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.
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Jump to:
- What’s On In Wellington In June 2026
- What’s On In Wellington In July 2026
- What’s On In Wellington In August 2026
- What's On In Wellington Later In 2026
What's On In Wellington In June 2026
Heathers The Musical
28 May-7 June | The Opera House
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.
The Details
When: 28 May-7 June 2026
Where: The Opera House, 113/111 Manners Street, Te Aro
Cost: $123.74
Find out more here.
Lōemis
Various
Usher in the winter solstice with annual multi-arts, harvest and ritual festival, Lōemis. This year’s lineup includes a fromage feast at Zelandia (complete with fondue station and a live alpine music sound bath), a three-course Winter Haven meal by Everybody Eats, music performances, art exhibitions, moving meditation dance workshops by Djibril Sall, and an off the chain Midwinter Solstice Ball with the sonic seasoning of BBYFACEKILLA, Poppa Jax, Kaiviti, and more. If there’s anything to warm you up this winter, it’s this.
The Details
When: 9-21 June 2026
Where: Various locations
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.
Chemist Warehouse Charity Drive For Life Flight
Nationwide
Chemist Warehouse’s annual Charity Drive is back, raising funds for Life Flight’s vital air ambulance service across Aotearoa. Every donation helps support the aircraft, equipment and specialist medical teams that transport critically ill patients to urgent care, with Life Flight responding to emergencies across the country 24 hours a day.
Running throughout June and July, the fundraiser makes it easy to get involved through in-store and online donations, helping ensure more New Zealanders can access lifesaving care when every second counts.
The Details
When: 4 June-22 July 2026
Where: Chemist Warehouse stores nationwide and online
Cost: Donation-based fundraiser
Find out more here.
Matariki Tamariki Time
Te Papa
In the lead up to Matariki, Te Papa is busting out all the stops with a double-event they’ve dubbed Matariki Tamariki Time. Part one is a scavenger hunt that’ll have tamariki searching for symbols about celestial navigation and waka voyaging and part two is a match-the-star activity that’ll teach them about the Matariki star cluster. A gorgeous way of getting kids involved in celestial culture.
The Details
When: 19 June 2026
Where: Te Papa, 169 Tory Street
Cost: Free with museum entry
Find out more here.
Melanie Bracewell: Dilly Dallying
The Opera House Wellington
Multi-award winning comedian, Melanie Bracewell, has whipped up a brand new hour-long act that’s highly relatable. If you’re lowkey haunted by unfinished business, this one’s for you. And while it would be ironic if you never quite got around to buying tickets to Dilly Dallying, it’d also mean you miss out on one helluva good night. So do it now, and get your butt in that seat.
The Details
When: 19 June 2026
Where: The Opera House Wellington, 113/111 Manners Street, Te Aro
Cost: $42.18
Find out more here.
Gazley Volkswagen Wellington Marathon
Wellington CBD
Lace up your kicks and hit the road, the Wellington Marathon is back and it’s the perfect setting to strut your stuff. Pick your poison from 42k, 21k, 10k or the Kids Magic Mile then enjoy a scarper through the city, from Hnry Stadium and through the harbour bays. Get yourself over the line and you’ll scoop up a medal. Legit.
The Details
When: 28 June 2026
Where: Hnry Stadium, 105 Waterloo Quay, Wellington
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.
What's On In Wellington In July 2026
Matariki After Dark: Leading From The Front
Te Papa
Revel in Matariki with a stirring evening of art and music at Matariki After Dark. This adults-only Matariki celebration will feature R&B, hip-hop blended beats with KOREKASH; Cook Island dance performances by Inano Dance; workshops on tīvaevae and weaving, plus kōrero about waka and collection highlights; and chill spaces to play games and relax in great company.
The Details
When: 2 July 2026
Where: Te Papa, 169 Tory Street
Cost: Free
Find out more here.
NZSO’s La Mer
Michael Fowler Centre
The NZSO National Youth Orchestra is set to put on a stunning rendition of Debussy’s La Mer, a classical piece inspired by the movements and mysteries of the ocean. Once described as the musical equivalent of Monet’s paintings, this piece is a serious musical flex. In addition, attendees will get to hear /four Sea Interludes From Peter Grimes by Britten plus the Aotearoa premiere of Michael-Thomas Foumai’s Raise Hawaiki: Kealaikahiki. Snap up your tickets here.
The Details
When: 3 July 2026
Where: Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield St, Wellington Central
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.
The Bubble Spectacular
St James Theatre Wellington
Round up the kids, The Bubble Spectacular is one to hit this July school holidays. Promising bubbles of all sizes—even volcano, tornado and, perhaps most impressively, square ones—and the world’s biggest bubble party hosted by the one and only Dr Hubble, this gig’s sure to be unbelieva-bubble (sorry not sorry).
