Attendee Information

At the New Zealand Festival of the Arts we have the health, safety, and welfare of our audiences, artists, and all our workers at the forefront of everything we do.

In light of the recent COVID-19 outbreaks across the world, and on the advice of the NZ Ministry of Health we have been implementing some additional health and safety procedures across the Festival as a precaution.  As part of this we respectfully ask that the following people refrain from attending our events:

• Anyone who has been in close contact with someone confirmed with COVID-19 and is being asked to self-isolate.
• Anyone arriving in New Zealand who has been to mainland China, Iran, Italy or the Republic of Korea (excluding airport transit) in the last 14 days.
• Anyone who is being asked to self-isolate.
• Anyone who is feeling unwell.

Download a copy of the print programme here.

Find a breakdown of ticket types and categories here.

The Culture Club supporters: Preferential booking runs from Thursday 7 November to Sunday 17 November 2019. Learn more about The Culture Club here.

Public sales: Began Monday 18 November 2019.

Early Bird sales: Early Bird prices were available from Monday 18 November until Monday 16 December 2019.

TIX for 20: We’ve made a limited number of $20 New Zealand Festival of the Arts tickets available via email to TIX For 20 followers throughout the Festival, 21 February – 15 March. Sign up and find out more here.

The Power of Three: Purchase three or more tickets to any qualifying shows and you'll automatically go in the weekly draw to win a $300 Festival voucher and three tickets gifted to a charity. Find out more here.

Take Five Pass: A discounted Writers multi-pass is available to purchase from Thursday 7 November (for The Culture Club) and Monday 18 November (General Public). The Take Five Pass enables you to save 20% off all $19 Writers sessions, subject to availability. Passes are strictly limited and only available to purchase until Friday 21 February 2020.

Booking online is the easiest way to purchase your Festival tickets.

To book multiple shows: Use the heart icon to shortlist your favourite shows, then open your shortlist, add the dates you want to attend, and follow the Buy Tickets link to complete your booking.

To book individual shows: Simply follow the Buy Tickets link on that event page.

Book your way: Want specific seats? Book shows individually and you can select your seats. Want to save on booking fees? Book multiple shows with the shortlist and you will be allocated best available seats, and save on booking fees! See below for details on booking fees.

*the shortlist function is only available for events ticketed through Ticketmaster.

To book by telephone: Call our dedicated Ticketmaster line on 0800 120 071 during opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm.

For Te Ata events: you can book through Ticketek on 0800 842 538 during opening hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm, Sat-Sun 9am-5pm. Closed Sunday and public holidays.

In person: Purchase tickets over the counter at the Wellington Opera House (all events excluding Te Ata and Talanoa Mau) or Wellington iSITE (all events excluding Talanoa Mau).

The Opera House box office is open Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, and Sat-Sun, 10am-4pm (closed on public holidays).

The iSITE outlet is open Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm, and Sat-Sun, 9am-5pm (public holidays 9am-4pm).

Outside Wellington? You can also book at Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. And for Te Ata events, at Ticketek outlets nationwide.

Door sales: Tickets may be purchased at the venue one hour prior to the show – provided there are still tickets available!

There are several ways to receive your tickets:
Post or courier*
Print-at-home
Mobile download (selected events)
Collect at venue

*For Ticketmaster bookings, tickets cannot be posted or couriered after Friday 7 February 2020. Beyond this date, you may select print-at-home, mobile download, or collect your tickets from the venue box office.

*For Ticketek bookings (Te Ata events), post closes seven days prior to the event, and courier closes five days before the event.

It is essential you advise Ticketmaster at the time of booking if you have any special seating requirements, such as wheelchair access, hearing loop access, or a companion ticket. Please phone through your booking on 0800 120 071 to discuss your requirements with a Ticketmaster customer service representative.

For Te Ata events: If you have special seating requirements such as wheelchair access, hearing difficulties, or you require companion seating please contact Ticketek on 0800 686 677.

For more information on Festival accessibility, including our Access and Inclusion programme, click here.

Booking for more than ten people? Email groups@ticketmaster.co.nz or call the dedicated group line on 09 970 9745. Excludes Te Ata events and Talanoa Mau.

Tickets for this event are sold through iTICKET. Booking fees apply.

Booking through Ticketmaster:
Internet bookings: $5.00 per transaction
Phone bookings: $11.00 per transaction
Tickets couriered: $9.00 per transaction
Door sales and Ticketmaster outlets: $2.00 per ticket

A payment processing fee of no more than 2.3% applies to purchases by credit card or debit card.

Booking through Ticketek:
All channels: $1.00 per ticket for tickets under $20.00, $2.10 per ticket for tickets over $20.00.
Tickets mailed: $2.50 per transaction
Tickets couriered: $5.50 per transaction/$9.00 per transaction for rural delivery

A payment processing fee from 2.55% applies to all purchases made by credit or debit card.

Booking online? Get your tickets posted, download them as print-at-home, or show on your smartphone.

Lost your tickets? If you have lost your tickets, please contact Ticketmaster on 0800 120 071, or for Te Ata events, Ticketek on 0800 842 538.

Tickets didn’t arrive? If you haven’t received your tickets within 10 days of booking, please contact Ticketmaster on 0800 120 071, or for Te Ata events, Ticketek on 0800 842 538.

Child prices: Selected shows have special prices for children aged 15 years and under. Te Ata events have child prices for under 18s and under 25s. See specific events for details. All children must have a ticket, regardless of age.

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us at ticketing@festival.co.nz and we will be happy to help.

Arrive early, as most venues won’t be able to seat latecomers and you will not be entitled to a refund or transfer.

The venue box office will usually open one hour before the show for last-minute ticket sales and ticket collection.

If collecting tickets, please be there at least 30 minutes before the performance starts.

Venues will generally open for seating 30 minutes prior to the start of the show.

Tickets to all shows are non-refundable and non-transferable, except if a show is cancelled, or as required under New Zealand consumer law. If a show is cancelled, you will be refunded your ticket price (excluding service fee). For Ticketmaster bookings, any claims on refunds for cancelled shows must be submitted prior to Friday 27 March 2020. For Ticketek bookings, refunds for cancelled shows will be issued automatically within 11 working days for credit or debit card payments. Refunds for cash bookings must be claimed from the original point of purchase.

Tickets to all shows are subject to availability. Unless selected otherwise, the best available seats (in each price category) at the time of purchase will be sold.

Latecomers may be excluded from a show, or only admitted at a suitable time. Latecomers will not be entitled to a transfer or refund.

Remember to switch off your mobile phone prior to the start of the show. Recording and photography during all performances is prohibited.

Information on this website is correct at the time of entry. The Festival reserves the right to alter without notice any events, programmes and artists.