What’s On In Christchurch In 2026
Alice Rich
Contributor & Former Editor | Urban List NZ
From fresh beats to theatrical masterpieces, sporting firsts and festivals so dope you’ll want to shake a croissant with joy (not joking, there’s an event of that, too), Ōtautahi Christchurch 2026 lineup is looking mighty fine indeed.
Here are the best events happening in Christchurch in March, April and May 2026, with more to come.
For the first time in 125 years, the MICHELIN Guide is coming to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2026. If it’s worth a special journey for Michelin, it’s worth one for you too. Start planning your trip and discover flavours that tell our story... now.
Never miss a new opening or upcoming event in Christchurch again—get us in your inbox here.
Jump to:
- What’s On In Christchurch In March 2026
- What’s On In Christchurch In April 2026
- What’s On In Christchurch In May 2026
What's On In Christchurch In March 2026
Burger Nation 2026
25 February-29 March | Various locations
Bun buffs assemble, come April there'll be just four burgers to rule them all: Burger Nation has entered the kitchen. The spicy comp will see competitors coming in hot (fresh off the fryer, in fact) with burger flippers across the motu vying for the highly coveted title of best meat, chicken, seafood, and plant-based burgers in all the land. The time has come to put your burger where your mouth is and vote for your favourites. Head to Burger Nation's website to get matched to hot burgs in your area, then get feastin'.
Formosa Festival 2026
1 March | Great Hall - The Arts Centre | Free
Once upon a time Taiwan was occupied by the Portuguese who dubbed the island ‘Formosa’ (which translates as ‘beautiful). The Formosa Festival is a free, family-friendly shindig that celebrates the beauty of Taiwanese food, music, film and culture, with a market, games, and food stalls.
Swannanoa Country Fair 2026
1 March | Swannanoa Domain | Koha
Okay, so it isn’t exactly in Christchurch but a 30 minute trip up north will land you and the fam at the Swannanoa Country Fair. An annual fundraiser for Te Koromiko Swannanoa School, the kids will be stoked with the art and crafts, kai and games. Plus, you might just spy a treasure amongst the market stalls.
Ōtautahi Pride Festival 2026
1-29 March | Various locations | Varies
The Ōtautahi Pride Festival kicks off with a Pride Parade and Picnic on 1 March and finishes with a Rainbow Families Aotearoa meet up and closing picnic on 29 March. In between times you’ll find everything from bitchin’ bingo to sports socials and queer community yoga. There’s even the chance to attend a rainbow fundraiser where sultry burlesque meets a cheeky group clay sculpting. Scope the full lineup here.
North Canterbury Wine & Food Festival
8 March | Glenmark Domain | $30-50
A petite, perfectly formed celebration for the love of vino and good eats, the Wine & Food Festival is a smorgasbord of the best chefs, bakers, makers and food trucks in Canterbury. All about sustainability, festival goers are encouraged to BYO reusable coffee cups, an empty water bottle, and a reusable bag to pack full of festival goodies. And if you’re sober driving, you can score a discounted ticket (cute!).
The Rocky Horror Show
11-15 March | Isaac Theatre Royal | $62.50-$132.50
Warm up your hips, the Rocky Horror Show is coming to Christchurch and you know you won’t be able to resist a round of the Time Warp. For the uninitiated, the rock ‘n’ roll musical is a raucous, irreverent production that continues to delight audiences year after year.
TwoMinds Festival
13-15 March | Spencer Beach Top 10 Holiday Park | Varies
Look, I was aiming for an effortlessly cool vibe when I set out to write this inclusion. After all, the TwoMinds lineup is dope, with the likes of Messie, Halfqueen and just about a billion other artists I’d consider selling a kidney to go see. But then I discovered the festival includes a morning bakery rave they’re calling Wake ‘n Bakery and now it’s taking every ounce of willpower to not scream at you in caps. Just get a ticket and plz, for the love of all things holy, when you’re soundbathing in pure sonic sorcery, wave a Grizzly hot cross bun for me.
