The annual Wellington Jazz Festival is the highlight of Aotearoa’s music calendar.

From 14-18 October, the Wellington Jazz Festival will celebrate its 30th anniversary, returning to the capital with a powerhouse programme of internationally acclaimed artists making their Aotearoa debuts, leading homegrown musicians, and fresh new music.

More than 180 gigs will take over Te Whanganui-a-Tara, transforming the city into a vibrant celebration of jazz. From intimate bars to grand stages, Wellington will pulse with the sounds of soul, swing, funk, and everything in between.

Join us from 14 - 18 October, 2026.

Our People

Festival Leadership Team

Angela Green
Executive Director

Dolina Wehipeihana
Festival Co-Director

Tama Waipara
Festival Co-Director

Amy Dewes
Head of Audience and Partnerships

Margot van de Water
Head of Finance and Business Operations

Paul O'Brien
Head of Technical and Production

Sasha Gibb
Head of Programming

Te Ataahia Hurihanganui
Pou Ārahi Māori

Festival Board

Sarah Kemp Chair
Allan Frost
Annabel McCallum
Ben Ngaia Te Āti Awa
David Inns
Susan Freeman-Greene
Mele Wendt, MNZM
Dr Nicola Ngawati Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine
Cr Nicola Young

Festival Team

Arpita Dutta
Marketing Campaign Lead

Michael Lyell-O'Reilly
Technical Producer/Production Manager

Elizabeth Turner
Financial Accountant

Josiah Wood
Content Creator


Huia Haupapa
Marketing and Content Coordinator

Sally Woodfield
Audience & Partnerships Associate

Lauren Day
Senior Producer

Margie Beattie
Philanthropy Advisor

Our Partners

We gratefully acknowledge the generous contribution of our Festival Partners and Funders. Find out more about how to Become a Partner.

Ohu Kairangi | Patrons

JAZZ KAIRANGI
Annabel McCallum and Dilys Grant
Helena Walker
John Barlow
John Young
Mike Durkin and Georgina Miller
Simon Beattie
Simon and Sally Novak
Anonymous (3)

PLATINUM
Archibald Family
James and Helena Brow
Michael and Amy Tiemann
Stephen Strother and Cheryl Grady
Van der Boyes Family Trust

GOLD
Dame Kerry Prendergast and Rex Nicholls
Dilys Grant and Annabel McCallum

SILVER
David Goddard and Liesle Theron
Cathy Ferguson and Michiel During
Gordon and Marie Shroff
Kathryn Jones and David Long
Paul and Sheryl Baines
Sarah Kemp and Matt Whimp

Anonymous (1)

BRONZE
Adam and Kate Thornton
Angela Green
Barbara Blake
Carole Hicks
David and Heather Hutton
E Prof Les Holborow and E Prof Elizabeth McLeay
Fay Paterson and Brett Gawn
Gael Webster and Tim Brown
Howard Greive and Gabrielle McKone
Jeremy Winter and Judy Francis
John and Rachel Ryan
Kim Davies and Andrew Kibblewhite
Leona Wilson
Mary Jo and Stokes Taylor
Matt and Adie McClelland
Nicky Saker and Mark O'Regan
Peter Chemis and Jane McDiarmid
Renata Minetto
Ruth and Peter Graham
Sally Woodfield and David Inns
Simon O’Connor and Robyn Pegden
Stephen Kos and Jocelyn Afford
Susan Freeman-Greene and Craig Stevens

PATRON
Alan Judge and Catherine Shaw
Allison and Victor Diem
Andrew Cathie and Niki Pennington
Andrew Stewart and Stephanie Dickens
Anna Kominik and David Cunliffe
Ann Mildenhall
Bernadette and Mark Leadbitter
Bridgit Sissons and Matt Yarnell
Bronwyn Monopoli
Carla and John Wild
Catherine and Alistair Cattanach
Chris McGrath
Dame Carolyn Henwood
Dame Patsy Reddy and Sir David Gascoigne
Denis Clifford and Jane Meares
Elisa Puccioni
Elisabeth Poppelwell and Murray Costello
Elizabeth Kerr and Jane Gunn
Eleonora Bello and Samuele De Stefani
Helen Cull and Frances Luketina
Helen and Peter Milne
Jan and Tomas Huppert
Jane McCann and Peter Barker
Jane Wrightson
Jeff and Jess Staniland
Jo Oliver and Mark Crofskey
Julie Elstone and Ian Paul
Jules Bailey-Rotman and Arpi Dutta
Katie Chalmers and Michael Baker
Lynne Dovey and Ben Gray
Margie Beattie and John Barlow
Marion and Paul Frater
Mark and Kate Le Masurier
Meg Williams and Olly Bisson
Mike and Mazz Scannell
Paul Ridley-Smith and Felicity Wong
Ranjani and Matt Huddleston
Richard Norman and Janice Wilson
Robert and Dinah Dobson
Ross Steele
Sharon and Tom Greally
Shirley Gainsford and Hilary Patton
Sue Elliott and Craig Smith
Susan Timmins and Kerry Hollingsworth
Susie and Nigel Isaacs
Suz and Peter Hausmann
Tim Stephens and Sarah Bartlett
Tracey Bridges
Trevor and Barbara Glogau
Virginia Breen
Anonymous (11)

LAUNCHPAD PATRON
Beth Brash
Jan Morgans
Rosaria Guadalupi and Gianfranco Sgura
Shaun Clarke and Justine Smith
Tina Carter and Daniel Lynch
Vere Gandar and Peter Miller
Anonymous (2)