Wellington Pride Festival

Wellington Pride Festival, Tū Whakahīhī e Te Whanganui-ā-Tara, is the capital's two-week Pride season every March. Its roots go back to 1986 and the Newtown Lesbian and Gay Fair, held at Newtown School during the campaign for Homosexual Law Reform under the slogan "a Fair for a fair law." It grew from one day to a weekend to a fortnight and is run by a volunteer committee.

Events are spread across the city. The parade comes first, followed by community-run events, the Pride Youth Ball, a hīkoi (march) and Out in the City, a free fair that is the festival's largest single event and draws thousands. Many events are small and free. Check times on the festival's own calendar, because third-party listings often get them wrong.

The 2026 festival ran from 6 to 22 March 2026. The parade on Saturday 7 March went along Courtenay Place and Dixon Street to the Cuba Street rainbow crossing and marked 40 years since the first fair. Des Smith and John Jolliff were grand marshals, and four of the region's five mayors attended. No overall attendance figure has been published. The 2027 dates hadn't been announced when we checked; expect early to mid-March.