What’s On in Wellington

Tue 4 Aug · St James Theatre

New Zealand Opera stages Massenet’s Manon with Pene Pati and Amina Edris in the lead roles.

This week · Circa Theatre

Circa’s long-running political satire returns with a new election-year edition.

This week · Circa Theatre

A New Zealand play running in Circa’s current season.

Sat 8 Aug · St Michael’s Anglican Church

A chamber concert of Beethoven in the Kelburn parish church.

Sat 8 Aug · Wesley Church

A one-day art and music showcase from Wellington’s Filipino community.

Sat 8 Aug · Ivy Bar and Cabaret

A late-night drag show built around Alice in Wonderland characters.

Mon 3 Aug · The Fringe Bar

Wellington’s weekly Monday night new-material stand-up showcase.

Thu 6 Aug · Moon, Newtown

A stand-up double bill headlined by Alayne Dick and Tom Sainsbury.

Thu 6 Aug · The Fringe Bar

Heat night for the national competition for first-time stand-up comedians.

Fri 7 Aug · Thistle Hall

Teams of improvisers compete in a live audience-judged format.

Sat 8 Aug · The Opera House

The nurse-turned-comedian brings her Infectious tour to Wellington.

Sat 8 Aug · Michael Fowler Centre

The British comedian and QI regular performs a stand-up show.

Tue 4 Aug · Moon, Newtown

A weekly open jam night for musicians of any level.

Thu 6 Aug · The Rogue and Vagabond

A jazz set at the Cuba Street pub.

Fri 7 Aug · Valhalla

A drum and bass night at Valhalla on Vivian Street.

Fri 7 Aug · The Rogue and Vagabond

Latin music from Los Barrettos to close out the week.

Sat 8 Aug · San Fran

An alternative and indie show at San Fran on Cuba Street.

Sat 8 Aug · The Undercurrent

Blues and jug band music at The Undercurrent.

Sat 8 Aug · Frank Kitts Park

The weekly Saturday craft, design and food market in the car park beneath Frank Kitts Park.

Sun 9 Aug · Waitangi Park

Wellington’s biggest weekly market, with fresh produce and food trucks beside Te Papa.

Mon 3 Aug · Te Papa Tongarewa

A food and art experience running at Te Papa through the week.

Fri 7 Aug · Garage Project Wild Workshop

Garage Project’s Aro Valley Wild Workshop runs its cheese and beer bar.

Fri 7 Aug · East by West Ferry

A guided whisky tasting held on board the harbour ferry.

Sat 8 Aug · Rumours Rum Bar

A tasting session of classic New Zealand beers.

Mon 3 Aug · Te Marae, Te Papa

The IIML’s free lunchtime literary series hosts poet Tusiata Avia.

Tue 4 Aug · Ōtari Visitors Centre

A talk on soil biodiversity at the Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush visitor centre.

Tue 4 Aug · The Library

A discussion group on James Fenimore Cooper’s novel; registration required.

Wed 5 Aug · Wellington High School

A hands-on cake decorating class in the community education programme.

Wed 5 Aug · Wellington High School

An introductory class in working with casting resin.

Thu 6 Aug · Maria French Creative

An evening sewing class for people starting from scratch.

Mon 3 Aug · Moon, Newtown

Moon’s weekly Monday night pub quiz.

Tue 4 Aug · St Ninian’s Uniting Church

A weekly social morning for Karori residents.

Wed 5 Aug · Hotel Bristol

Speed dating for neurodivergent singles, run in 20–35 and 35–50 age brackets.

Wed 5 Aug · The Old Bailey

A team game night combining escape-room puzzles with quiz rounds.

Thu 6 Aug · Parrotdog Bar

The weekly quiz at the Lyall Bay brewery bar.

Mon 3 Aug · Footnote Dance Studio

A drop-in dance fitness class in the central city.

Tue 4 Aug · Quaker Meeting Room

A Feldenkrais-style movement class on Mount Victoria.

Thu 6 Aug · Mt Cook School

A weekly dance fitness class open to all levels.

Sun 9 Aug · Sweet Axe Throwing Co.

A beginners session covering technique and safety at the Wellington axe throwing venue.

Sun 9 Aug · Awhi Yoga and Wellbeing Centre

A koha-entry heated vinyasa class to end the weekend.

Wed 5 Aug · Coco at The Roxy

A touring programme of short films about dogs and the people who love them.

Thu 6 Aug · Embassy Theatre

The tour’s tenth anniversary programme of short films about women in adventure sport.

Sat 8 Aug · Penthouse Cinema

A screening fundraising for the Deutsche Sprachschule Wellington.

Sun 9 Aug · Space Place at Carter Observatory

The observatory’s science fiction screening series shows Blade.

Sat 8 Aug · Escape Rooms Wellington

Family-friendly escape room sessions running through Saturday morning.

Mon 3 Aug · Island Bay Presbyterian Church

A Term 3 dance class for parents to attend with their babies.

All week · Wellington Museum

An exhibition on Wellington’s food history, open daily.

Fri 14 Aug · Michael Fowler Centre

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra performs its Radiance programme.

Sat 15 Aug · Michael Fowler Centre

An NZSO concert programme themed around myths and legends.

Sat 15 Aug · San Fran

The Australian instrumental guitarist plays Wellington on his Australia and New Zealand tour.

Sun 16 Aug · St Andrews on The Terrace

A solo piano recital in the lunchtime concert venue.

Wed 19 Aug · Michael Fowler Centre

The mass singalong show where the whole audience learns a song in three parts.

Wed 19 Aug · Government House Visitor Centre

A guided tour of the art collection at Government House.

Thu 20 Aug · Michael Fowler Centre

A tribute show performing the Dire Straits catalogue.

Sun 23 Aug · Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui

NZTrio performs its Space Jump programme at the Wellington City Library venue.

Fri 28 Aug · The Opera House

The burlesque performer brings her Nocturnelle show to Wellington.