Start getting excited for
Nelson Arts Festival 2025
Nelson Arts Festival 2025
23 Oct - 2 Nov 2025
Programme launching in August!
Get a taste of the festival magic!
Our 2024 Festival captured in 120 seconds. Feast your eyes and get excited about what is to come this year!
We're working on our 2025 Festival programme, which will be launching in August.
Video 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.
A Festival (and a fleet) carving a path through the cresting wave.
Find out moreKo te pae tawhiti whāia kia tata, ko te pae tata whakamaua kia tina.
Seek out distant horizons and cherish those you attain.
A Festival (and a fleet) carving a path through the cresting wave.
Apply now for Tune Up 2025
Calling all rangitahi bands, solo performers, singer-songwriters and DJs! Apply now to take part in Tune Up 2025 and perform as part of Nelson Arts Festival 2025 Opening Night.
Tune up is a collaboration between Nelson Arts Festival, Nelson Youth Council and Smokefree Rockquest.
Applications are open until 1 August 2025.
Find out more & apply hereTune up is a collaboration between Nelson Arts Festival, Nelson Youth Council and Smokefree Rockquest.
Applications are open until 1 August 2025.
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