New Government funding boost supercharges four Wellington events

WellingtonNZ welcomes the second tranche of the Government’s Events Boost Fund, announced today. The announcement confirms a significant investment across four Wellington events: Visa Wellington On a Plate, Beervana, World of WearableArt (WOW) and Lōemis.

WellingtonNZ CEO Mark Oldershaw says the funding represents a significant and timely boost for Wellington’s events sector.

“Wellington thrives on creativity, connection and shared experiences, and our events sector is at the heart of that. It plays a pivotal role in Wellington’s wider economy, boosting jobs and spend across hospitality, accommodation, retail and tourism while infusing the city with energy, creativity and atmosphere,” says Mark.

“This funding gives some of our flagship events the confidence to take bold steps forward – whether that’s elevating local talent, deepening international partnerships, or expanding the audiences to draw even more people to the city. It’s also an investment for Wellington’s identity and its future; therefore we are thrilled to see this from the Government.”

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston adds: “These are just some of the many exciting events the Government is supporting in 2026. From world-class international and homegrown musical acts to sports fixtures and arts and cultural celebrations, these events will bring fans, visitors and a big boost to New Zealand’s economy.”

The Wellington events that have received funding through Events Boost include:

Visa Wellington On a Plate

Supporting programming and marketing for international chef collaborations, enhancing the global profile of New Zealand’s largest food festival.

Beervana

Enabling targeted promotion in Australia, where demand for craft beer tourism continues to grow.

Penny de Borst, General Manager at Wellington Culinary Events Trust says: “Visa Wellington On a Plate and Beervana are flagship festivals that showcase the capital's creativity and deliver unforgettable experiences. Last year they injected $10 million into the local economy, and this new funding is a major opportunity to share that story internationally. It will help bring global chefs to Aotearoa, embedding our food culture into international menus, highlighting our incredible hospitality community and giving them the opportunity to learn from some of the world's best. It will also position Beervana as a must do for craft beer lovers, and encourage culinary tourists to visit Wellington to experience our unique hospitality culture. We are very grateful for the support from MBIE and the Events Boost Fund.”

World of WearableArt Show (WOW)

Enabling a dedicated digital and public relations campaign targeted to the eastern seaboard of Australia.

Meg Williams, CEO of WOW says: “We know WOW resonates worldwide, so we’re using this Boost funding to help unlock opportunities to grow international visitors to WOW, Wellington and New Zealand through a dedicated campaign in Australia. It is incredibly exciting as we’ve seen the impact PR opportunities can have, so the Event Boost Fund enables us to scale what we have seen work and expand into a digital marketing campaign.”

Lōemis

Supporting the addition of international artists to the programme and strengthening new partnerships with leading Australian festivals including Dark Mofo, Rising and Vivid.

Andrew Laking, Founder & Artistic Director of the festival, says: “Lōemis has always been about making and presenting work that connects with the city – its locations, artists, audiences and the wintry time of year. The Boost fund gives us an opportunity to properly grow the event, working closely with New Zealand based artists, and now also bringing international artists into the mix.”

In the government’s first Events Boost Fund announcement in December last year, ULTRA New Zealand received funding through the Events Attraction Fund. It will be the first time ULTRA has come to New Zealand, and the 20,000-capacity event has already sold out, just four weeks after tickets going on sale. Running and cycling event The Faultline also received funding in the first announcement of the Events Boost Fund.

Find out more about events in Wellington.

Date published: 10 February 2026