We produce a number of major festivals and events in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
From a single festival in 1986 we have evolved into a charitable company that delivers multiple events over a two-year calendar and creative services for the Wellington region and beyond. Tāwhiri events contribute to making Wellington an exciting, creative and vibrant place where people want to live.
In 2024 alone, our festivals and events were experienced by more than 500,000 people and brought people to Wellington from across the country and the globe.
Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts
Since 1986, the biennial Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts has brought the best of Aotearoa and the world’s performing arts to Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington - elevating artists, providing transformative experiences, building community and invigorating the city. The programme features free and ticketed events spanning dance, music, theatre, family experiences, visual arts, literature and more. Marking 40 years, the Festival returns in the summer of 2026. Programme announcements coming late 2025.
Wellington Jazz Festival
The annual Wellington Jazz Festival has been a highlight of Aotearoa’s music calendar since 1996. Featuring leading homegrown musicians and exciting international names, the Festival transforms Te Whanganui-a-Tara into a jazz haven. The 2024 Festival featured 160 events across 45 venues including a series of headliners at the Opera House and an explosion of gigs across the city, spreading the magic of jazz throughout the Capital’s streets, cafes, bars and live music venues. More than 27,000 people experienced the Festival from across Aotearoa.
The Wellington Jazz Festival will return to the capital from 15-19 October.
Song Quest
Established in 1956, the biennial Lexus Song Quest in association with the Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation is Aotearoa’s premier opera singing competition and a vital platform for young singers. It has launched the careers of some of New Zealand’s most celebrated singers including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Dame Malvina Major and , Phillip Rhodes.
The next Song Quest will take place in 2026, celebrating its 70th anniversary.
Light Cycles by Moment Factory
The 2024 Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts extended into autumn with Light Cycles by award-winning Canadian multimedia studio Moment Factory.
Highlighted by the Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā’s lush canvas, Light Cycles invited audiences on a nighttime adventure where natures secret rhythms came to life through dazzling light installations, soundscapes, and digital art.
Enjoyed by more than 31,000 people, this multi-sensory experience was hit with all ages.
