Nelson Bridge House244C Bridge St · Nelson NZ
Nelson events · festivals · holidays

What's on in Nelson — events and festivals, month by month

From cider and craft beer festivals to international cricket, jazz and the Saturday market, there's usually something on in Nelson Tasman. Here's our month-by-month guide from November 2026 to October 2027, with public and school holidays so you can plan around the busy weekends.

Updated · by your hosts Michael & Melanie

Check availability Things to do in Nelson

Stay central and walk to the action

Many of Nelson's city events happen within walking distance of Bridge Street. Trafalgar Square and Christ Church Cathedral, Montgomery Square, 1903 Square, Trafalgar Park, the Trafalgar Centre and Founders Heritage Park are all within about a 20-minute walk of the house. Saxton Oval (in Stoke) and the Richmond Park Showgrounds are each about 20 minutes' drive south-west.

Our minimum stay is two nights, which suits a festival weekend nicely, and longer stays of 7 nights or more get 10% off when you book direct.

Every Saturday: Nelson Saturday Market

The Nelson Saturday Market runs every Saturday from 8am to 1pm in Montgomery Square, rain or shine, about 12 minutes' walk from the house. Expect local produce, artisan food, crafts and good coffee. Hours can change over holiday weekends, so check with the market if you're visiting at Christmas or New Year.

November 2026

  • Nelson Arts Festival — the 2026 festival runs from 22 October to 1 November, so Sunday 1 November is your last chance to catch theatre, music and comedy around the city.
  • Ford Trophy cricket — Central Stags v Auckland Aces, Wednesday 4 November, 10.30am at Saxton Oval. Entry is free.
  • New Zealand Cider Festival — Saturday 14 November, noon to 7pm at Founders Heritage Park: New Zealand cider and live music, headlined by Sonar Flare. All ages, and about a 20-minute walk from the house.
  • Nelson A&P Show — the 132nd show is at the Richmond Park Showgrounds. Friday 20 November (2pm–5pm) opens the equestrian and woodchopping programmes with free entry, then the full show runs on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November, 9am–4pm.

See November availability

December 2026

  • The Spectacle Running Festival — Friday 4 and Saturday 5 December, based at Trafalgar Square. Trail races range from 10 km to 100 miles, and there are road races in the city, including a fast road mile with international runners followed by a free concert.
  • Nelson Santa Parade — usually held on a Sunday in early December along Trafalgar Street. The 2026 date is to be confirmed, so watch Nelson City Council's notices for the date and road closures.
  • WHITE FERNS v Bangladesh — two T20 internationals at Saxton Oval: Thursday 10 December (4pm) and Saturday 12 December (1pm).
  • Christmas at the Cathedral — Saturday 12 December, 7pm: carols and festive favourites with NBS Nelson City Brass and the Nelson Youth Choir at Christ Church Cathedral (ticketed).
  • Summer school holidays begin — schools finish for the year no later than Friday 18 December (each school sets its own last day).
  • Public holidays — Christmas Day is Friday 25 December. Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December, so it's observed on Monday 28 December for most people.
  • New Year's Eve — in recent years Nelson City Council has hosted a free Countdown in the City at 1903 Square, at the top of Trafalgar Street, with family entertainment early and live bands later. Details for 2026 are to be confirmed.

Summer is peak season in Nelson, so book early for Christmas and New Year.

See December availability

January 2027

  • Public holidays — New Year's Day is Friday 1 January. The day after falls on Saturday 2 January, so it's observed on Monday 4 January.
  • Jazz on the Village Green — in recent summers the Nelson Jazz Club and Founders Heritage Park have run relaxed Sunday afternoon jazz sessions (1–3pm, entry by koha) from mid-January into March. Check with the club for 2027 dates. The club's jazz festival moved to winter in 2026 (see July).
  • Tāhuna Summer Sounds — a free evening of local music at Tāhunanui Beach Reserve, held on a Friday in January in 2024 and 2025. Check with Nelson City Council whether it's on for 2027; dates to be confirmed.
  • Super Smash cricket — the domestic T20 competition starts on 27 December, and Saxton Oval has hosted Super Smash games in early January in recent seasons. The 2026/27 Nelson fixture wasn't confirmed when we wrote this, so check Central Districts Cricket.
  • BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka — two T20 internationals at Saxton Oval on Nelson Anniversary weekend: Friday 29 January (4pm) and Sunday 31 January (1pm).
  • School holidays — summer holidays continue until Term 1 starts, which each school sets between Thursday 28 January and Wednesday 3 February.

See January availability

February 2027

  • Nelson Anniversary Day — Monday 1 February 2027, a regional public holiday, so expect a busy long weekend.
  • Waitangi Day — falls on Saturday 6 February, so the public holiday is observed on Monday 8 February for most people. In recent years Nelson has marked the day at Whakatū Marae and Founders Heritage Park, with kapa haka, kai and stalls. Check the 2027 programme closer to the time.
  • Opera in the Park — Nelson City Council's outdoor opera night is held in February every second year at Trafalgar Park, a walk from the house. The last one was in February 2025 and the council is planning a 2027 edition; dates to be confirmed.
  • Adam Chamber Music Festival — held every second year, so it isn't expected in 2027. The most recent ran from 29 January to 7 February 2026, and the next is expected in 2028.