The Details
When: 4 July 2026
Where: St James Theatre Wellington
Cost: $37.08
Find out more here.
Matariki Ahi Kā
Wellington Waterfront
Matariki is about being together, honouring those who have passed, and looking ahead to the future so round up your loved ones and take a wander along the Wellington Waterfront to celebrate the rising of Punanga and the Matariki star cluster. Fire projections, kai and live music await, along with the opportunity to honour the dead in a poignant nightly ceremony.
The Details
When: 9-12 July 2026
Where: Wellington Waterfront
Cost: Free
Find out more here.
What's On In Wellington In August 2026
Alan Davies: Think Ahead
Michael Fowler Centre
Image credit: Alan Davies | supplied
Here's something Quite Interesting: after a decade away, beloved QI funny man, Alana Davies, is back on Kiwi shores. Touring nationwide with a brand new hour of material, Think Ahead sees him reckon with getting old. Aren't. We. All.
The Details
When: 8 August 2026
Where: Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield St, Wellington Central
Cost: $81.46
Find out more here.
Dita Von Tesse: Nocturnelle
The Opera House Wellington
Image credit: @fiestabanphoto | supplied
The ever-reigning queen of burlesque, Dita Von Teese, returns to New Zealand’s grand stages and awaits audiences in August 2026, with her most enchanting show to date. Nocturnelle will see Dita unveil a bewitching new vision: an exquisite blend of old-Hollywood allure, theatrical magic, and the high-art “Stripscapes” she is known for, all inspired by the magicians of the 19th century. You know the drill.
The Details
When: 28 August 2026
Where: The Opera House Wellington, 111/113 Manners Street, Wellington
Cost: $101.85-$203.80
Find out more here.
What's On In Wellington Later In 2026
Chris Parker: Take A Good Hard Look At Me
St James Theatre Wellington
Chris Parker needs no introduction. And if you’ve been lucky enough to see him live on stage already, you’ll know this is one to snap up, stat. Returning to the St James Theatre Wellington, Chris brings his show Take A Good Hard Look At Me to the masses. Get amongst.
The Details
When: 4 September 2026
Where: St James Theatre Wellington
Cost: $49.90
Find out more here.
Matilda The Musical
St James Theatre Wellington
If watching Matilda as a young’un had you unable to look at chocolate cake in the same way ever again, this could be your chance to finally get some closure. Yes siree, Roald Dahl’s beloved book (and the Tony Award-winning musical) has hit our shores and it’s packed to the hilt with high-octane dance numbers and songs you’ll likely be singing long after the final curtain falls.
The Details
When: 23 September-11 October 2026
Where: St James Theatre Wellington, 77-83 Courtenay Place, Te Aro
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.
The Wiggles Live In Concert
TSB Arena
Clear the calendar, if you grew up with The Wiggles and you’ve now got sprogs of your own, it’s practically your civic duty to take the tikes along to experience the magic for themselves (or, like, relieve the good ol’ days). The four concerts are set at the very kid-friendly hours of 10am and 1pm so there’s nothing left but to snap up a haul of tickets and get ready to scream Fruit Salad, YUMMY YUMMY at the top of your lungs.
The Details
When: 11-12 October
Where: TSB Arena, 4 Queens Wharf, Wellington Central
Cost: $28
Find out more here.
Wellington Jazz Festival
Various
If a jazz crawl sounds like your vibe, you won’t want to miss this year’s Wellington Jazz Festival. Returning with an enormous lineup packed with over 100 gigs you can get your fix of soul, swing, funk, and more over this five-day musical palooza. Stay tuned for the full lineup here.
The Details
When: 15-19 October 2026
Where: Various locations
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.
The Sleeping Beauty
St James Theatre Wellington
This July, we’re set to be served an iconic fairytale—the ballet edit—with the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s rendition of The Sleeping Beauty. Designed by Gary Harris and with whimsical flourishes by Wētā Workshop, this spectacular display of the strength and fluidity of some of the best ballerinas in the motu is not to be missed.
The Details
When: 25 October-7 November 2026
Where: St James Theatre Wellington, 87/77 Courtenay Place, Te Aro
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.
NZSO Rhythm and Dance
Michael Fowler Centre
Be transported to the streets of New York as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra brings Bernstein’s toe-tapping Symphonic Dances from West Side Story to life in Rhythm & Dance. Alongside this iconic slice of musical mastery, you’ll get to immerse in the Latin American-jazz venn that is Aaron Copland’s Clarinet Concerto, with a historic interlude provided by John Adams’ The Chairman Dances, plus bear witness to the NZ premiere of Grammy Award-winning Mexican contemporary composer Gabriela Ortiz’ Antrópolis. How good.
The Details
When: 4 September 2026
Where: Michael Fowler Centre, 111 Wakefield St, Wellington Central
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.