Events and Festivals

Wellington is a city that loves a good time. Here are some of the festivals and events you can look forward to when you move here to begin your studies. 

Coastella

Coastella is an annual music festival featuring a host of new and established artists. You can see anything from jungle-rock-blues to slow-burning soul. Coastella takes place in Paraparaumu on Wellington’s Kapiti Coast.

CubaDupa

This is a free, family-friendly, weekend-long festival that celebrates food, music and community offering a mix of D.J's, dance, children's activities, workshops, and food. Located on Cuba Street, this festival extends out on all the side streets, where you can shop ‘til you drop at stalls, watch live bands in little alley ways, and gorge yourself on local delicacies.

NZ Fringe Festival

This is New Zealand's oldest and largest Fringe Festival and has over 1,000 artists from New Zealand and around the world performing a number of Wellington’s best venues. A number of Fringe Festival events take place in our Te Auaha campus too.

Jim Beam Homegrown

Homegrown is a music festival which showcases the best artists from New Zealand. It takes place over an evening in Wellington's centrally-located Waitangi Park, right on the waterfront.

Wellington Jazz Festival

The yearly Wellington Jazz Festival offers over 100 gigs over a five day period. There is a mix of New Zealand and international artists who play in venues throughout the city. 

Wellington On a Plate

During WOAP Wellington's chef get creative producing spectacular menus, competitions and events. This takes place over the entire month of August each year. Keep an eye out for Burger Wellington too – where restaurants and cafes all over Wellington compete to make the best, most delicious burger.

Beervana

Wellington has become New Zealand’s home of craft beer and Beervana is the perfect proof. Held at WestPac Stadium, Beervana features 100's of local and international craft beers, great food and entertainment, and bearded hipsters.

World of WearableArt

WoW is an internationally renowned annual design competition where you can see mind-blowing designs from creative designers from around the globe. Book tickets in advance as they sell out quickly!

LitCrawl

The LitCrawl is made up of a Saturday Night Lit Crawl which is followed by a multi-day festival of literary events taking place all over the city. Lit Crawl features both New Zealand and international writes and events are very reasonably priced too.