See February availability

March 2027

  • Tuku Whakatū heritage festival — dozens of mostly community-run events celebrating Nelson's heritage and cultures. It has run from late March to early May in recent years (21 March to 3 May in 2026). 2027 dates to be confirmed.
  • Multicultural Festival — a celebration of Nelson's many cultures, held on a Sunday in March at Founders Heritage Park in recent years, with gold coin entry. Date to be confirmed.
  • Marchfest — Nelson's craft beer and music festival at Founders Heritage Park, held on a Saturday in late March in recent years (R18). Date to be confirmed.
  • Easter — Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Monday is 29 March 2027.
  • Māpua Easter Fair — a big community fair held on Easter Sunday at the Māpua Domain. If it follows the usual pattern, that's Sunday 28 March 2027; check with the organisers.

See March availability

April 2027

  • Autumn school holidays — Saturday 10 April to Monday 26 April (Term 1 ends Friday 9 April and Term 2 starts Tuesday 27 April).
  • ANZAC Day — falls on Sunday 25 April, so the public holiday is observed on Monday 26 April. Nelson's dawn service is usually held at ANZAC Park, within walking distance of the house.
  • Tuku Whakatū — the heritage festival usually continues through April (see March).
  • NBL basketball — the Nelson Giants play their home games at the Trafalgar Centre. The national league season has started in March or April in recent years and runs into winter; check the Giants' draw for home games.

See April availability

May 2027

  • A quieter month — Tuku Whakatū has wrapped up in early May in recent years, and after that May is a calm time for walks, rides and winery lunches before winter.
  • Nelson Giants — NBL basketball continues at the Trafalgar Centre.

See May availability

June 2027

  • King's Birthday — Monday 7 June 2027.
  • Matariki — the Matariki public holiday is Friday 25 June 2027, making a long weekend. Look out for community Matariki events around Whakatū Nelson.

See June availability

July 2027

  • Winter school holidays — Saturday 3 July to Sunday 18 July (Term 2 ends Friday 2 July and Term 3 starts Monday 19 July).
  • Te Ramaroa – Nelson Light Festival — a free festival of light installations over five midwinter evenings, centred on upper Trafalgar Street and Christ Church Cathedral, about 15 minutes' walk from the house. It isn't an annual event (it ran in 2023 and again on 3–7 July 2026), so it may not be on in 2027; check the festival's website.
  • Nelson Jazz Winter Festival — five days of gigs at pubs, cafés, bars and other venues around Nelson and Tasman, held 22–26 July in 2026, the first year the Nelson Jazz Club ran its festival in winter. The club hopes to run it again in 2027; dates to be confirmed.
  • Winter in Nelson — frosty mornings and often clear, sunny days. Great for biking, with a warm house to come back to.

See July availability

August 2027

  • Tasman Mako rugby — the Mako play their NPC home games at Trafalgar Park in Nelson and Lansdowne Park in Blenheim. The NPC season has run from late July or early August into October in recent years; check the 2027 draw for Nelson games.
  • Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival — the festival's Nelson season ran from 27 August to 9 September in 2026. 2027 dates to be confirmed.

See August availability

September 2027

  • Film festival — the Nelson season ran into early September in 2026 (see August).
  • Tasman Mako — NPC rugby continues, with some home games at Trafalgar Park.
  • Spring school holidays begin — Saturday 25 September (Term 3 ends Friday 24 September).
  • Spring — blossom, lambs and quieter days before the summer rush.

See September availability

October 2027

  • Spring school holidays — run until Sunday 10 October; Term 4 starts Monday 11 October.
  • Wine Nelson Tasting Event — local winemakers pour their wines at an evening tasting (R18), held in October at the Trafalgar Centre in recent years. Date to be confirmed.
  • Nelson Arts Festival — theatre, music, comedy and more around the city, usually from late October into early November (22 October to 1 November in 2026). Past festivals have included Nelson's Mask Parade, and the 2026 programme has a free street party on Upper Trafalgar Street. 2027 dates and programme to be confirmed.
  • Labour Day — Monday 25 October 2027.

See October availability

Public and school holidays at a glance

Public holidays affecting Nelson, 2026–27

  • Christmas Day: Friday 25 December 2026
  • Boxing Day: Saturday 26 December 2026 (observed Monday 28 December)
  • New Year's Day: Friday 1 January 2027
  • Day after New Year's Day: Saturday 2 January 2027 (observed Monday 4 January)
  • Nelson Anniversary Day: Monday 1 February 2027
  • Waitangi Day: Saturday 6 February 2027 (observed Monday 8 February)
  • Good Friday: Friday 26 March 2027 · Easter Monday: Monday 29 March 2027
  • ANZAC Day: Sunday 25 April 2027 (observed Monday 26 April)
  • King's Birthday: Monday 7 June 2027
  • Matariki: Friday 25 June 2027
  • Labour Day: Monday 25 October 2027

School holidays, 2026–27

  • Summer: from the end of Term 4 (no later than Friday 18 December 2026) until Term 1 starts (between Thursday 28 January and Wednesday 3 February 2027, set by each school)
  • Autumn: Saturday 10 April – Monday 26 April 2027
  • Winter: Saturday 3 July – Sunday 18 July 2027
  • Spring: Saturday 25 September – Sunday 10 October 2027

Planning the rest of your trip

For beaches, wineries, biking, rainy-day ideas and day trips, see our guide to things to do in Nelson. Bringing bikes? See our Great Taste Trail guide. When you've picked your dates, check availability and book direct.

Event dates, times and venues can change, and some events don't run every year. Please check with the organisers before you plan your trip around an event. Dates marked "to be confirmed" are based on recent years.