Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts

Aotearoa NZ Festival of the Arts We are Aotearoa's leading presenter and maker of cutting edge arts experiences

Coming up soon! The first concerts of The John Psathas Group, an international ensemble of exceptional artists dedicated...
28/07/2026

Coming up soon! The first concerts of The John Psathas Group, an international ensemble of exceptional artists dedicated to the performance and evolution of John Psathas’ music.

Featuring Dawn Hardwick (the London-based pianist who featured in Psathas's 2026 Festival show 'Voices at the End'), Fabian Ziegler (Zurich), Katarzyna Myćka (Essen), Stephen Gosling (New York), and John Psathas, the group brings together world-class musicianship, a bold vision, and the ensemble’s shared appetite for pushing musical performance into new territory.

This concert is compelling, visceral, and thought-provoking, combining contemporary ideas and global influences with cinematic audio and mesmerising video, to create performances that impact directly and powerfully on the heart, the mind, and the body. This is musical performance expanded: intimate, urgent, exhilarating, and alive with possibility.

📅 Tickets available at the link in our bio 🎫
4 Aug: Auckland
5 Aug: Hamilton
7 Aug: Hastings
9 Aug: Wellington
11 Aug: Nelson
13 Aug: Christchurch
15 Aug: Dunedin

Huge congratulations to our long-time Festival collaborator, the spectacular Claire Mabey, who won the Lynley Dodd award...
23/07/2026

Huge congratulations to our long-time Festival collaborator, the spectacular Claire Mabey, who won the Lynley Dodd award for children's literature last night! 📖🌟

Claire is the founder of Verb Wellington and has previously led the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts Writers Programmes.

Her first novel for young people, The Raven's Eye Runaways is one of our favourites and we can't wait to dip in to the sequel 🐦‍⬛

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of composer, performer, choral music expert, and teacher, Robert Wiremu 🤍T...
20/07/2026

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of composer, performer, choral music expert, and teacher, Robert Wiremu 🤍

This past year, Robert was commissioned by The King's Singers at the 2026 Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts. His piece, 'Whina said...' was inspired by the words of Dame Whina Cooper, calling to care for the children of Aotearoa as the voices of the future. At the 2026 Festival show Ara Hura - A Visionary Journey presented by Voices NZ, Robert's work, 'Re-imagined Mozart: Erebus' was specially placed as the centrepiece of the choral celebration.

Festival Co-Director Tama Waipara shared some words for his late friend: "Robert Wiremu was my colleague and friend for over 30 years and his passing is deeply affecting. His impact on our musical and artistic landscape is immeasurable and woven into the many threads of who we are in Aotearoa. He was a gentle genius whose wit and flair was wrapped in warmth and generosity. Robert’s patience and humility made him an exceptional leader as he stewarded and scaffolded the musical journeys of many. I will miss him dearly and am forever grateful to have had the privilege of his friendship.
Moe mai rā 🌿

📸 Photo 1, Pieter du Plessis (Photos of Robert Wiremu at the World Choir Games 2024 when he conducted the nine-choir super-chorus in Matariki He Kāhui Reo: World Choir Games, at Holy Trinity Cathedral). Photo 2, The King's Singers at 26ANZFA, photo by Nick George. Photo 3, Ara Hura - A Visionary Journey at 26ANZFA, photo by Nick George.

From next Monday 29 July, the Pōneke Festival of Contemporary Dance is back to celebrate contemporary dance in the capit...
25/06/2026

From next Monday 29 July, the Pōneke Festival of Contemporary Dance is back to celebrate contemporary dance in the capital 🪭

For one week this July, the freshest artists from across Aotearoa and beyond are coming to heat things up and push boundaries. Expect performance seasons, artists in residence, free events, parties, debates, and good vibes.

The Pōneke Festival of Contemporary Dance is here to ensure a vibrant future for Pōneke's dance scene, fostering a passionate community around this captivating art form.

See the full festival programme at footnote.org.nz 🔗 for the event line up - tickets on sale now!

📍 29 June - 4 July | The Hannah Playhouse & Footnote Dance Studios

The festival is a joint initiative curated by Footnote New Zealand Dance and presented with The Hannah Playhouse and Toi Aro, supported by Wellington City Council.

