What’s on in Queenstown’s arts and culture scene | 2026
From chamber music and visual arts to contemporary theatre and local festivals, Queenstown is a hub for far more than just mountains and adrenaline. We’re also home to a vibrant arts, culture and creativity scene, with many high-quality events taking place throughout the year right across the Southern Lakes.
If you're planning a visit to Queenstown for the At the World’s Edge Festival and want to fill your arts and culture cup while you’re here, consider this your insider guide to what to do in Queenstown and across the Whakatipu Basin.
Te Atamira – Queenstown
Te Atamira, AWE’s festival hub, is one of Queenstown’s leading spaces for creative expression. Home to galleries, studios, workshops and performances, Te Atamira hosts everything from experimental theatre and film screenings to artist talks and music residencies. If you’re wondering what’s on in Queenstown, this should be your first stop. Check the programme for contemporary dance, Māori art exhibitions, and emerging composers - it’s always evolving.
Sherwood - Queenstown
Perched above Lake Whakatipu, Sherwood has become one of Queenstown’s most distinctive creative venues. With a strong focus on sustainability and local arts, the hotel brings together hospitality and culture through its year-round programme of music, exhibitions, talks and performance.
Current events include the Songwriter Society, an open mic night for original music and spoken word, and the Courtyard Sessions, rotating live music every Friday with happy hour flatbreads and cocktails. There's also a rolling series of food-focused events with Two Raw Sisters, including cooking workshops and a Harvest Lunch, alongside community gatherings like Toastmasters evenings hosted in the Workshop space.
Sherwood's line-up shifts with the seasons, so it's best checked directly via their events page, but it remains one of the most reliably original spots for low-key, high-quality arts and culture experiences in the region.
Arrowtown Galleries - Arrowtown
Arrowtown’s historic streets are home to a well-established and growing arts scene. With a mix of respected galleries and working studios, the town offers a diverse range of visual art experiences set against a richly preserved heritage backdrop.
Your first stop might be Giraffe Art Gallery, a contemporary space on Buckingham Street that showcases work by emerging and established New Zealand artists, including painter Dalene Meiring. The gallery offers a rotating exhibition programme, making it a perfect introduction to the artistic diversity you’ll find throughout Arrowtown. Nadene Milne Gallery showcases major contemporary artists such as Shane Cotton, Fiona Pardington, and Judy Millar while around the corner, Superpartner Gallery is housed in a beautifully restored 1871 chapel. note that as of writing it's closed for the winter while the space is used as a studio ahead of its next exhibition, so it's worth checking their exhibitions page before visiting.
Other must stops include Astor Bristed Gallery, immersive portraiture at David John Gallery, and bold historical narratives fromJenny Mehrtens in her upstairs studio space.
As if that were'n’t enough, there’s the wonderful works in the studio of sculptor Fiona Garlick M Studio Art, Jasmine Clark’s cosy home studio and Birdwoods Gallery.
For a self-guided option, the Arrowtown Creative Arts Society now runs the Arrowtown Arts Trail, an interactive Google Maps-based guide to the town's galleries, studios and museums.
Apart from being incredibly beautiful whatever the season, Arrowtown has the added bonus of being a compact and walkable town so you can wander the studios and galleries at your leisure before nipping into one of the countless eateries. You’re spoiled for choice on every front!
Image: Sonya Lacey exhibition at Superpartner Gallery
Finding local arts and culture events
Don’t forget to leave a little room in your schedule for local events while you’re here. There are always new performances, exhibitions, events and pop-ups happening in Queenstown, so it’s worth checking regional listings before and during your visit to make the most of your time.
Te Wahi Toiis your go-to for arts and culture happenings in Queenstown and Wānaka. Exhibitions, workshops, concerts and talks are among the events listed in this creative directory, making it your first stop when planning your Queenstown or Wānaka trip.
Or, download the Queenstown Appor grab a copy of the Lakes Weekly Bulletin to stay up to date with what’s on. They’re a great way to keep up with what’s on in the Southern Lakes, whether it’s a gallery opening, a live gig, or a new addition to the Queenstown event calendar.