Exhibition AUG 29 - NOV 9, 2026 The Adam Portraiture Awards 2026 Free VENUE: Whakaari The Adam Portraiture Award is Aotearoa New Zealand's premier award for painted portraiture. Presented biennially by the New Zealand Portrait Gallery Te Pūkenga Whakaata, the award has become one of the country's most significant and anticipated art prizes.
Tamariki (kids) OCT 27 - OCT 29, 2026 Afterschool Programme – Term 4, 2026 $20 taster, $180 full term VENUE: Mahi Tahi Looking for something creative for your tamariki after school? Our Afterschool Programme is a fun, hands-on space for tamariki aged 5–13 to get creative, try new things and build their skills alongside our talented Education Team. From 3:30 - 5pm, registration is essential.
Drop-in Sessions OCT 27, 2026 Wānaka Community Nights VENUE: Wānaka Community Hub Our popular Free Community Nights are now in Wānaka too! Join us each month for a free, drop-in night to explore diverse creative forms like singing, drawing, dancing, writing, sewing, and more. All levels and ages welcome - no experience needed. Come along and have fun with us! Next event: Tuesday 27 October, 7pm - 8pm
Drop-in Sessions, Workshops OCT 28, 2026 QAS Life Drawing with Kasia Hebda (Term 4, 2026) $33 per session, (28 October is Free) VENUE: Puāwai Join Queenstown Arts Society for classical figure drawing sessions guided by artist Kasia Hebda from Kasia Hebda Studio. Enhance your drawing skills and deepen your understanding of composition, line, mass, and texture through observational drawing with a life model. No experience necessary - beginners are welcome. Book as you go. Classes run 6pm - 7:30pm. Please arrive 10mins before start time.
Wellbeing OCT 29, 2026 Mums & Bubs Yoga + Movement $28 per session ($163 for the full term of 8 sessions) VENUE: Kapa Tahi Designed for mamas from 6 weeks postpartum (12 weeks after a C-section birth), this gentle class is run in term blocks and is created especially for new mums, with your bub right alongside you.
Culture, Talks, Workshops OCT 29, 2026 He Pukapuka, He Waina, He Reo | Term 4 VENUE: Tōnui If you are looking to immerse yourself in conversational reo outside of the classroom, learn more about Māori literature, or simply enjoy thoughtful conversation in good company, this space is for you. Join us fortnightly for an evening of books, kōrero, connection and a glass of something to sip.
Exhibition, Talks OCT 30, 2026 Creative Spaces Project 2026 Opening Night Free VENUE: Manaaki Mai Queenstown Lakes District Council, Three Lakes Cultural Trust, and Te Atamira invite you to the opening evening of the Creative Spaces Project 2026. Now in its second year following a successful debut in 2025, the Creative Spaces Project pairs local creativity with unexpected spaces across the district.
Drop-in Sessions OCT 31, 2026 Saturday Arts Social Free VENUE: Puāwai Saturday Arts Social is a multi-arts programme and morning tea designed for our 60+ community. We gather every Saturday morning for a broad programme of events including concerts, art workshops, dance/movement classes and artist talks. Next event: Saturday 24 October, 10:30am.
Performance OCT 31, 2026 Inside the GP Consultation by Lucy O’Hagan $25 waged, $15 unwaged VENUE: Puāwai GP Lucy O'Hagan's one woman show takes you inside a morning of general practice. Lucy plays 32 different characters in 55 minutes in a performance that is both funny and poignant.
Exhibition NOV 1 - NOV 30, 2026 Burning Issues Free VENUE: Manaaki Mai Internationally acclaimed environmental artists Martin Hill and Philippa Jones have focussed their work on the ecological /climate crisis for three decades. Burning Issues is drawn from their body of work made in the mountains of the Southern Lakes where they live.
Tamariki (kids) NOV 2, 2026 Wriggle and Rhyme Free VENUE: Kapa Tahi Wriggle and Rhyme is a free weekly music and movement programme for ages 0 – 2, facilitated by Sunny Sky from EpicKids. Held every Monday, there are two age-specific sessions available each week: 10am – 10:45am for Toddlers (Under-2s) and 11:00am – 11:45am for Babies.