Under renowned Slovenian conductor Ana Erčulj, and with Organist Michael Stewart, Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir prese...
19/06/2026

Under renowned Slovenian conductor Ana Erčulj, and with Organist Michael Stewart, Voices New Zealand Chamber Choir presents two unforgettable nights of choral brilliance in a programme infused with warmth and radiance everlasting: Eternal Light - Fauré Requiem 🌠 Coming to Wellington for one night only!

At the heart of Eternal Light is Fauré’s Requiem – music of restraint and consolation, with gentle harmonies that hold grief and hope in balance. Erčulj also brings music from her native Slovenia, introducing New Zealand audiences to works by celebrated composers, Andrej Makor and Aldo Kumar, Damijan Močnik, and Lojze Lebič. This is paired with a newly commissioned work; ‘Awatea’ by acclaimed New Zealand composer Rosa Elliott.

Set within the soaring acoustics of two of New Zealand’s most iconic cathedral spaces, this concert invites you to experience the unifying power of the country’s finest voices, resonating in gleaming harmony. Get ready for an evening of timeless peace and resplendence – a celebration of light unending.

Auckland: 26th June, Holy Trinity Cathedral - 7pm
Wellington: 27th June, Wellington Cathedral of St Paul - 7pm

🎫 Book now at voicesnz.com/event/eternal-light-faure-requiem 🔗

09/06/2026

Tickets are selling fast to Macy Gray Live at St James Theatre on Thu 15 Oct! 💫 Get yours before they sell out at jazzfestival.nz/events/macy-gray-live 🎫

Wellington Jazz Festival has just announced the first headliner for their 2026 season: Macy Gray 🎤💫 As part of her lates...
02/06/2026

Wellington Jazz Festival has just announced the first headliner for their 2026 season: Macy Gray 🎤

💫 As part of her latest international tour, GRAMMY Award-winning soul icon Macy Gray will make her long-awaited return to Aotearoa after more than a decade, including a special Wellington Jazz Festival performance on Thursday 15 October at St James Theatre.

Pre-sale on NOW - sign up to Culture Club at cultureclub.raiselysite.com for access 🎫 General sale on from Thursday.

The 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards took on the Civic stage in Tāmaki Makaurau last night and boy did our kiwi artists delive...
29/05/2026

The 2026 Aotearoa Music Awards took on the Civic stage in Tāmaki Makaurau last night and boy did our kiwi artists deliver! HUGE congratulations to the following Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts alumni that took home Tūī awards last night 🎉

🏆 Te Manu Taki Tuauki o te Tau | Best Classical Artist - Michael Norris
🏆 Te Taumata o te Ataata | Best Music Video Content - Stella Reid
🏆 Te Manu Taki Whanokē o te Tau | Best Alternative Artist - MĀ
🏆 Te Manu Taki Manako o te Tau | Best Soul/RnB Artist - Tom Scott
🏆 Te Tino Kāhui Manu Taki o te Tau | Best Group - The Beths

Ka pai, tīma! ⭐

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Jools Topp, one of the legendary Topp Twins 🌿For more than 40 years, Dame...
26/05/2026

We are saddened to hear of the passing of Dame Jools Topp, one of the legendary Topp Twins 🌿

For more than 40 years, Dame Jools Topp brought warmth, humour, music and immense joy to audiences across Aotearoa; while living 22 of those years with extraordinary courage through breast cancer.

The Topp Twins joined the Festival in 2012, performing their music-comedy show at the Festival Club - a fitting reflection of the generosity, wit and connection they shared with audiences throughout their remarkable career.

Our thoughts are with Lynda, their whānau, friends, and the many people whose lives were touched by Dame Jools.
Moe mai rā 🤍

Reminisce on AroVision with their 2009 documentary, 'The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls': ondemand.arovideo.co.nz/film/the-topp-twins-untouchable-girls/

📸 Jools and Lynda Topp at the 2012 New Zealand International Festival by Robert Catto, Photographer.

ICYMI: The Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest returns to Te Whanganui-a-Tara on 11 July at the Michael Fowler Centre for its 70th...
15/05/2026

ICYMI: The Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest returns to Te Whanganui-a-Tara on 11 July at the Michael Fowler Centre for its 70th anniversary! 🌟 Secure your seat to see our top rising operatic talent at the 2026 Grand Final Gala NOW 🎫

See the six finalists accompanied by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra perform live for Head Judge, Frederica von Stade in the hopes of being crowned the 2026 Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest winner.

✨ Join us for a night full of excitement and incredible music and get your tickets at songquest.nz - link in bio 🔗

Follow the journey at Song Quest 👈

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