The Top New Zealand Events & Festivals 🙌 [2023]

© ATEED

New Zealand Music Festivals

Summer in New Zealand runs from December to February which means that, unlike in the Northern Hemisphere, some of the best festivals happen from New Year’s Eve up until Easter.

Kick off the new year with Rhythm and Alps (29-31 December 2022 in Cardrona Valley, Wanaka). Although its sister festival, Rhythm and Vines, is postponed until Easter 2022, you can still head to the mountainous South Island setting near Wanaka to celebrate the start of 2022. While you’re there, don’t miss the 18 Best Things to Do in Wanaka.

New Zealand’s family-friendly summer festival, Soundsplash (21-23 January at Mystery Creek, Hamilton) has more than 40 music acts performing across three stages. Although it has moved from its usual Raglan location to Hamilton this year due to COVID, there’s still plenty to do in the area, starting with the 16 Best Things to Do in Hamilton.

Splore (25-27 February in Tapapakanga Park, Auckland) is a music festival by the beach in the beautiful location of Tapapakanga Park. Enjoy an extensive line-up of music acts and cultural performances.

WOMAD (18-20 March in TSB Bowl of Brooklands Park, New Plymouth) stands for “World of Music, Arts and Dance” so expect great diversity in one of the most vibrant art hubs of the North Island, New Plymouth. Six stages are set up over three days bringing you energetic performances, workshops and much more! Check out more things to do in the 14 Best Things to Do in New Plymouth.

One of the biggest music festivals of the year, Rhythm and Vines (15-17 April in Waiohika Estate, Gisborne) is taking place during the Easter weekend this year rather than the usual New Year’s Eve celebration. Party among the sunny vineyards of Gisborne along with the 17 Best Things to Do in Gisborne. [Update: Rhythm and Vines is also back for the 2022 NYE festival, 29-31 December, Waiohika Estate, Gisborne].

More New Zealand Festivals and How to Get Involved

For more festivals worth checking out, be sure to check out the 10 Summer Festivals in New Zealand. If you want to get involved, meet new people and save money on a festival ticket, take a look at our guide on How to Volunteer at a Festival in New Zealand.

© NZPocketGuide.com

New Zealand Cultural Events

Festivals and events are a great way to experience the diverse culture of New Zealand. Here are some of the top cultural events to check out in 2022.

Waitangi Day (6 February) induces Maori cultural events all over the country! Top Waitangi Day events include those at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands and the Okains Bay Museum in the Banks Peninsula near Christchurch and Akaroa. Learn more about the public holiday in What is Waitangi Day?

Similarly, Matariki (24 June) is the start of many cultural celebrations across New Zealand, which last about one month. Find out more about the event in What is Matariki – The Maori New Year.

And for a slice of the Kiwi culture, check out the wacky mid-winter events of Russell Birdman (dates TBA) where you can participate or watch people launch themselves into the chilly Bay of Islands’ waters from Russell Wharf. There ar also fancy dress races, spaghetti-eating competitions and more. Learn more about what to do while you’re there in the 14 Best Things to Do in the Bay of Islands.

© WellingtonNZ

New Zealand Food and Wine Festivals

Treat yourself (and your stomach) to one of the foodie festivals in New Zealand in 2022. Make it a part of your foodie getaway by also following the advice in The Foodie Guide to New Zealand.

The Wildfoods Festival (12 March at Cass Square in Hokitika) is a Kiwi calendar favourite. Try heaps of weird food on offer like huhu grubs, bats, chicken legs and so much more. Otherwise, enjoy fancy dress, cooking demonstrations and a pretty wild after-party. While you’re there, treat yourself to some of the 10 Best Things to Do in Hokitika.

Wellington on a Plate (1-31 August all over Wellington) is where New Zealand’s capital city gets our tastebuds watering for a whole month with hundreds of events going on around the city and outer region. Learn more about Wellington’s food scene in The Foodie Guide to Wellington.

