Courtenay Carnival returns to ignite Wellington’s New Year’s Eve 2025

One of Wellington’s biggest street celebrations is back – Courtenay Carnival will return on New Year’s Eve 2025, bringing thousands together for a vibrant, free, family-friendly celebration in the heart of the city. The street party will once again transform the Courtenay Precinct with live music, colour, and community energy from 4pm–1am.

To deliver the event, Courtenay Place, Allen Street, and Blair Street will be closed from 6am Tuesday 31 December until 6am Wednesday 1 January.

Brett McCall from the Wellington Community Revitalisation Society says the event’s return marks another important step in bringing the precinct back to life.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing Courtenay Carnival back for New Year’s Eve,” he says. “This event celebrates everything that makes Wellington unique – creativity, diversity, community, and a whole lot of joy. Last year proved how much people value big, free, safe public celebrations in the city. This year will be even bigger, brighter, and more connected to our local arts and music and performance community.”

Courtenay Carnival will feature a dynamic entertainment lineup across multiple stages, showcasing some of Aotearoa’s most exciting performers.

Headline acts include Bitterly Divine, the Vancouver-based Indigenous rock band; Star Time, an eight-piece high-energy Afrobeat/jazz/dance collective; legendary party band Loveshack; and the ever-popular Saxy Time, bringing a late-night brass-driven celebration into the early hours of 2026.

Festival favourites Wellington Batucada and Estudio de Samba Wellington will fill the precinct with rhythm and dance, while drag artists, circus performers, kids’ entertainment from Enchanted Entertainment, and MC Mamaeroa Munn (Mo) add to the atmosphere throughout the evening.

The event is part of a broader plan to revitalise the Courtenay Precinct and enhance Wellington’s hospitality and arts sectors. Local businesses are working alongside Wellington City Council, Hospitality NZ, Wellington Airport, CentrePort, and Vitalise Wellington to deliver a year-round calendar of activity. Vitalise Wellington has already delivered initiatives including Eat Street, 20 Years of WOW in Welly, Music Month November, a month-long live music trail across city venues – with Courtenay Carnival serving as the culminating celebration.

Brett McCall says this collaboration is essential to the area’s ongoing recovery.

“Courtenay Place is at its best when it’s alive with people, music, and movement. Events like this support local businesses, showcase incredible homegrown talent, and create safe moments for the whole community to enjoy. We can’t wait to see the city come together again this New Year’s Eve.”