If there’s one thing New Zealand’s capital Wellington is known for, it’s its arts, culture and entertainment scene. Home to the Te Papa Museum, The Lord of the Rings, and a number of annual festivals, the city has a reputation as a cultural hub, as well as the hub and capital of the country.

Planning a visit? Be sure to visit one of the many festivals held throughout the year and immerse yourself in Wellington’s vibrant world of the arts.

wearable art world

Perhaps the best-known festival Wellington hosts, the World of Wearable Art Awards, takes place in September/October each year. The World of Wearable Art museum itself is a tourist attraction that has been running since 2001, showcasing wearable art and classic cars for the public year-round.

The prizes are a big deal and get a lot of media attention from around the country as tickets sell out weeks in advance. Some of New Zealand’s best and upcoming designers have work featured at the awards and it’s an incredible few weeks of limelight for the country’s fashion industry; there is a lot of innovation and creativity to be seen.

Artist Film Festival

The Artist Film Festival is an international collaboration between various institutions presenting in venues around the world. Wellington hosts the New Zealand headquarters every year from October to February. Works by artists from each of the participating countries are shown, making the Artist Film Festival an impressive collection of contemporary international cinema.

Because it runs in the City Gallery for so many months, there are plenty of opportunities for you to see some local and international features during your visit.

Arcade: Homegrown Video Games

A new festival that has just started, Arcade plans to celebrate local innovation and creativity in the video game industry. Impressive demonstrations of technology and visual art are on display from November to March at the Dowse Art Museum – Arcade is one of the few festivals focusing on this type of media in the country. There are so many talented designers and developers in New Zealand who are finally getting the chance to showcase the work behind the games they create.

Head to one of Wellington’s many festivals during your stay and enjoy a mix of local and international culture. They are entertaining, educational and so much fun.