WellingtonEvents

2026 WOW
Show: GLO!

Make the most of WOW in Wellington

At start of items
Four friends enjoy dinner and drinks at Havana Bar and Restaurant in Wellington.

WOW special offers

World of WearableArt Show special offers are available from 17 September to 5 October 2026 at Wellington's shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, and more.

A person walking toward a colourful minibus, covered with World of WearableArt branding and text.

WOW Wanderer hop on/hop off bus

Explore Wellington with the free WOW Wanderer bus. Available exclusively to WOW 2026 ticket holders, connecting shopping, dining, and cultural destinations across the city.

Fifi Colston

Interview with 30-time WOW finalist Fifi Colston

Fifi Colston has entered the World of WearableArt 30 times and won multiple awards. This year she is going to GLO! (the 2026 WOW installment) to watch her designer friends compete.

Held every spring, WOW is New Zealand’s largest arena spectacle. 

This not-to-be-missed event features an electrifying combination of live music, cirque, dance and dazzling wearable art. This year, the inspiration for WOW is GLO! It will see imagination run riot across six sections of pure, unfiltered, high-voltage entertainment. Expect live music, aerialists, dance, and of course, dazzling wearable art. Those six sections correspond with the competition categories at the heart of WOW. As the world’s premier wearable art competition, every garment on stage is a finalist. They are selected for imaginative storytelling and execution excellence. The competition offers a global platform for artists and designers and the chance to win over NZD$200,000 in prizes.   

Welcome to Wellington, where extraordinary art meets exceptional taste. As you step into a world of imagination at the World of WearableArt Show: GLO, let the capital’s legendary culinary scene fuel your stay. Come for the spectacle on stage, stay for the feast.
A staff member at highwater eatery pouring a glass of wine from behind the dimly lit bar.
The interior of Kisa, a Mediterranean restaurant on Cuba Street in Te Aro, Wellington.
Various brunch dishes, a coffee and a mimosa on a table at Two Grey.

Eat & Drink

A flight of coffee and a glass of water.
Explore WOW Special Offers around Wellington
Eat and drink
At start of items
Four friends enjoy dinner and drinks at Havana Bar and Restaurant in Wellington.

WOW special offers

World of WearableArt Show special offers are available from 17 September to 5 October 2026 at Wellington's shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, and more. Some deals are exclusive to WOW ticket holders, so keep your ticket handy to unlock them.

Waiter holding a tray with five colourful cocktails on it.

Mix it up at Wellington’s cocktail bars

Shaken or stirred, Wellington’s bartenders know how to make a mean cocktail. These cocktail bars have a tipple or two to tempt your tastebuds.

Two people sharing a plate of small bites at Jano Bistro.

Follow the stars: Your guide to Michelin in Wellington

Discover Wellington’s Michelin-recognised restaurants, from One-Michelin-Star gems Jano Bistro, Logan Brown and Ortega Fish Shack to Bib Gourmand favourites and other standout dining destinations.

Two people enjoy a flight of coffee at The Hangar.

Your essential guide to coffee

Wellington takes its coffee seriously. Whether you’re after a creamy flat white, a jet-fuelled long black, or something in between, there are plenty of places to keep you caffeinated.

Two people are standing on Kumutoto Wharf near Lambton Quay on a sunny day. The water behind them is green and the sky is blue.

By the seaside: Where to eat and drink on the waterfront

If you’re wandering along Wellington’s waterfront, here’s where you can eat and drink along the way.

Three people eat crab and other seafood plates at The Crab Shack on Queens Wharf.

Where to eat near the stadium

It doesn’t matter if it’s a festival, big game, concert, or conference – everyone needs some quality kai before attending something at the stadium.

With boutiques full of local and international designers, quirky gift stores, and well-stocked bookshops, Wellington is a treasure trove of beautiful things.
Two individuals shopping at Iko Iko, a gift store on Cuba Street in Te Aro Wellington. The shop is full of colourful crafts, décor, books and other items.
Two people holding colourful outfits at the twenty-seven names fashion store in Wellington
The interior of Hunters & Collectors, a vintage clothing store in Te Aro, Wellington. Three shoppers are looking through the items on a clothing rack.

