at Thistle Hall June 29, 2026 A special Matariki exhibition honouring five decades of te reo Māori revitalisation has opened at Thistle Hall. Weavers of Te Ataarangi features work by current… ...

Alt text: Promotional poster for author Asher Emanuel's book The Valley, featuring the book cover alongside a portrait of the author and details of a signing event.

Author to sign copies of new crime and justice book in Karori June 18, 2026 Readers will have the chance to meet journalist and author Asher Emanuel when he visits Marsden Books in Karori later this month to sign copies… ...

Te Rua Archives New Zealand building in Pipitea, Wellington, viewed at dusk. The large modern archive facility features a copper-toned lower façade and glass upper levels glowing with interior lights, with pedestrians and traffic visible along the street.

Wellington’s Te Rua Archives named New Zealand’s top civic, health and arts property June 18, 2026 Wellington’s Te Rua Archives New Zealand has been recognised as the country’s leading civic, health and arts property, taking out a major honour at the… ...

Members of Drax Project pose inside Wellington Town Hall, standing beneath the venue’s ornate restored ceiling ahead of the grand opening concert in February 2027.

Drax Project and Bret McKenzie to open Wellington Town Hall June 17, 2026 A landmark moment in Wellington’s cultural story is set to take centre stage when Drax Project & Friends headline the Grand Opening of Te Whare… ...

Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, Wellington’s central library, lit at dusk with its distinctive nikau palm columns visible outside.

Central library wins three architecture awards June 14, 2026 Wellington’s central library, Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui, has won three honours at the 2026 Wellington Regional Architecture Awards, taking out the Heritage and… ...

Members of the NZSO National Youth Orchestra rehearse with French horns and brass instruments ahead of their ocean-themed La Mer performances celebrating WWF-New Zealand's 50th anniversary.

Youth orchestra celebrates ocean and conservation milestone in Wellington June 11, 2026 The NZSO National Youth Orchestra will celebrate WWF-New Zealand’s 50th anniversary with a special ocean-themed concert in Wellington next month, bringing together some of the… ...

Promotional graphic for Wellington Community Pools and Active Wellington winter activities. A large cartoon orca splashes in the centre beneath the headline "Splash Bash pool party". Surrounding images show a cup of coffee promoting Laps & Latte, cyclists on a group ride, a bike repair workshop, a child at a holiday programme, and a pool staff member. Dates, times and booking information for community recreation activities are included.

Active winter events keep Wellington moving June 5, 2026 Wellington families, swimmers and cyclists have a busy month ahead, with low-cost recreation events, guided rides and school holiday activities running across the city in… ...

Promotional image for Waenga showing eight cast members against a black background. A young woman wearing a red scarf stands in the foreground holding an identification card, while other characters, including police officers, a lawyer and young adults, look towards the camera.

Waenga opens new Wellington arts venue May 31, 2026 A new theatre production exploring power, justice and civic participation will open Wellington City Council's new central-city arts space next month before embarking on a… ...

Performer holds two flaming torches beneath a burning ring structure at dusk beside the water.

Lōemis adds music and food to midwinter ball May 25, 2026 Lōemis Festival has announced its final acts and events for 2026, adding more music, cuisine pop-ups, workshops and a Midwinter Solstice Ball to its two-week… ...

Exterior of the building at 3 Market Lane in central Wellington, the new home of Toi Aro arts centre.

Wellington artists move into Market Lane centre May 22, 2026 Toi Pōneke Arts Centre will move to 3 Market Lane and reopen in late June as Toi Aro, giving Wellington artists a new central city… ...

Montage of climate innovation scenes, including farmland, marine conservation, sustainable packaging, research activity and a coastal clean-up team.

Victoria University elevates Kiwi climate ideas May 20, 2026 Six New Zealand climate solutions have been nominated by Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, for the 2026 Earthshot Prize, recognising local work to… ...

