Lōemis adds music and food to midwinter ball

Lōemis Festival returns to Wellington in June with a two-week programme of music, food, immersive art, spoken word and film.

By Lottie Bishop·May 25, 2026·3 min read

The Lōemis solstice procession returns to Civic Square in late June.

Lōemis Festival has announced its final acts and events for 2026, adding more music, cuisine pop-ups, workshops and a Midwinter Solstice Ball to its two-week Wellington programme, running 9 to 21 June.

The midwinter arts festival, now in its eleventh year, will take place across Te Whanganui-a-Tara with anchor events at Civic Square, BATS Theatre and the waterfront.

Festival director Pippa Drakeford-Croad said the programme had grown more ambitious every year. "Wellington is built for midwinter. The festival is just permission to lean into it."

More in Arts

Inside the new Toi Aro space, opening in late June at 3 Market Lane.

Arts

Wellington artists move into new Market Lane centre

Toi Pōneke Arts Centre will reopen as Toi Aro at 3 Market Lane in late June, giving Wellington artists a new central-city base.

By Briar Hewson · 3 min read

The NZ Art Show, held at TSB Arena, was the largest in its history.

Arts market

NZ Art Show generates more than $1.5 million in sales

While headlines focus on the capital's challenges, the 2026 NZ Art Show delivered a record result for local artists at TSB Arena.

By Charlotte Daw · 3 min read

The City Gallery reopened to the public for the first time in more than two years as part of Common Material.

Design

Common Material reopens Wellington's civic heart

The inaugural Common Material brought four of Wellington's leading fashion labels together, and reopened City Gallery to the public for the first time in two years.

By Dan Ahwa · 5 min read