What's on in Wellington, New Zealand through the year

Peak crowds — New Zealand summer holidays, Summer holidays in New Zealand

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: New Zealand summer holidays (20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually))

Busy — New Zealand summer holidays

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: New Zealand summer holidays (20 Dec – 1 Feb (usually))

Busy — CubaDupa

• Festival

  CubaDupa

  14 Mar – 5 Apr · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  Cuba Street and the lanes around it close for a free two-day street festival at the end of March, with stages on the intersections and a brass band on most corners. Source ↗

Peak crowds — CubaDupa, Term 1 (April / Easter) break in New Zealand

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: CubaDupa (14 Mar – 5 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Busy — Matariki, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Matariki

  20 Jun – 15 Jul · usuallyMajor festivalClosures

  The Māori new year is a public holiday whose date moves with the star cluster's rise. The city marks it with dawn ceremonies on the harbour and light installations, and the shops close. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Matariki, Term 2 (July) break in New Zealand

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Matariki (20 Jun – 15 Jul (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Festival

  Wellington On a Plate

  1–31 AugMajor festivalBook early

  The whole of August is a city-wide food festival, with a burger competition that half the town treats as a sport. Tables at the good places go as soon as the programme drops. Source ↗

Peak crowds — World of WearableArt, Term 3 (Sept/Oct) break in New Zealand

• Season

  Spring gales through the strait

  1 Sep – 15 Dec · usuallyWind seasonRisk

  The wind funnels through Cook Strait all year and peaks in spring, when the airport's crosswind landings become a spectator sport and a southerly change takes the temperature with it.

• Festival

  World of WearableArt

  17 Sep – 4 OctMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Three weeks of shows at the arena at the end of September, part fashion and part theatre, and the busiest the city's hotels get all year. Tickets go on sale months ahead. Source ↗

Peak crowds — World of WearableArt, Term 3 (Sept/Oct) break in New Zealand

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Spring gales through the strait (1 Sep – 15 Dec (usually)), World of WearableArt (17 Sep – 4 Oct)

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Spring gales through the strait (1 Sep – 15 Dec (usually))

Peak crowds — New Zealand summer holidays, Summer holidays in New Zealand

• Holiday

  New Zealand summer holidays

  20 Dec – 1 Feb · usuallySchool holidaysClosures

  Parliament rises, the public service leaves town and a good share of the cafes shut for a fortnight. The city is at its calmest and, on a still January day, at its best. Source ↗

Still on: Spring gales through the strait (1 Sep – 15 Dec (usually))