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What’s On in Nelson

Your weekly guide to the best events, gigs and markets in Nelson

This week · 18–24 October 2026
🎉 Festivals & Major Events
The Big Spring Street Party

Sat 24 Oct · Kirby Lane, Nelson

A street party at Kirby Lane from midday, presented as part of the Nelson Arts Festival.

Nelson Fringe Bingo Night!

Wed 21 Oct · The Boathouse, Nelson

A Fringe-listed bingo night at The Boathouse from 5:30pm.

Tune Up

Fri 23 Oct · Kirby Lane, Nelson

Festival-listed event at Kirby Lane, starting 5:30pm.

Behind the Headlines

Sat 24 Oct · Nelson Centre of Musical Arts

Festival session at 3:30pm at the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts.

The Stories We Tell Ourselves

Sat 24 Oct · Nelson Centre of Musical Arts

Festival session at 1:00pm at the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts.

🎵 Live Music & Nightlife
Dixie Swing

Sun 18 Oct · The Honest Lawyer, Nelson

Jazz at The Honest Lawyer from 1:00pm.

Meech & Co.

Sun 18 Oct · Eight Plates, Nelson

Jazz at Eight Plates from 1:30pm.

Cumbia Blazera

Fri 23 Oct · The Boathouse, Nelson

Latin music at The Boathouse from 9:00pm.

Ā mua

Sat 24 Oct · The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatu

Classical music performance at The Suter from 7:30pm.

The Velvet Jax band at The Turf!

Sat 24 Oct · Turf Hotel, Nelson

Covers band playing the Turf Hotel from 9:00pm.

🎭 Arts, Culture & Performance
Tiri: Te Araroa

Thu 22 Oct · Theatre Royal Nelson

A play directed by Katie Wolfe that maps Aotearoa through the eyes of Te Tiriti o Waitangi Mahana; 7:00pm, with more dates.

Let’s Twist Again

Fri 23 Oct · Hope Community Church, Hope

Theatre performance at Hope Community Church from 11:00am.

Battle Chorus Disco

Sat 24 Oct · Nelson Centre of Musical Arts

Theatre performance at 8:30pm at the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts.

🎓 Workshops, Classes & Talks
The Swimmer and the Whales

Fri 23 Oct · Nelson Centre of Musical Arts

Talk at 12:30pm at the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts.

Towards the Truth

Fri 23 Oct · Nelson Centre of Musical Arts

Talk at 7:30pm at the Nelson Centre of Musical Arts.

Repair Cafe October

Sat 24 Oct · WAA! Club, Nelson

Community repair session at the WAA! Club from 10:00am.

CoderDojo Computer Club for Kids

Thu 22 Oct · NMIT Nelson Campus

Kids’ computer club at NMIT from 6:30pm.

🏞️ Outdoors & Adventure
Top of the South Cachefest 2026

Sat 24 Oct · Hope Recreation Hall, Hope

Geocaching-style Cachefest event at Hope Recreation Hall from 9:00am, with more dates.

💪 Sports, Fitness & Wellness
Night of Wrecking 21

Sat 24 Oct · Founders Heritage Park, Nelson

Martial arts event at Founders Heritage Park from 5:00pm.

💼 Business & Networking
Inspiring Women Business Conference

Thu 22 Oct · The Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

Business conference at the Trafalgar Centre from 10:00am.

Coming up later this month
Show Me Shorts International Short Film Festival

Sun 25 Oct · The Suter Theatre, Nelson

Short film festival screenings at The Suter Theatre from 10:00am.

Fanny’s Nelson Last Sunday Jazz Series

Sun 25 Oct · Fanny’s Nelson

The Jazz Katz play from 3:00pm.

The Gathering Tide – Chloe Loftus

Mon 26 Oct · Tahunanui Beach, Nelson

Festival event at Tahunanui Beach from 7:00pm.

Ford Trophy cricket: Central Stags v Northern Districts

Wed 28 Oct · Saxton Oval, Nelson

One-day cricket match, starting 10:30am.

Chooks

Thu 29 Oct · The Boathouse, Nelson

Comedy at The Boathouse from 8:30pm.

Machine de Cirque

Fri 30 Oct · The Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

Circus show for the whole whānau, part of the Nelson Arts Festival; 7:00pm.

Light & Shade

Sat 31 Oct · Nelson Cathedral

Event at Nelson Cathedral from 3:00pm, with more dates.

Diwali

Sun 1 Nov · Founders Heritage Park, Nelson

Diwali celebration, 11:00am to 4:00pm.

The New Zealand Cider Festival

Sat 14 Nov · Founders Heritage Park, Nelson

Cider festival, 12:00pm to 7:00pm.

Sources: Eventfinda and Nelson Tasman. Always check the venue or organiser for the latest details.

Keep exploring Nelson

Two more ways to make the most of your time in Nelson. Tap through below.

Things to Do in NelsonThis Weekend in Nelson

Frequently asked questions

What’s on in Nelson this week?

The What’s On calendar lists concerts, markets, sport, theatre, exhibitions and community events happening across Nelson this week, each with its date and venue.

What events are coming up in Nelson?

Upcoming events in Nelson, from gigs and festivals to markets and sport, are listed in date order on the calendar, so you can see what’s ahead at a glance.

Are there free events in Nelson?

Plenty. Markets, exhibitions and community days in Nelson are often free, and they appear alongside ticketed events in the calendar so free options are easy to spot.

Where can I find live music and gigs in Nelson?

Live music, gigs and club nights across Nelson are grouped in the calendar under their own heading, with the venue and date for each so you can plan a night out.

How do I find family-friendly events in Nelson?

Markets, festivals and daytime community events in Nelson are generally suitable for all ages, so look for these in the calendar for family-friendly outings.

How often is the Nelson events calendar updated?

Regularly. We refresh the Nelson What’s On calendar as new events are announced, so it stays current from week to week.