Rotorua hosts world-class events year round
Events bring communities together, help our city grow, showcase creativity, and often they celebrate our unique treasures such as geothermal wonders, Māori heritage, and gold-level mountain biking trails.
Sporting events are always fun whether you're competing, supporting a loved one who's competing, or cheering from the sidelines. The same goes for performing arts, festivals, concerts and more.
The next time you're looking for something to do, check this page for what's on and join us here in Rotorua.
Hell’s Gate Twilight Spa Experience
20 June – 30 August (5-8pm every Friday and Saturday)
Hell's Gate
This Matariki, enjoy a geothermal mud bath, sulphur spa and complimentary cool plunge pool experience by night. Relax and unwind beneath the stars while rejuvenating your body, inside and out, in the world-famous mud and waters of Hell's Gate.
BANFF Film Festival World Tour
26 June
Sir Howard Morrison Centre
Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour returns to Rotorua this June with the Ruapehu programme. Experience award-winning and audience-favourite outdoor films from around the globe in an inspiring night of adventure and storytelling.
ABBA: Thank You For The Music
27 June
Sir Howard Morrison Centre
Get ready to say 'Thank you for the music'. Join us for a 2-hour spectacular concert that will take you through the songs, life and magic that made ABBA one of the most successful bands of all time. Including all the hits "Waterloo, Mama Mia, Dancing Queen, Money Money, SOS" and more.
Te Puia 6-Course Degustation
3 July – 28 August (Every Friday)
Te Puia | New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute
After a run of sold-out degustations in 2025, Executive Chef Shane Beattie returns with this immersive dining experience celebrating the unique landscapes of Te Puia. Beginning in the Geothermal Valley, each course in this carefully crafted degustation draws inspiration from seasonal ingredients, cultural connection and culinary creativity, designed to awaken a different sense with every bite.
Hākari: Te Iwa o Matariki
6 July
Sir Howard Morrison Centre
Experience an immersive Matariki evening featuring Prof. Rangi Mātāmua, a curated indigenous degustation by Raukura Huata, and inspiring stories celebrating renewal, remembrance, connection, and mātauranga Māori.
Magic Men Australia
7 July
Sir Howard Morrison Centre
The #1 ladies night out! Magic Men delivers Australia’s most talented performers, high-energy choreography, jaw-dropping acrobatics, and cheeky crowd interaction, all packaged into a world-class touring production.
Ngā Whetū Pīata o te Rangi
9 July
Sir Howard Morrison Centre
Presented as part of Hawaikirangi – Reconnecting with the Night Sky, Ngā Whetū Pīata o te Rangi features the six Te Arawa kapa haka rōpū selected for Te Matatini 2027, gathering to mark Matariki through waiata, haka and the celebration of Te Arawa identity.
Matariki Soak, Sip & Show at Wai Ariki
9 – 11 July
Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa
Honour the Māori New Year with an evening of restoration, reflection and connection. Begin your journey with a hosted Restorative Journey, designed to calm the body and ground the wairua. Enjoy a welcome beverage and hangi snack and live local entertainment. Then, take your place to experience the Aronui Matariki Drone Show, a breathtaking celebration of the stars and stories of Matariki.
Aronui presents: Matariki Drone Show & Night Market
9 – 11 July
Rotorua Lakefront | Te Rotorua nui a Kahumatamomoe
Aronui Matariki Drone Show & Night Market will light up the Rotorua skies for a third year in a row with one of Aotearoa’s most breathtaking Matariki celebrations.
Join us nightly for a free outdoor experience featuring 550 synchronised drones, powerful storytelling, sound, narration, and visual artistry honouring Matariki, alongside the Rotorua Night Market with delicious food, arts, and crafts.
Te Puia Matariki Hautapu Ceremony
10 July 5am-7am
Te Puia | New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute
Celebrate the Māori New Year at Te Puia with a traditional Hautapu ceremony, held before dawn as the Matariki star cluster rises above Aotearoa. Through karakia, waiata and the offering of kai, this special ceremony honours loved ones who have passed, gives thanks for the year gone by, and sets intentions for the year ahead.
Te Puia Matariki Whānau Day
10 July 9am-3pm
Te Puia | New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute
Inspired by the traditions that followed a Hautapu ceremony, Matariki Whānau Day brings people together to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the future. Enjoy cultural performances, Pā activities (Tītī tōrea & other fun games) artisan market stalls, carving and weaving demonstrations, family activities, and delicious local kai, including a traditional hāngī cooked in the Whakarewarewa Geothermal Valley.
Aronui presents: Vol.9 Matariki Mixtape
11 July
Terrace Kitchen
Internationally acclaimed DJs Thomas Rose and Ethan James will present Aronui’s Matariki Mixtape- Vol.9 a specially curated sunset-to-nightfall performance that blends soulful R&B, Polynesian rhythms, low-fi textures and reflective soundscapes in honour of the contemplative spirit of Matariki.