DOC EDGE Film Festival brings World Premieres to Wellington (May 19, 2026) Doc Edge Festival will return to Wellington next month, bringing a selection of documentary films from its 2026 programme to The Roxy Cinema from July… ...

Wellington celebrates 70 years of Thai friendship (May 15, 2026) A major Thai cultural festival will bring food, performances and traditional arts to central Wellington on Saturday as Thailand and New Zealand celebrate 70 years… ...

Dome film festival lands in Wellington (May 13, 2026) Australasia’s only festival dedicated to fulldome cinema is coming to Wellington this week, with audiences set to experience immersive storytelling under the dome at Space… ...

Comedy and music stars rally for Wellington flood relief (May 6, 2026) Some of New Zealand’s biggest comedy and music names will take the stage in Wellington this month for a major fundraiser supporting flood-affected residents. Pōneke… ...

LEGO Star Wars exhibition to debut in Wellington (May 5, 2026) A major international exhibition featuring millions of LEGO bricks and iconic Star Wars scenes will make its world debut in Wellington this winter. LEGO Star… ...

Kiwi legend Dai Henwood to host Comedy Gala in Wellington (April 30, 2026) Kiwi comedian Dai Henwood will host the opening night of the NZ International Comedy Festival in Wellington next month, bringing a line-up of local and… ...

Fat Freddy’s Drop to honour founding member in Wellington (April 30, 2026) Fat Freddy’s Drop will return to the stage in May with three Wellington performances celebrating their debut album and honouring founding member Chris Faiumu, known… ...

Brett Perkins to play one night Wellington show (April 27, 2026) American-born, Copenhagen-based singer-songwriter Brett Perkins will perform a one-night show in Wellington on Friday, May 1, marking his only appearance in the capital. The all-ages… ...

Pink Floyd Experience brings The Wall to Wellington (April 17, 2026) The Pink Floyd Experience will bring its live tribute to The Wall to Wellington on May 9, with a show at TSB Arena. The tribute… ...

Romeo and Juliet takes centre stage in Wellington (April 13, 2026) A classic love story will be brought to life through music when the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performs Romeo and Juliet in Wellington this winter.… ...

Wellington film society draws crowds back to cinema (April 13, 2026) Nearly 2,000 Wellingtonians are spending their Monday nights at the movies, as the Wellington Film Society continues to grow its audience at The Embassy Theatre.… ...

ULTRA festival set for Wellington debut (April 13, 2026) ULTRA New Zealand will be held in Wellington for the first time, with the international music festival set to take over the waterfront in April.… ...

Wellington hosts WOW return, tickets on sale (April 13, 2026) 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… ...

Wellington turns out for library reopening (April 13, 2026) Wellington Central Library has reopened, bringing large crowds back to the city’s main library for the first time since 2019. The central library reopened over… ...

Te Ngākau Civic Square reopens, celebrates heritage, nature (April 12, 2026) Te Ngākau Civic Square will reopen to the public from Saturday 14 March, marking a major milestone in the capital’s civic precinct redevelopment and the… ...

Brass band championships bring music to capital (April 11, 2026) More than 1000 musicians are set to fill Wellington with sound as the National Brass Band Championships return to the city from April 8 to… ...

St Patrick’s College jazz band wins gold award (April 11, 2026) A student jazz group from St Patrick's College, Wellington has taken out a top honour at a national competition, earning praise from judges for their… ...

Bic Runga, NZSO performance enchants Wellington crowd (April 8, 2026) Wellington music fans packed the Michael Fowler Centre on 2 April, as Bic Runga took the stage with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra for a… ...

Easter weekend market brings community together in Linden (April 3, 2026) Linden is inviting people to a family-friendly market this Easter weekend, with local organisers promising a lively mix of stalls, food and community connection. The… ...

Pātaka hosts dual Fred Graham exhibitions (February 24, 2026) Pātaka Art + Museum is hosting two significant exhibitions honouring the life and work of renowned Māori sculptor and carver Fred Graham, offering Porirua residents… ...