Nelson Arts Festival

Nelson Arts Festival Programme 2026: Dates, Events and What’s On

Nelson Arts Festival 2026 at a glance

  • Festival dates: 22 October–1 November 2026
  • Extended programme: 28 August–27 November 2026
  • Programme: 44 events
  • Where: Whakatū Nelson, Motueka, Tākaka and locations across Te Tauihu
  • What’s on: Theatre, music, comedy, circus, exhibitions, films, workshops and author talks
  • Tickets: View the official programme and book tickets

Nelson Arts Festival returns for 11 days of live performance, music, storytelling, comedy, circus and creativity across Te Tauihu – 22 October to 1 November 2026.

This year’s programme brings together bold international acts, leading artists from across Aotearoa and plenty of local talent. Expect everything from spectacular theatre and late-night comedy to intimate author conversations, free street events, exhibitions and memorable experiences for the whole whānau.

There are 44 events to explore, taking place at venues throughout Whakatū and further afield in Motueka, Tākaka and the surrounding region. Some exhibitions and pre-festival events also begin before opening night or continue into November.

👉 Start with our quick picks below, or jump to the full programme by date.

Quick picks from the 2026 programme

Not sure where to begin? Here are a few ways into this year’s programme, from free community events and whānau favourites to theatre, comedy, music and thought-provoking kōrero.

Comedy and something different

Looking for wheelchair access, audio description, NZSL interpretation or other accessibility information? View the festival’s accessibility information .

Nelson Arts Festival 2026 Programme by Date

Fri 28 Aug

Sat 17 Oct

  • 7pm: Couch Stories 2026 (Theatre Royal), Ten Nelson locals share stories about where their journeys began.

Wed 21 Oct

  • 6pm: Go Hard or Go Home (Te Noninga Kumu Motueka Library), Kiri Allan discusses her fierce and deeply personal memoir with Kerensa Johnston.

Thu 22 Oct

  • Swing (Upper Trafalgar Street), A big, joyful and free public experience running throughout the festival.
  • Creative Cans (Theatre Royal Foyer), A free local exhibition exploring joy as an act of resistance. Also open around theatre performances until 1 November.
  • How Did We Get Here? Step Into the Story with Kōpū (Nelson Airport), Discover the story behind the Aorere Ararau waka installation, alongside artwork and hands-on whānau activities. Runs until 27 November.
  • 7pm: Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking (Theatre Royal), Auckland Theatre Company brings Witi Ihimaera’s epic story of history, memory and resistance to the stage. Also showing Friday at 7pm.

Fri 23 Oct

  • 12.30pm: The Swimmer & the Whales (NCMA), Witi Ihimaera Smiler speaks with filmmaker Hamish Bennett about reclaiming his voice, whakapapa and te reo Māori.
  • 5.30pm: Tune Up (Kirby Lane), Local youth musicians kick off the festival’s opening weekend with a free three-hour street party.
  • 7.30pm: Towards the Truth (NCMA), Booker Prize-winning Sri Lankan author Shehan Karunatilaka discusses his life and literary adventures.

Sat 24 Oct

  • 10am: Levity Beet – Bamboo Bucket Boing (Te Noninga Kumu Motueka Library), A free, playful musical adventure that turns the world into one big instrument.
  • 10am: Night, Ma (NCMA), Elizabeth Knox joins Kim Hill to discuss her intimate and compassionate new memoir.
  • 12pm–6pm: The Big Swing Street Party (Upper Trafalgar Street), A free afternoon of music, movement and community fun in the heart of Whakatū.
  • 1pm: The Stories We Tell Ourselves (NCMA), Charlotte Grimshaw and Josie Shapiro explore family, grief, creativity, addiction and secrets in their latest novels.
  • 3.30pm: Behind the Headlines (NCMA), Kiri Allan and Charlotte Glennie discuss the life-changing events behind their honest, hard-hitting memoirs.
  • 7.30pm: Ā Mua (The Pastorius Waller Theatre at The Suter), Chamber music, writing and performance come together in a powerful collaboration featuring Tina Makereti and Riki Pirihi.
  • 8.30pm: Battle Chorus – Disco (NCMA), Tuatara Collective leads a feverish Saturday-night singalong packed with disco favourites.

Sun 25 Oct

  • From 10am: Show Me Shorts (The Pastorius Waller Theatre at The Suter), Three sessions from Aotearoa’s leading international short-film festival, including whānau-friendly, sampler and New Zealand programmes.
  • 10am: Big Worlds in Short (NCMA), Tina Makereti and Joseph Trinidad discuss uncovering ancestral lives to better understand their own.
  • 1pm: Pāpā vs the Patriarchy (NCMA), Tīhema Baker and Lawrence Patchett explore fatherhood, masculinity and men striving to become more.
  • 3.30pm: Writing the Future on Climate (NCMA), Kim Hill chairs a solutions-focused conversation about how climate action can improve our lives.
  • 5.30pm: Commemorating Laura Solomon (NCMA Foyer), A free celebration of the Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize and its two most recent winners.
  • 7pm: Writers Write: Actors Read (NCMA), Local actors Doug Brooks and Donna Botha perform stories by Aotearoa writers for a live recording.

Mon 26 Oct

  • 10.30am: All Her Lives (NCMA), Ingrid Horrocks discusses her award-winning collection of interlinked stories and the radical possibilities of hope.
  • 1pm: Making Sense & Making Fun (NCMA), Joseph Trinidad and comedian Pax Assadi compare joyful, playful approaches to writing about family and identity.
  • 2pm & 7pm: Werewolf (Theatre Royal), Binge Culture turns the familiar social-deduction game into an urgent live-theatre experience.
  • 5pm: Behind the Hill, Beside the Sea (Tāhunanui School Hall), Emma Gilkison and Robin Robilliard explore the histories of Tāhunanui Beach and Mōhua Golden Bay.
  • 7pm: The Gathering Tide (Tāhunanui Beach, Rocks Road), A free sunset gathering filled with collective movement and joy, followed by a beach DJ until 10pm. Rain date: Saturday 31 October.