Rangatahi (Teens) NOV 2, 2026 Art Space for Teens $23 Per Week VENUE: Mahi Tahi Looking for somewhere to get creative after school? Art Space for Teens is a relaxed, supportive visual arts space for young people aged 14–18 to experiment, develop ideas and create on their own terms. Mondays during Term 4, from 3:30pm. Stay any time you like up until 5:30pm. Registrations are essential. Book individual classes, or the full term.
Drop-in Sessions NOV 3, 2026 Community Sing Free VENUE: Puāwai Community Sing is an open, drop-in choir for everyone in the community. It's free and open to all! No registration required. Our next session will take place on Tuesday 3 November, 7pm-8pm.
Talks, Workshops NOV 5 - NOV 8, 2026 Queenstown Writers Festival 2026 VENUE: Te Atamira Queenstown Writers Festival is an unmissable event each November for anyone who loves books, words and insightful conversation. From Booker fame to teenage brains, rock royalty to leather and chains, the 2026 programme brings storytellers of all stripes to Queenstown.
Drop-in Sessions NOV 10, 2026 Community Draw VENUE: Puāwai Join us with sketchbook and pencil in hand for Community Draw, on the second Tuesday of every month. No experience necessary - come along and embrace the joy of different approaches to drawing. Next event: Tuesday 10 November, 6:30-8pm.
Performance NOV 14, 2026 Songsmiths of the South | Live at Te Atamira $33 General Admission / $23 Concession VENUE: Te Atamira Songsmiths of the South is a live showcase of original music by local songwriters and musicians of Tāhuna Queenstown. Together, their songs capture the people, stories and landscapes that make this place home.
Drop-in Sessions NOV 17, 2026 Community Craft VENUE: Puāwai Join us on the third Tuesday of each month for Community Craft - a free, drop-in night to explore creative forms like writing, sewing, and dance. All levels and ages welcome. Come along and hone a craft! Next event: Loose Threads Social, Tuesday 17 November, 6pm - 8pm
Wellbeing, Workshops NOV 19, 2026 Cosmetic Workshop — Learn & Create Your Own Natural Skincare $65 VENUE: Te Atamira Join us for a creative, social workshop where science meets skincare! Discover the science behind cosmetic formulation, learn how to choose ingredients that suit your skin, and create three personalised beauty products to take home. Two dates available: Thursday 19 November 6.00pm-8.30pm and Saturday 21 November, 10.00am-12.30pm.
Workshops NOV 23, 2026 How We Gather Matters | A 90 Minute Learning Experience Free VENUE: Te Atamira Join us for a 90 minute unique learning experience designed around the simple idea that how we gather together matters. It changes how we think, how we connect, and how we make meaning together. Some of the most important things happen in the spaces between - so rather than talking about connection, this is an opportunity to experience the range of it.
Performance NOV 24, 2026 End of Summertime by Roger Hall VENUE: Puāwai Roger Hall’s much-loved comedy, brought to life by acclaimed actor Peter Hayden, makes End of Summertime a highly entertaining solo show not to be missed.
Exhibition NOV 26, 2026 Exhibition opening — Jo Ogier: He Wai Apakura – Te Ara PounamuThe River’s Lament – A Pathway of Treasures Free VENUE: Whakaari Please join us for the opening of this beautiful exhibition, Thursday 26 November, 6.30pm. Expect to hear insights about the journey to create this detailed study of nature, and the artist's collaboration and vision for the project. We're thrilled to feature this collection in our gallery from 27 November to 25 January 2027.
Exhibition NOV 27 - JAN 25, 2027 He Wai Apakura – Te Ara Pounamu | The River’s Lament – A Pathway of Treasures by Jo Ogier Free VENUE: Whakaari Explore the rich ecological and cultural histories of Māruawai | Gore and the wider Mataura River Valley through 26 major artworks by botanical and wildlife artist Jo Ogier.
Wellbeing DEC 2, 2026 Prenatal Yoga (From 13 Weeks) $18 per class, $75 for 5 classes VENUE: Kapa Rua Join Nadi Wellness founder Sandi Murphy for this gentle yet strengthening yoga series which combines mindful movement, functional preparation for birth, breathwork and relaxation.
