Nelson art, music and events

Creative people have been drawn to Nelson Tasman for decades, so your visits to galleries, artists' studios, markets and festivals will reveal beautiful art pieces that you won't find anywhere else.

Nelson Tasman is a region of ideas, talent and energy. Together they add up to a creative scene that can be enjoyed in lots of different ways. You can book your trip to Nelson to coincide with an event or festival, you can follow an art trail map to meet artists at their studios and galleries, or you can visit one of the region's acclaimed public galleries.

Find a Nelson art gallery that captures your imagination

If you're an art purist, The Suter Art Gallery (Te Aratoi o Whakatū) is a must-visit. This Nelson gallery sprang from an Anglican bishop's love of art and painting; today it's one of New Zealand's leading exhibition spaces for both traditional and modern art.

Nelson Arts Scene. Aotearoa mural by Chris Finlayson on Nelson’s waterfront.

Follow a Nelson Tasman art trail and meet the makers

Nelson Tasman is a super-creative area offering multiple opportunities to meet artists and watch art being created. Some are in the city; others are in countryside areas.

March is when craft beer connoisseurs flock to Nelson for Marchfest, an event that combines exceptional beer with great live music.

An exciting place to witness creativity in motion is the Höglund glass blowing studio, which has been a visitor attraction in Appleby for nearly four decades. The Höglund family do their magic with simple wooden tools and stainless-steel blow pipes to produce awe-inspiring glass art creations. Their studio is an easy 20-minute drive from Nelson city and it's accompanied by a large gallery of completed works.

Māpua, Ruby Bay and Moutere are home to a surprisingly diverse range of creatives, including glass sculptors, painters, potters, ceramicists, furniture makers and weavers. You'll also find some excellent art and craft galleries at Māpua Wharf.

At the northern end of Trafalgar Square in Nelson city is the Jens Hansen studio, where the One Ring was made for the Lord of the Rings movies. The display cabinets are full of intricate works that look like they've come from another world. If you're looking for your own personal ring of power, this is the place to have it designed and made.

What's on? Nelson Tasman events that are full of flavour, fizz and fun

Nelson Tasman's love of art, food, wine and craft beer feeds into an appealing year-round events calendar. Here are some of the biggies:

  • Nelson's newest annual event The Spectacle has been created by runners, for runners. Stunning trail and road runs from 5km to a jaw dropping 100 miles.
  • A sell out event that attracts entrants from all across the globe, the NZ MTB Rally showcases Nelson Tasman on the international stage.  Amateurs and internationally recognisable pro mountain bikers ride alongside one another in a proper kiwi enduro adventure in March.
  • It's a grand celebration of Italian culture at Nelson Italian Festival. In the heat of summer in March savour authentic Italian food, watch cooking demos and traditional performances, stroll the market and purchase tasty treats and gifts to take home.  
  • Enjoy a night of music in the open air at Opera in the Park in February. A biennial event with a full orchestra, world-class opera and contemporary singers.
  • Every two years at the beginning of February, Nelson hosts the Adam International Chamber Music Festival, a collection of concerts featuring small orchestras from near and far.
  • March is when craft beer connoisseurs flock to Nelson for Marchfest, an event that combines exceptional beer with great live music. All the beers available at Marchfest are especially made for the event and have never previously been tasted by the public.
Masked Parade 2019 Nelson. Friends in Bavarian Costumes at Marchfest.
  • Admire over 150 historic and unique boats of all types from 1900 onwards that are on display and competing in on-water events at the NZ Antique & Classic Boatshow in March.
  • Nelson Jewellery Week is a biennial event in April for makers, wearers and viewers showcasing regional and national contemporary jewellery including exhibitions, public talks, interventions and workshops.
  • The Nelson Fringe Festival embraces all things hilarious, strange and unexpected. As well as shows, it offers workshops that let you develop your own on-stage skills.
  • Te Ramaroa brings together technology, art, science and fantasy in the darkness of winter with outdoor light installations from tiny discoveries through to magnificent multi-storeyed projections, held biennially in June.
  • If you have Irish ancestry, you'll love the Ceol Aneas Irish Music Festival held on Queen's Birthday Weekend. This event focuses on lute, fiddle, free reed, banjo/mandolin, guitar and whistle music. There's a ceili dance too.
  • Nelson Clay Week is a biennial event in October celebrating contemporary ceramic art and showcasing Aotearoa's pottery community through displays and hands-on workshops.
  • The annual Nelson Arts Festival, held in October, involves a mix of theatre, music, dance, circus, writers and visual arts. A special highlight is the street parade, famous for its fun, colour and creativity.
  • The NZ Cider Festival takes place in biennially November, and with Nelson Tasman being the largest cider region in New Zealand producing over 60% of the country's cider it's a must-see for cider seekers!
Masked parade image courtesy Tim Cuff, Nelson City Council; Nelson Arts Scene image courtesy of www.nelsontasman.nz; Aotearoa mural image courtesy of www.nelsontasman.nz; Masked Parade 2019 Nelson image courtesy of www.nelsontasman.nz