Borderline
18 July
Sir Howard Morrison Centre
Hailing from Auckland, Borderline is Ben Glanfield [guitar, vocals, keys], Jackson Boswell [drums, vocals], Matthew McFadden [lead guitar], and Max Harries [bass, sax]. With the band’s debut album set to drop on June 26th, fans can expect to hear a collection of pop, rock and funk, fusing the quartet’s undeniable chemistry to deliver music you can groove to.
Run the Forest
8 August
Redwoods and Government Gardens
Run The Forest is the only reason you need to get up and get going this winter. Three distances, run party vibes, and Rotorua’s unique geothermal and Redwood trails. Get the crew together and sign up for the coolest thing you’ll do this winter.
Rolling in the Deep – Songs of Adele
21 August
Sir Howard Morrison Centre
International vocalist Caitriona Fallon is joined by her 10-piece band to present a selection of your favourite Adele tunes.
Caitriona, former lead singer of Riverdance and Tarnished Frocks and Divas, takes us on a journey of the emotional, exhilarating and vulnerable work that Adele has produced through the years. Passionate lyrics written through experience – relatable to her audience and cementing Adele’s position as one of the best singers of our time.
Sonic Boom!
22 August
Sir Howard Morrison Centre
SONIC BOOM brings the excitement of a real rock concert to young audiences, packed with epic singalongs, huge dance moments, and nonstop fun.
Got a little one who loves to sing, dance, or air guitar? Come and give them an unforgettable first concert experience!
Burn the Floor
1 September
Sir Howard Morrison Centre
Burn the Floor features the world’s finest international champion dancers, showcasing a melting pot of dance styles with infectious, rebellious energy and groundbreaking choreography. The incredible cast fearlessly challenge the boundaries of the ballroom artform, supported by live musicians and vocalists, stunning costumes and dynamic production.
Blue Lake 24hr Challenge
26 – 27 September
Lake Tikitapu
The Blue Lake 24hr Challenge is pure Rotorua, a grassroots endurance event set on the shores of stunning Lake Tikitapu. With runners completing laps of the 6km Blue Lake track over 24 hours, it captures the region’s love of trails, adventure, community, and pushing limits in one of Rotorua’s most iconic outdoor settings.
NZ Entertainer of the Year
10 October
Sir Howard Morrison Centre
New Zealand Country Music Association presents NZ Entertainer of the Year.
Aramex Walk Run Series: Trek the Forest
17 October
Lake Tikitapu
Trek the Forest showcases Rotorua at its best, taking walkers and runners through the stunning surrounds of Lake Tikitapu and into the iconic Whakarewarewa Forest. With beautiful lake views, native forest, and world-class trails right on the city’s doorstep, it’s the perfect way to experience Rotorua’s natural playground.
Whaka100 MTB
23 – 25 October
Whakarewarewa Forest
Ride world-class singletrack through Rotorua’s iconic Whakarewarewa Forest, with distances from 10km to 175km to suit every level. Join more than 3,000 riders for one of the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest MTB events, and soak up a full weekend of riding, atmosphere, and everything Rotorua has to offer.
Beatlemania On Tour
3 November
Sir Howard Morrison Centre
The world’s best live Beatles tribute is coming to Rotorua for the very first time. Experience the songs that changed pop music forever, performed live and in original key, including Hey Jude, Let It Be, Come Together and more!
Tarawera Ultra Trail
13 – 14 February 2027
Rotorua
Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB brings the world to Rotorua, showcasing the region’s spectacular trails, lakes, waterfalls, native forest, and deep connection to whenua. From the event hub on the Rotorua lakefront to courses that journey through some of the district’s most iconic landscapes, it captures Rotorua’s spirit of adventure, manaakitanga, and unforgettable outdoor experiences.
Legends of the Lake
27 February 2027
Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake)
Legend of the Lake is a uniquely Rotorua open-water swim experience, set in the clear waters of Lake Tikitapu, one of the region’s most loved natural landmarks. From family-friendly OceanKids swims to longer lake challenges and the magical Swim The Night experience, the event celebrates Rotorua’s deep connection to lakes, outdoor adventure, and unforgettable natural settings.
Volcanic Epic
17 – 21 March 2027
Taupō, Tokoroa, and Rotorua
Ride from the edge of Lake Taupō’s super volcano to Rotorua’s geothermal mountain bike playground, across five unforgettable days of world-famous volcanic singletrack.
Rotorua Marathon
1 May 2027
Lake Rotorua and Lakefront Reserve
The Rotorua Marathon is woven into the city’s identity, with runners and walkers taking on the iconic lap around Lake Rotorua since 1965. The event celebrates Rotorua’s endurance, community spirit, and status as one of New Zealand’s great outdoor event destinations.
