Nau mai, haere mai

Welcome to the UPSURGE Bay of Islands Arts Festival

We are a biennial arts festival held in and around the stunning Bay of Islands region.
This year’s Festival runs over six action packed days and nights with a diverse programme of performance genres from New Zealand and afar.

With a tantalising selection of theatre, contemporary dance, free street theatre and music performances, we hope that there is something for everyone to enjoy.

This year we’re very excited to present the first ever writer’s programme – UPSURGE Talks. We have gathered a significant selection of Aotearoa’s best – from history and poetry to food and satire – that will give you plenty to enjoy and to ponder.

Performances will be held in special venues right around the region, from the magical Duke of Marlborough Hotel to the rustic historic beauty of the Waimate North Showgrounds Hall. Our much-loved festival is all about celebrating our own region’s unique identity and creating memorable enriching experiences for our audiences.