Shop

The storefront of Wellington Apothecary, a health and wellness store located on Cuba Street in Te Aro, Wellington.
Explore shopping in Wellington
Shopping
At start of items
Racks of clothes are positioned in front of Sully's shop windows, looking out on Ghuznee Street.

Boutique shopping in Wellington

Showcasing a curated range of brands from New Zealand and beyond, boutique shopping in Wellington is a one-stop fashion shop.

Two people browse a clothing rack inside Preloved Charlies, a second-hand clothing store in Wellington.

Shop sustainably — secondhand fashion in Wellington

Find your next favourite piece at these curated op shops, consignment stores, and all-around treasure troves.

A person in a long striped gown walks through a boutique clothing store.

Shop for local labels in Wellington

Wellington is home to some of New Zealand’s best designers. Shop for wardrobe staples and special pieces at these local label boutiques.

Three people shopping at Iko Iko, a small, quirky gift shop located on Cuba Street in Te Aro Wellington.

Find the perfect gift

The beauty of design is celebrated in Wellington’s gift shops. Spoil yourself or someone else with something special and uniquely Wellington.

It’s easy to be entertained in Wellington. Fill your days with more retail therapy, vitamin sea, native birdsong and museums you'll actually enjoy.
Close up of a curled up fern frond.
Person standing on a yellow square at PEG Gallery looking at minimalist artwork on a wall.
Two people holding colourful outfits at the twenty-seven names fashion store in Wellington

See & do

Four friends in colourful outfits standing in front of the Wellington sign on the Wellington waterfront in NZ.
Explore more things to do
See and do
At start of items
Outside the Wellington Chocolate Factory, 2 people stand enjoying a coffee. A large black wall is to the left with the business name on it.

24 hours in Wellington

If you’ve only got one day in Wellington and want to get a feel of what the city is like – get ready for a whirlwind tour of tastes, sights, and sounds.

Family taking a photo with the Wellington sign.

Best things to do for free in Wellington

There are plenty of things to do while you’re in Wellington that won’t cost a cent. Have fun for free while making the most of what the capital has to offer.

Looking into Iris Store + Studio adorned with their beauty products in white bottles on shelves along the wall and a counter in the centre.

Wellington‘s top spa and wellness experiences

Feeling frazzled? Aura a little off? Wellington offers fantastic spots to relax and reset. Whether you’re after a luxury spa experience, or a soothing facial, there’s a place you can escape to.

A packed audience inside The Opera House in Te Aro, Wellington.

Book a ticket

With world-class gigs, captivating performances, and adrenaline-fuelled games, there’s always something happening in Wellington.

Couple standing at the top of the Mount Victoria Lookout, with Wellington harbour and city in the background on a sunny day.

Top 10 Wellington must-dos

There’s much to see and do in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. These are a few of the special experiences that shouldn’t be missed.

Frequently Asked Questions

More emails you actually wanna read

With so much more in Wellington it's hard to keep up. Sign up to stay in the loop.

Sign up

Looking for more?

At start of items
Festival attendees gather outside of St James Theatre with the Aotearoa New Zealand Arts Festival displayed on the marquee.

Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts

February to March 2028

Joyful CubaDupa Festival attendees wear colourful outfits and throw confetti in the air.

CubaDupa

March 2027Cuba Street Precinct

New Zealand Fringe Festival

New Zealand Fringe Festival

February to March 2027

A person holds a tool applying smoke to the top of a pint of red and yellow beer at Beervana 2023, a beer and food festival in Wellington New Zealand.

Beervana

August 2027Hnry Stadium

A trumpet player performs in a jazz ensemble.

Wellington Jazz Festival

14 – 18 October 2026

A dancer in a white outfit performs contemporary choreography under a spotlight.

Kia Mau

June 2027

A close-up shows a person holding a bowl of noodles and lifting a forkful to eat, with greens and slices of meat visible in the dish.

Visa Wellington On a Plate

August 2027

High Tide festival stage with pink illustrations surrounding it, and special effects smoke.

High Tide Festival 2026

7 November 2026Waitangi Park | R18

Fifi Colston

Interview with 30-time WOW finalist Fifi Colston

Fifi Colston has entered the World of WearableArt 30 times and won multiple awards. This year she is going to GLO! (the 2026 WOW installment) to watch her designer friends compete.

A magician crouching down with a woman floating over him and papers flying around them.

Abracadabra

6 October 2026The Opera House