2025 New Zealand Pride Festivals

Pride Festivals across New Zealand showcase our vibrant LGBTQ+ communities.

  • Friday, 1 November 2024

While you might think there's just one Pride Week, New Zealand actually hosts a variety of Pride Festivals throughout the year, each celebrating their own unique LGBTQ+ community in that region.

February

The Auckland Pride Festival takes over the entire month with parades, parties, and cultural events across New Zealand's largest city. The festival includes the Big Gay Out, one of the biggest pride events on Auckland's calendar. Bear New Zealand Week runs from February 5-9 with gatherings for the bear community. Writers and readers gather for Samesame But Different (February 12-15), a festival dedicated to LGBTQ+ literature and storytelling.

  • Auckland Pride Festival: Sat, 1 Feb – Sat, 1 Mar. Auckland.
  • Bear New Zealand Week: Wed, 5 – Sun, 9 Feb 2025. Auckland.
  • Samesame But Different (Writers and Readers Festival): Wed, 12 - Sat, 15 Feb. Auckland.

March

Dunedin Pride runs throughout March in the university city. Canterbury hosts Christchurch Pride for the entire month. Wellington Pride Festival (March 7-23) features the famous Pride Parade down Courtenay Place and Out in the Park at Waitangi Park, where thousands gather for this community celebration that traces its roots back to 1986.

  • Dunedin Pride: Sat, 1 - Sat, 29 Mar. Dunedin, Otago.
  • Christchurch Pride: Sat, 1 – Sun, 30 Mar. Christchurch, Canterbury.
  • Wellington Pride Festival: Fri, 7 – Sun, 23 Mar. Wellington.

April

Several regional Pride festivals happen across the North Island. Tauranga Moana Pride runs throughout April in the Bay of Plenty. The Waikato region hosts Hamilton Pride for the entire month. Pride Taranaki takes place from April 7-13 in New Plymouth. Nelson Pride is planned though dates remain to be confirmed.

  • Tauranga Moana Pride: Tue, 1 - Sun, 27 Apr. Tauranga, Bay of Plenty.
  • Hamilton Pride: Tue, 1 - Tue, 29 Apr. Hamilton, Waikato.
  • Pride Taranaki: Fri, 7 - Thur, 13 Apr. New Plymouth, Taranaki.
  • Nelson Pride: TBC. Nelson.

June

Schools' Pride Week Aotearoa runs from June 2-6 across all of New Zealand, supporting LGBTQ+ students, teachers, and allies. Blenheim hosts Pride Wairau Festival from June 6-14. Pride Whanganui spans from May 31 to June 7 along the Whanganui River.

  • Schools’ Pride Week Aotearoa: Mon, 2 - Fri, 6 Jun. All of Aotearoa New Zealand.
  • Pride Wairau Festival: Fri, 6 - Sat, 14 Jun. Blenheim, Marlborough.
  • Pride Whanganui: Sat, 31 May - Sat 7 Jun. Whanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui.

August

Winter Pride takes place in Queenstown from August 15-24. The festival combines LGBTQ+ events with winter sports and alpine activities in the Southern Alps.

  • Winter Pride: Fri, 15 - Sun, 24 Aug. Queenstown, Otago.

October

The Palmy Drag Festival happens on October 4 in Palmerston North. Paekakariki Pride runs from October 24-27 on the Kāpiti Coast north of Wellington.

  • Palmy Drag Festival: Sat, 4 Oct. Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui.
  • Paekakariki Pride: Fri, 24 - Mon, 27 Oct. Kāpiti Coast, Wellington.