Capital Festivals Celebrate The Bold, The Old, And The New

Wellington City Council is proud to support three significant festivals showcasing and celebrating what makes the capital special – its people, its history, its landscape and architecture.

The popular Wellington Heritage Festival (https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz) is back with one for the history books, as it gets set to welcome thousands of visitors to over 160 events around the region.

Wellington City Council is both a proud sponsor of the event, and also a host at a number of Council locations including dead interesting walks and talks and tours at Bolton Street and Karori Cemeteries, Wellington Botanic Garden, and at Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui Central Library.

Wellington City Libraries also invites the publishers, contributors and members of the public to attend a celebration marking the online launch of three digitised historic Wellington publications reflecting our past; Capital Times, Agenda and W5 (https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/event/launch-for-capital-times-agenda-magazine-and-w5-on-wellington-city-recollect/).

The Heritage Festival runs from 24 October to 15 November, and there are still some events available to book your place – but be quick they're going quickly, it’s just a matter of time.

Meanwhile the Aotearoa Festival of Architecture Wellington (https://www.nzia.co.nz/aotearoa-festival-of-architecture/aotearoa-festival-of-architecture-wellington-events/) programme has started this week, with something for everyone.

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Explore Pōneke’s architectural past, present and possible futures through a special display of books and archival material at Te Matapihi. Featuring Wellington City Archives’ photographs and stories of lost and almost-lost architecture and landscapes, alongside buildings that were proposed but never realised, the city’s architectural “what ifs.”

The festival also includes a guided tour of the Band Rotunda, Futuna Chapel open days and architectural talks, walking tours exploring Georgina Beyer's Wellington, and go behind the scenes of architecture studios around the city.

Te Wiki Kaumātua – Seniors' Week 2026 (https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/events-and-festivals/seniors-week) is also coming to the capital, running from 12-18 October.

The programme released this week includes a series of community events and activities for older people designed to help build connections, wellness and reduce social isolation in later life.

Wellington Heritage Festival
24 Oct – 15 Nov
Various locations
URL: Events | Wellington Heritage Festival - https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz/events/
The popular Wellington Heritage Festival (https://wellingtonheritagefestival.co.nz) is back with one for the history books, as it gets set to welcome thousands of visitors to over 160 events around the region.

NZIA Aotearoa Festival of Architecture
21 Sept – 4 Oct
Various locations
URL: Aotearoa Festival of Architecture Wellington Events - NZIA Website (https://www.nzia.co.nz/aotearoa-festival-of-architecture/aotearoa-festival-of-architecture-wellington-events/)
The Aotearoa Festival of Architecture, Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, is celebrating the joyful, energetic spirit of the city, with a nod to our famously windy climate.
Uplift is about bringing people together, embracing Wellington’s creative energy, and contributing positively to the life of the city through architecture, design and community.

Te Wiki Kaumātua – Seniors' Week 2026
12 – 18 Oct
Various locations
URL: https://wellington.govt.nz/news-and-events/events-and-festivals/seniors-week
Te Wiki Kaumātua – Seniors' Week is a series of community events and activities for our older people, all about building connections, wellness and reducing social isolation in later life.

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