What’s On In Wellington In 2026
Alice Rich
Contributor & Former Editor | Urban List NZ
Arts and culture capital of Aotearoa, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington is packed with an epic lineup of things to do all year round. From fresh beats, to theatrical masterpieces, cultural workshops and festivals like CubaDupa, here’s the lowdown on Wellington events in 2026 that are worth peeling yourself off the couch for, even when Wellington weather is weathering.
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.
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Jump to:
- What’s On In Wellington In March 2026
- What’s On In Wellington In April 2026
- What’s On In Wellington In May 2026
What's On In Wellington In March 2026
Pōneke NZ Fringe
13 February-7 March | Various locations | Varies
NZ Fringe is the largest multidisciplinary arts festival in Aotearoa. Inspired by the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland, NZ Fringe was born back in 1990 in Wellington so while the event is country-wide, catching gigs in the capital is extra special. The eagerly-anticipated arts festival delivers the quirk, the drama and the sass every year in one massive, unmissable event. Brimming with theatre, comedy, dance, poetry, cabaret and circus you’re going to have major first-world problems deciding what to go to.
Aotearoa New Zealand Festival Of The Arts
25 February-15 March | Various locations | Varies
A meticulous distilling of creative talent, the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival Of The Arts has been serving up artistry for 40 years. This year led by co-directors Tama Waipara MNZM and Dolina Wehipeihana, the three week long fever dream is packed to the hilt with all manner of theatre, dance, cabaret and music. Check out the full lineup here.
Burger Nation 2026
25 February-29 March | Various locations | Varies
Bun buffs assemble, come April there'll be just four burgers to rule them all. That's right, Cook & Nelson's Burger Nation 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'.
Wellington Pride Festival
6-22 March | Various locations | Varies
Wellington Pride returns this March with more events than you can shake a rainbow flag at (which I most certainly will be doing). The key shindigs this year include Rainbow Windows of Wellington (6 March), the Wellington Pride Parade (7 March), the Pride Youth Ball (14 March); Pride Hikoi, Out In The City and Pooches In The Plaza (15 March), and the Pride Picnic (22 March). Scope the full agenda here.
Newtown Festival 2025
8 March | Newton | Free
Every year Wellington’s suburb of Newtown goes off with a free family-friendly festival for the love of community. During the massive celebration, Newton’s local shops and businesses are joined by 12 music stages, a busking pitch, 3 fairground sites and a whopping 420+ stalls.
Worm Burden Industrial / Spillway Drainage Feel / Narrow Utility Function
13 March | Pyramid Club | $15-30
It seems fitting to celebrate Friday the 13th with what Pyramid Club describes as "a meeting of noise and dance with three local experimental noise acts." The soundbites? Dark ambient noise with a drum amchine, noise show and tell and meathead electro-industrial. I'm none the wiser, aside from knowing that every cell in my body is hell bent on getting a ticket.
The Rocky Horror Show
18-29 March | St James Theatre Wellington | $102.94-$143.72
Warm up your hips, the Rocky Horror Show is coming to Wellington—direct from West End—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. In other words, don't miss this.
CubaDupa
28-29 March | Cuba Street | Free
Iconic free festival, CubaDupa, sees Wellington's Cuba Street transformed into a kaleidoscope of culture, music, performance, and diverse artistry. This year the festival is focusing on the concept of communal joy so you can expect a sense of whimsy woven into every element of this immaculate-created fest. Cruise around over 210 acts (being sure to fuel up at as many of the 70 food vendors as possible) including RIIKI REID, MOKOMOKAI, Lou’ana, Paige, Gut Health, NOÉ, Reiki Ruawai, Star Time, LEAO, Tahini Bikini, Imani-J. Scope the full lineup here.
From North to South: It's Time To Plan Your Bucket-List NZ Dining Itinerary
Or should we say eat-inerary.
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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 Wellington In April 2026
Bic Runga & The NZSO
2 April | Michael Fowler Centre | $80.54-$168.73
Bic Runga has released her first original album in 15 years—Red Sunset—and, curiously, it's reminiscent of vintage French pop music (at least according to Radio New Zealand). This April, Bic and her band will be joined by the NZ Symphony Orchestra in a sonic mélange of her greatest hits and newest releases. Snag tickets for Bic Runga & the NZSO here.
Brewtown Beer Fest
18 April | Brewtown, 27 Blenheim St, Upper Hutt | $39
For many, spring means daffodils and lambs. For beer-drinkers, it heralds the dawning of a crisp new edit of the Brewtown Beer Fest. And, sure, it isn't exactly in Wellington, but with a lineup that promises cabaret, handmade pierogi, and, a cocktail bar (a festival first) alongside pints from Aotearoa's best breweries, it's definitely worth the roadtrip.
What's On In Wellington In May 2026
NZ International Comedy Festival
1-24 May | Various locations | Varies
The best and, let’s be real—probably the only festival we’d embrace despite being sponsored by mayonnaise—is back. With gigs dotted all over the motu, the NZ International Comedy Festival is 23 days of laughter on tap. Kick off the festivities with the Best Foods Comedy Gala hosted by Dai Henwood, then keep those giggles going by snagging yourself a ticket (or six) to your favourite local and international acts.
& Juliet
9-24 May | St James Theatre | $215.69
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.
Heathers The Musical
28 May-7 June | The Opera House | $113.54-$133.93
Winona Ryder and Christian Slater made cinematic history in the 1989 film Heathers. Let the nostalgia come to life at The Opera House in Heathers The Musical with a soundtrack devised by the songwriters behind Desperate Housewives and Legally Blonde: The Musical.