Thank you for an unmissable 30th Nelson Arts Festival, Whakatū!
Save the dates for our 2025 Festival:
Save the dates for our 2025 Festival:
23 Oct - 2 Nov 2025
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Relive the magic:
Our 2024 Festival captured in 120 seconds. Wow - it's been amazing, and an incredible celebration of our 30th birthday.
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved, from funders and partners, volunteers and crew, to our awe-inspiring artists.
Captured and produced by our festival partners Innit Creative.
Piki mai, kake mai.
Welcome to Nelson Arts Festival
Many boats in one ocean, looking to many stars in one sky.
Ko te pae tawhiti whāia kia tata, ko te pae tata whakamaua kia tina.
Seek out distant horizons and cherish those you attain.
2024, our 30th Nelson Arts Festival.
A Festival (and a fleet) carving a path through the cresting wave.
See All EventsKo te pae tawhiti whāia kia tata, ko te pae tata whakamaua kia tina.
Seek out distant horizons and cherish those you attain.
2024, our 30th Nelson Arts Festival.
A Festival (and a fleet) carving a path through the cresting wave.
Awe-inspiring.
Audacious.
Accessible.
Celebrating 30 years of unmissable arts experiences for and with our community.
Take a trip down memory lane with our festival archive and memory wall.
Featured Events
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Free
Community
MASK CARNIVALE 2025
Whakatū Nelson CBD
Fri 31 Oct | 5-9pm
Mask Parade starts at 5.15pm | Carnivale from 5.45pm
Come celebrate the beginning of summer with our most iconic event – this year’s theme for the parade: Transformation. We can’t wait to see you there, Whakatū!
Festival News
The latest news from the festival team