Wellington Festivals To Experience

Our pick of the best annual events in Wellington

Wellington is not just New Zealand's capital city but its capital of culture with a diverse range of festivals and events.  Every year, there are stand-out festivals that celebrate the best of Wellington and have become must-attend events. 

We're picked out a selection of some of the best Wellington Festivals to mark in your diary.  

Wellington Cup Day - January

Wellington Cup Day brings the well-dressed crowds to Trentham Racecourse for Wellington's most prestigious horse racing trophy.  The event is the centrepiece of Wellington Racing season.  More Info

Coastella - February

Held on the stunning Kapiti Coast, Coastella is a boutique music festival, celebrating a wide range of music acts, from soul, jungle-rock-blues to psych-rock jams and up-and-coming indie pop.  The music sits alongside the best of local Wellington craft beer, wine and food to keep your spirits going until the sun sets.  More Info 

NZ Fringe Festival - March

New Zealand's oldest and largest Fringe festival with more than 1000 artists coming from all around New Zealand and the globe.  The Fringe 3 week festival features cutting edge performance art housed in venues all over Wellington city.

The beginning began back in 1990, when a group of performers came home from a trip to the famous Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland and proclaimed we need some of that too! The festival quickly grew from there and established itself as a must for artists and Wellington's culture loving dwellers.  More Info 

CubaDupa - March

Every year, Wellington's trendiest inner city street, Cuba Street, hosts a two-day street festival of music, food and community.  CubaDupa celebrates the vibrant, bohemian spirit of the world's coolest little capital.  Enjoy international and local music, performing arts, art installations and plenty of great food.  All entertainment is free of charge.  More Info  
Jim Beam Homegrown - March
 
As the end of summer draws near, the season goes out with bang.  Local kiwi music gives a loud send off during this showcase of local talent across multiple stages in the picturesque central waterfront location.  Music acts include, reggae, pop and R&B music.  More Info  
Wellington Jazz Festival - June
 
The annual Wellington Jazz Festival arrives in June and showcases some of the finest musicians from across New Zealand and around the globe.  Jazz aficionados and newcomers can savour more than 100 gigs across the city.  Spread over 5 days, there's plenty of time to appreciate the sounds and spirit of jazz from Wellington's streets, cafes, bars and live music venues.  More Info 

Wellington on a Plate - August

Food lovers busiest month arrives in August.  The Wellington on a Plate festival spans a whole month with mouth-watering menus, events and competitions.  The city's restaurants, venues, laneways and carparks are host to joyful celebrations of food and drinks through exclusive festival set menus, burgers, cocktails, memorable events and pop ups.  It's a region-wide culinary takeover!  More Info 

Beervana - August

Craft beer lovers salivate every year leading up to this event.  The growing popularity of craft beers has cemented Beervana as a permanent fixture in the annual festival list.  It's the ultimate thirst quencher.

Held at Wellington Stadium over two days, Beervana is a big celebration of the magic of beer brewing.  It's the coming together of thousands of beer enthusiasts, hundreds of mind-bending festival beers, delicious food and great entertainment all in one frothy spot.  More Info 

Toast Martinborough - November

Approaching summer, November is the time to sample fine wine, food and music in the open air at the Toast Martinborough Festival.  Held in the pretty surroundings of the famous wine-growing village of Martinborough, it's a great excuse to escape the city for a fun day out in the sun (hopefully).  More Info 

Other:

New Zealand Festival - February/March

On even-numbered years, Wellington welcomes the world's most outstanding artists, performers, musicians and writers for three incredible weeks of imagination and inspiration at New Zealand Festival.  More Info