Hedge Fest
21 March | 224 Rangiora Woodend Road | Free-$100
Not a competition where arborists are unleashed on unsuspecting hedges (although I would pay to see that), Hedge Fest is a pumping, sexy, adrenaline-soaked festival of BMX, mountain bike and freestyle motorcross, all set to freshly spun sets by SUUNE, Bad Birds, Tommy D & Jez, plus live music by Lemon Ridge.
From North to South: It's Time To Plan Your Bucket-List NZ Dining Itinerary
Or should we say eat-inerary.
.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&h=52){kind=logo}
Aotearoa New Zealand is a destination worthy of a special journey, and for the first time, that’s now being globally recognised and awarded with the arrival of the MICHELIN guide.
From locally-sourced produce to award-winning wines—it’s time to put Aotearoa under the spotlight, showcasing the magic that happens when multi-cultural culinary creativity meets incredible produce grown in Aotearoa, thanks to 100% Pure New Zealand, we’re shining a light on some of the best must-eats across the motu.
Check out our culinary itinerary for the ultimate feast in Aotearoa here.
What's On In Christchurch In April 2026
Christchurch Marathon
12 April | Hagley Park | $20-$155
As someone who is willing to run in only very specific circumstances (a.k.a. the zombie apocalypse), watching my loved ones become gripped, inexplicably, by the urge to run a marathon is rather unsettling. But if you, too, are on that wavelength, you’ll probably definitely want to consider the Christchurch Marathon, half, 10km, or youth 3km and kids mile if you’re adjacent to kids with excess energy to burn.
Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
23 April-9 May | Isaac Theatre Royal | $73-128
Roald Dahl’s iconic tale of Charlie Bucket winning a golden ticket to tour a mysterious chocolate factory is being brought to life on stage by Showbiz Christchurch. Snap up a ticket and prepare for a hefty hit of nostalgia with songs like Pure Imagination, The Candy Man and I’ve Got A Golden Ticket, plus new music from the folks who wrote the songs for Hairspray.
Super Rugby Pacific Super Round 2026
24-26 April | One New Zealand Stadium | varies
In a highly-anticipated New Zealand first, Super Round 2026 will see 10 world-class rugby teams go head-to-head across five matches over three days. The fixtures? Crusaders v NSW Waratahs, Hurricanes v ACT Brumbies, Blues v Queensland Reds, Highlanders v Moana Pasifika, and AEDT Chiefs v Fijian Drua. Leshgo.
The Christchurch Food Show
27-29 April | Wolfbrook Arena | $16-23
Foodies are well looked after with The Christchurch Food Show. Tonnes of exhibitors await you, with plenty of artisan food and drink to sample, plus free live cooking demonstrations, and the chance to meet-and-greet culinary greats including Nadia Lim, Chelsea Winter and Annabelle White.
What's On In Christchurch In May 2026
Once In A Lifetime
16 May | One New Zealand Stadium | TBC
Ushering in a new era of entertainment in Christchurch, the One New Zealand Stadium is set to be christened by a jaw-dropping lineup that’s been dubbed Once In A Lifetime. Headlined by none other than national treasure SIX60 and orchestral-electronic phenom Synthony, this one’s going straight to core memory. Join the ticket waitlist here.
& Juliet
30 May-13 June | Isaac Theatre Royal | $65-171
I never expected to be putting Schitt’s Creek and Shakespeare in the same sentence but that’s exactly the cocktail you’re in for if you head along to & Juliet which was created by Emmy Award-winning writer of Schitt’s Creek, David West Read. And as if you needed any further convincing, the soundtrack is off the charts, with iconic pop sonic like Baby One More Time and Since U Been Gone. Holy hell.
Fuel your night out at the best restaurants in Christchurch.
Main image credit: Vivian Wong