New Zealand loves seafood, so experience their passion at the Coromandel’s Whitianga Oceans Festival (cancelled). The South Island equivalent is the Bluff Oyster Festival (21 May on Lee Street in Bluff) to taste Southland cuisine and wild foods. Check out 10 Awesome Things to Do in Whitianga and 5 Fun Things to Do in Bluff for more experiences to have beyond the festivals.

© Ripe Festival - Andy Woods

Ripe – The Wanaka Wine and Food Festival

Sample the best wine and food from the Central Otago region at Ripe – The Wanaka Wine and Food Festival (19 March at Glendhu Bay, Wanaka). The event’s high country station venue on the shores of Lake Wanaka makes for a stunning setting to enjoy local wines and artisan delights. The festival is single-use and waste-free too, with tickets including reusable cups to take home, vendors using reusable plates and more – all of which are outlined along with the eclectic vendor lineup on the Ripe website.

[CANCELLED] The infamous Marlborough Wine Festival is where around 40 local wineries get together for a huge party and everyone’s invited! Join in for some great music, awesome food, great wine, masterclasses and more in New Zealand’s largest wine-making region. Learn more about the area in the 10 Best Wineries in Marlborough.

© NZPocketGuide.com

New Zealand Vintage Festivals

New Zealand loves a bit of “yesteryears”, so much so that they have era-themed festivals!

If you want to experience a town go back in time, don’t miss Oamaru’s Victorian Fete (20 November in the Victorian Precinct, Oamaru). Put on your finest Victorian attire (because you packed that for your trip to New Zealand, right?) and join in with the locals for a day of crazy competitions, too much food, too much drink and some more fun stuff. While you’re there, try some of the 10 Best Things to Do in Oamaru.

Finally, we can’t forget the Art Deco Festival (16-20 February all over Napier) in New Zealand’s “Art Deco Capital”. See the city come alive with outfits to match the architecture, parades, air shows, costumes and endless amounts of vintage fun and finery. Otherwise, Napier is a good place to experience all things vintage anyway, just see in 15 Super Fun Things to Do in Napier.

© Hamilton Waikato Tourism

New Zealand Free Festivals

Some of the best festivals are free! Check out the New Zealand festivals in 2022 that you don’t have to pay for.

Wellington’s Gardens Magic will take a slightly different format this year due to COVID restrictions. Gardens Trail (11-30 January at the Botanic Garden) will be a self-led daytime event to enjoy with family and friends.

Christchurch’s World Buskers Festival (14-30 January all over Christchurch city) is a mix of free and paid events of some of the world’s best street performers, from music to burlesque to comedy. Most free performances can be found at Christchurch‘s Market Square and the Bridge of Remembrance.

Balloons Over Waikato (15-19 March at Innes Common, Hamilton) is a renowned annual event here in New Zealand! See a sky full of creative hot air balloons, from traditional to the weird and wonderful. Check out more 10 Great Things to Do in Hamilton.

Celebrate the start of New Zealand winter with the Queenstown Winter Festival (Cancelled for 2022). Musical entertainment, comedy shows, markets, food and fireworks make up this annual event in the winter capital of New Zealand. The weekend event offers a mix of free and paid events. Find out more in our Queenstown Winter Festival guide.

For the prettiest park you ever did see, enjoy New Plymouth’s Festival of Lights (17 December to 22 January 2023) with picturesque illuminations, free competitions and music happening in the park throughout the summer. Combine the event with the 14 Best Things to Do in New Plymouth.

© DunedinNZ

New Zealand Sports Events

This is the part of our event guide that we would usually talk about Sevens, which was due to take place in Hamilton in 2022. Unfortunately, however, Sevens 2022 has been cancelled.

Rather than being a spectator, get into the sport yourself in 2022 with one of New Zealand’s marathons! It seems that every town or city in New Zealand likes a good excuse for a running event, but a few worth keeping in mind include the Queenstown Marathon (19 March), Wellington Marathon (19 June), Christchurch Marathon (10 April) and Hawke’s Bay Marathon (14 May).