Tue 27 Oct

  • 10am–5pm: Tāhae: Stolen from the Museum (Tāwera), Kahu Paki Paki leads an exhibition featuring the work and creative journeys of Te Tauihu carvers, weavers and makers. Runs until 18 November.
  • 6pm: Plant Fiend (Village Theatre Tākaka), Peter Butler discusses a lifelong relationship with plants and the refuge and opportunities they have provided.

Wed 28 Oct

  • 5.30pm: Murder & Mojitos (Kismet Cocktail & Whisky Bar), Gareth and Louise Ward serve up crime, cocktails and the final instalment of their bestselling Bookshop Detectives series.
  • 5.30pm: Kapa Haka Through a Lens (Theatre Royal), Melissa and Jeremy Banks explore kapa haka through photography and conversation. Free entry; RSVP required.
  • 7.30pm: Where Conversation Speaks and Music Flows (WAA! Club), Four musicians from different cultural traditions meet for an evening of conversation and improvised music.

Thu 29 Oct

  • 6.30pm: Doing Great (The Boathouse), Bailey Poching brings one of Aotearoa’s most exciting new comedic voices to Whakatū.
  • 8pm: Echoes (Fairfield House), Martine Baanvinger brings the history of Fairfield House to life through an intimate theatrical experience. Also showing Friday and Saturday at 8pm.
  • 8.30pm: Chooks (The Boathouse), Tessa Waters presents a gloriously unconventional theatrical tribute to the humble chicken. Also showing Friday at 7pm.

Fri 30 Oct

  • 1pm: The Valentina (The Pastorius Waller Theatre at The Suter), The Rebel Alliance presents a live radio play — with pictures. Also showing Saturday at 10.30am.
  • 7pm: Machine de Cirque (Trafalgar Centre), An endlessly inventive and high-energy international circus spectacular for the whole whānau. Also showing Saturday at 2pm.
  • 9pm: One Night Rant (The Boathouse), James Nokise turns his attention to politicians, policies and everyone caught in between.

Sat 31 Oct

  • 11am–1pm: Feminist Clown Posse (Fairfield House), Tessa Waters leads a radical and joyful clown workshop designed for every body.
  • 5pm: The Clean: In the Dreamlife (The Vic Public House), Richard Langston discusses the definitive story of The Clean with music reviewer Grant Smithies.
  • Doors 7pm: Byllie-Jean (Deville), A theatrical blend of indie trap, sci-fi and R&B, with support acts from 8pm and Byllie-Jean on stage at 9.30pm.
  • 7.30pm: YMCĀ (Theatre Royal), Atamira Dance Company delivers a bold takatāpui reimagining of the Village People.

Sun 1 Nov

Plan Your Nelson Arts Festival 2026

Eleven days. Forty-four events. A whole region alive with creativity.

What will you choose – breathtaking circus, powerful theatre, a thought-provoking kōrero, live music among the vines or a free event with the whole whānau?

Popular sessions can fill quickly, so don’t leave your festival plans until the last minute.

🎟️ Book tickets via nelsonartsfestival.nz

Nelson Arts Festival 2026 FAQs

When is the Nelson Arts Festival 2026?

The main Nelson Arts Festival runs from 22 October to 1 November 2026. The extended programme begins on 28 August, with some exhibitions continuing until 27 November.

Is there a Nelson Mask Parade in 2026?

No. The Nelson Mask Parade and Mask Carnivale are sadly not part of the 2026 Nelson Arts Festival programme.

Organisers cited heavy school workloads and declining participation. Only five schools registered for the masked parade in Nelson last year, with one later withdrawing.

The decision has disappointed local principals, who see the parade as an important creative opportunity for children. Festival manager Ruth Roebuck says organisers will consult the community and explore a fresh approach for the Nelson Mask Parade in 2027.

This year’s free community programme includes The Big Swing Street Party in Upper Trafalgar Street on Saturday 24 October.

Where is the Nelson Arts Festival held?

Events take place at venues throughout Whakatū Nelson, including the Theatre Royal, NCMA, The Suter, Trafalgar Centre and The Boathouse. The programme also reaches Motueka, Tākaka, Tāhunanui and Neudorf Vineyards.

How can I buy Nelson Arts Festival tickets?

Tickets can be purchased through the booking link on each official event page. Some events use external ticketing providers, while free events may require an RSVP.

Are there free events at the festival?

Yes. The 2026 programme includes free exhibitions, music, community gatherings and whānau activities. Highlights include Tune Up, Creative Cans, The Big Swing Street Party, The Gathering Tide and Kapa Haka Through a Lens.

Which events are suitable for families and whānau?

Family-friendly options include Machine de Cirque, the whānau programme at Show Me Shorts, Levity Beet – Bamboo Bucket Boing, The Big Swing Street Party and the interactive Nelson Airport exhibition.

What kinds of events are in the 2026 programme?

The 44-event programme includes theatre, dance, circus, live music, comedy, films, exhibitions, workshops and Pukapuka Talks featuring writers and leading thinkers from Aotearoa and beyond.

What accessibility options are available?

Accessibility varies by event and may include wheelchair access, audio description, NZSL interpretation, hearing-assistive technology and low-language-barrier experiences. Check the festival’s accessibility information before booking.

Programme details may change. Check the official event page for the latest times, ticket availability and access information before attending.