What’s On in Wellington

Your weekly guide to the best events, gigs and markets in Wellington

This week · 31 August – 6 September 2026
🎭 Arts, Culture & Performance
Burn the Floor

Fri 4 Sep · The Opera House

The international ballroom spectacular Luminous, directed and choreographed by Jason Gilkison, brings championship dancers to the Opera House stage.

NZSO Rhythm & Dance

Fri 4 Sep · Michael Fowler Centre

Gemma New conducts the NZSO in John Adams, Copland, the New Zealand premiere of Gabriela Ortiz’s Antrópolis, and Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story.

Legally Blonde

Fri 4 to Sun 6 Sep · Victoria University Memorial Theatre

Victoria Musical Society stages its first ever musical with a cast of Victoria University students.

A Voyage to the Moon by Offenbach

Fri 4 Sep · Adam Concert Room

Classical performance students from the New Zealand School of Music Te Kōkī present Offenbach’s comic opera.

The Crimson Club: 18 Years Unpacked

Fri 4 Sep · Hannah Playhouse

The Wellington cabaret troupe marks 18 years with a retrospective show built from their own back catalogue.

Judy’s Encore

Tue 1 Sep · Circa Theatre

Set in 1967, this Circa production imagines Judy Garland reclaiming her legacy after a bruising Australian tour.

Capital of Kai

All week · Wellington Museum

Wellington Museum’s exhibition traces how generations of food creators turned the capital into a culinary destination.

Unsettling Nairn Street

Sat 5 Sep · Nairn Street Cottage

Seven artists respond to one house and its multiple histories, inspired by Richard Shaw’s trilogy on Pākehā family stories.

🎵 Live Music & Nightlife
Come Together: Talking Heads, Stop Making Sense

Thu 3 Sep · St James Theatre

New Zealand’s long-running Come Together concert series recreates the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense.

Stereoface: Radiohead Tribute

Thu 3 Sep · Valhalla

Stereoface return to Valhalla with new material drawn from across Radiohead’s thirty-year catalogue.

Kpop Club Night

Fri 4 Sep · San Fran

San Fran hosts another edition of its K-pop club night after two sold-out events.

Dave Against the Machine: Bulls On Parade Tour

Fri 4 Sep · Valhalla

The Rage Against The Machine tribute act brings its Bulls On Parade tour to Valhalla.

Mel Parsons: Castle Hill Album Release Tour

Sat 5 Sep · The Opera House

Mel Parsons and her band play the Opera House on a seven-date national theatre tour celebrating her album Castle Hill.

Songwriters’ Showcase #115

Sun 6 Sep · Moon

The September showcase features Sister Madly, TestPot, and Robyn Lynn and the TGs.

😂 Comedy
Chris Parker: Take A Good Look At Me

Fri 4 Sep · St James Theatre

Chris Parker brings his national Take A Good Look At Me tour to the St James.

Prophecy Girl

Fri 4 Sep · BATS Theatre

Maeve O’Connell’s new solo stand-up show about signs, experiences and clocking a gag.

Witty News: An Improv Twist to The Headlines

Fri 4 Sep · Thistle Hall

An improvised news show built live from the week’s headlines.

The 2026 Wellington Raw Comedy Quest Final

Sat 5 Sep · Hannah Playhouse

The final of the capital’s premier comedy competition, presented by Wellington Comedy.

Three Minutes In Hell: Everything Everywhere All At Once

Sat 5 Sep · The Fringe Bar

A special Saturday night edition in which up to 15 comedians each attempt three minutes of brand new material.

Fringe Bar Comedy Club

Wed 2 Sep · The Fringe Bar

The Fringe Bar’s weekly line-up of established and rising Wellington comics.

🎓 Workshops, Classes & Talks
Writers on Mondays: Terri Te Tau, Tim Corballis and Pip Adam

Mon 31 Aug · Te Marae, Te Papa

Three novelists working in speculative fiction discuss their work in the Uncanny Valley session of the Writers on Mondays series.

Ngā Mokopuna Tour

Tue 1 Sep · Te Herenga Waka Marae

A guided introductory tour of Ngā Mokopuna, Victoria University’s Living Building.

Te Aro Raranga: Traditional Māori Weaving Classes

Wed 2 Sep · Raranga Te Aro Studio

Evening classes in traditional Māori weaving techniques at the Te Aro studio.

Aro Community Singing

Fri 4 Sep · Aro Valley Community Centre

A weekly term-time community singing session open to all voices.

Georgina Beyer: Diamonds are Forever Walk Tour

Sun 6 Sep · St Peter’s on Willis

A guided walking tour retracing the life of Georgina Beyer, the world’s first openly transgender Member of Parliament.

🍴 Food, Drink & Markets
Otto Wine Club: Schubert Wines

Tue 1 Sep · Otto Champagneria & Beer Hall

The launch of Otto’s monthly wine tasting series, opening with Martinborough producer Schubert Wines.

