WellingtonSee & Do
3 people wearing black, appreciating art works on the white wall inside City Gallery.

City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi

  • Location

    70 Molesworth Street, Thorndon, Wellington

  • Website
    City Gallery

City Gallery has temporarily moved

City Gallery Wellington has moved its exhibitions to the National Library of New Zealand. It will be back in its home in Te Ngākau Civic Square in 2026. In the meantime, it continues to bring art to Wellington through an exciting exhibition programme. Visit the website for further details.

Wellington’s contemporary art gallery is a dynamic cultural presence. You’ll find exhibitions that delight and challenge.

City Gallery Wellington has been at the forefront of Wellington’s contemporary art scene since its inception in 1980. It has a dynamic programme of exhibitions and events that connect both the local community and the contemporary art community.  The capital’s gallery has an international reputation for showcasing artists at the height of their game. The exhibition schedule balances between artists from Aotearoa and international players.

As the country’s only Kunsthalle gallery, City Gallery Wellington doesn’t maintain its own art collection. Instead, it devotes its resources to mounting large-scale special exhibitions, borrowing artworks nationally and internationally. This means its exhibitions are often unique and expansive in scope. It has hosted many international artists’ exhibitions and introduced New Zealand audiences to diverse contemporary art voices. 

Along with showcasing thought-provoking art, the gallery runs regular events and guided tours. To ensure high-quality contemporary art is accessible to all, gallery entry is free. 

City Gallery Wellington’s permanent home is currently closed while buildings around Ngākau Civic Square are being renovated and earthquake strengthened.

Explore more

Looking for more?

At start of items
The monument at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park is located in, Te Aro, Wellington.

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park

A short walk from the centre of Wellington lies Pukeahu National War Memorial Park. It is a place to reflect on and remember New Zealand’s experience of war.

An exhibition at the Pātaka Art + Museum located in Porirua City Centre featuring large painted canvases displayed on the walls. Four people stand and admire the artwork.

Pātaka Art + Museum

Pātaka Art + Museum is a world-leading gallery dedicated to Māori and Pacific art in central Porirua.

A family walks towards the Dowse Museum in Lower Hutt.

The Dowse Art Museum

The Dowse Art Museum is a contemporary art gallery in Lower Hutt. It has found its niche in the applied arts with a collection of more than 3,500 objects.

Exterior of the Wellington Museum, a blue building with a red door.

Wellington Museum

Wellington Museum tells the stories of our people. From maritime history, Māori and European settlement, and the evolution as the capital.

An adult and child walk alongside a fountain at the Wellington Botanic Gardens ki Paekākā. Pink and red roses surround them.

Wellington Botanic Garden ki Paekākā

Wellington is home to the oldest botanic garden in New Zealand. On the city edge there are 25 hectares of specialised plants, unique landscapes, and city views.

An exhibition room inside Toi MAHARA Gallery with woven baskets, photographs and other artworks on display.

Toi MAHARA

See the Field Collection works and other treasures at Toi MAHARA, a local gallery with national significance on the Kāpiti Coast.

The exterior of the New Zealand Parliament building at 1 Museum Street, Pipitea in Wellington at sunset with pink-coloured clouds in the sky above.

New Zealand Parliament Tours

Go behind the scenes of the Beehive and Parliament House with a free tour to understand more about New Zealand's history and how democracy works.

The exterior of Te Papa Tongarewa, half glass and half concrete.

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

New Zealand’s national museum reflects the country’s identity, history, and culture.

Entrance to He Tohu at The National Library of New Zealand.

He Tohu at National Library of New Zealand

Located at the National Library of New Zealand, He Tohu displays the Treaty of Waitangi, the Women’s Suffrage Petition, and the Declaration of Independence.

A person doing the Footsteps of Change Wellington Parliamentary Precinct self-guided walking tour with the Beehive building in the background.

Footsteps of Change

Discover iconic landmarks, learn about the city, and explore founding civic moments that have defined New Zealand’s history with this free self-guided tour.