The Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts has wrapped its 2026 programme in Wellington, bringing performance, music, ideas and public art into the city's cultural calendar.
The festival ran from late February to mid-March 2026 and featured a broad arts programme across multiple venues and formats.
Major arts festivals contribute to city identity, visitor activity and creative sector visibility.
At a time when cities are competing for attention, major arts events help define what a place feels like.
The key question is how Wellington keeps the cultural momentum going between festivals.