Linden/Tawa Market

Sat 5 Sep · Linden Community Centre

The first-Saturday community market returns with local stalls, crafts and produce.

Build Your Own Brunch

Sat 5 Sep · The Bridge Bar & Restaurant

A weekend build-your-own brunch service at The Bridge in Wellington.

Sunday Roast

Sun 6 Sep · The Bridge Bar & Restaurant

The Bridge’s weekly Sunday roast, served from midday.

💪 Sports, Fitness & Wellness
Shut Up & Dance: Lunchtimes at Market Lane

Mon 31 Aug · Toi Aro Arts Centre

A 45-minute dance cardio class built around a short routine, no experience needed.

Sunday Koha Yoga: Heated Flow

Sun 6 Sep · Awhi Yoga and Wellbeing Centre

A 90-minute heated flow class run every Sunday on a koha basis, with proceeds donated.

Axe Throwing 101

Sun 6 Sep · Sweet Axe Throwing Co.

An introductory axe throwing session with coaching, followed by an open Sunday session.

🤝 Community & Social
Ōku Wāhi | My Places

All week · Te Whare Manaaki o Toda

An exhibition of personal stories from local rangatahi whaiora sharing their journeys with early psychosis services.

Sunday Board Games

Sun 6 Sep · The Bridge Bar & Restaurant

A weekly afternoon of open board games at The Bridge, free to join.

🎉 Festivals & Major Events
Great Sounds Great Festival 2026

Sat 5 Sep · Te Aro precinct

Eyegum Music Collective’s one-night multi-venue festival brings 40 Aotearoa artists to 10 neighbouring Te Aro venues, headlined by Bic Runga, Beastwars, Silicon, Mokotron and Pitch Black.

2026 K-Festival Wellington

Sat 5 Sep · Michael Fowler Centre

The annual Korean culture festival returns with live performances, food and hands-on cultural activities.

🎬 Film & Screen
Pig Feast: Colonialism in Our Time

Sat 5 Sep · Newtown Community Centre

A community screening of the documentary Pig Feast, followed by discussion.

👪 Family & Kids
Big Saturday Out

Sat 5 Sep · Escape Rooms Wellington

Saturday morning escape room sessions including Operation Beehive, Diamond Heist and The Quest, capped at a flat room price.

Coming up later this month
Now You See Me: The Endometriosis Empowerment Project

Tue 8 to Sun 13 Sep · Thistle Hall

A free photographic exhibition by Endo Warriors Aotearoa with Ainsley Duyvestyn-Smith.

The Khandallah Village Market

Sat 12 Sep · Khandallah Village Church

A monthly market showcasing local art, craft and vintage.

Capital BMX Club 2026 Season Opener

Sun 13 Sep · Ian Galloway Park

Capital BMX Club opens its 2026 season, with 20 September held as the rain-off date.

NZTrio+

Thu 17 Sep · Old St Paul’s

NZTrio expand to a quintet with viola and double bass for Schubert’s Trout Quintet.

Fabric-a-brac 2026

Sat 19 Sep · St Anne’s Hall

The fabric and craft supplies fair returns for its second Wellington event of the year.

Matilda The Musical

From Wed 23 Sep · St James Theatre

The Roald Dahl musical opens a Wellington season at the St James.

NZSO Emerging Artists

Wed 23 Sep · Michael Fowler Centre

Young New Zealand musicians perform as soloists and alongside the NZSO.

Discovery Days: School Holiday Fun

Wed 30 Sep · Wellington Botanic Garden

School holiday activities for children in the Botanic Garden.

Sources: Eventfinda and WellingtonNZ. Always check the venue or organiser for the latest details.

Keep exploring Wellington

Two more ways to make the most of your time in Wellington. Tap through below.

Frequently asked questions

What’s on in Wellington this week?

The What’s On calendar lists concerts, markets, sport, theatre, exhibitions and community events happening across Wellington this week, each with its date and venue.

What events are coming up in Wellington?

Upcoming events in Wellington, from gigs and festivals to markets and sport, are listed in date order on the calendar, so you can see what’s ahead at a glance.

Are there free events in Wellington?

Plenty. Markets, exhibitions and community days in Wellington are often free, and they appear alongside ticketed events in the calendar so free options are easy to spot.

Where can I find live music and gigs in Wellington?

Live music, gigs and club nights across Wellington are grouped in the calendar under their own heading, with the venue and date for each so you can plan a night out.

How do I find family-friendly events in Wellington?

Markets, festivals and daytime community events in Wellington are generally suitable for all ages, so look for these in the calendar for family-friendly outings.

How often is the Wellington events calendar updated?

Regularly. We refresh the Wellington What’s On calendar as new events are announced, so it stays current from week to week.