2026 Festival Highlights

2026 Pānga Whetiwara
50+

Events

150,000+

Overall attendance

670+

Artists, crew and event staff engaged

95%

Audience satisfaction

18%

New audiences

97%

Wellington residents agreed that events like the Festival make Wellington a more enjoyable place to live

375

Pieces of media coverage

50+

Events

150,000+

Overall attendance

670+

Artists, crew and event staff engaged

95%

Audience satisfaction

18%

New audiences

97%

Wellington residents agreed that events like the Festival make Wellington a more enjoyable place to live

375

Pieces of media coverage

50+

Events

150,000+

Overall attendance

670+

Artists, crew and event staff engaged

95%

Audience satisfaction

18%

New audiences

97%

Wellington residents agreed that events like the Festival make Wellington a more enjoyable place to live

375

Pieces of media coverage

After a whirlwind three weeks, the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts has officially wrapped up its 40th year! 🎉

Article Magazine

  • Experience Benjamin Clementine

    Singer, performer, composer, actor – Mercury Prize winner Benjamin Clementine makes his Aotearoa debut at Wellington Jazz Festival next month. Widely regarded as one of contemporary music’s singular voices, here are four reasons you should book your tickets to Benjamin Clementine’s Back to Basics tour now.
  • Jazz Festival Commission: Te Ao Kōhatu

    Wellington drummer and composer Hikurangi Schaverien-Kaa (Ruawaipu, Ngāti Porou) brings together a unique ensemble for the 2026 Wellington Jazz Festival commission Te Ao Kōhatu. We caught up with the in-demand musician on the line from New York City where he’s been spending time with his partner and friends in between two UK and European tours and ahead of his return to Te Whanganui- a-Tara for the Festival in October.
  • 30 Years of Wellington Jazz Festival

    Wellington Jazz Festival marks its 30th birthday this year. We catch up with one of the event’s founders, Simon Bowden, to take a look back over the years.