Queenstown's event calendar follows the seasons: endurance races and golf in summer, autumn colour in Arrowtown, snow festivals in winter and a big New Year celebration. This guide covers the events that return every year.
Dates change each year, and a few events take breaks, so check with the organiser before you book.
Summer and autumn
McGazza Memorial Festival (January)
A mountain bike festival in memory of Kelly McGarry, raising money for the Queenstown Mountain Bike Club.
New Zealand Open (late February)
The national golf open is played at Millbrook Resort near Arrowtown, with a pro-am format and big crowds.
Motatapu (early March)
Mountain bike and trail running races through private high-country stations between Wānaka and Arrowtown.
Arrowtown Autumn Festival (April)
A parade, market day, food and wine events and family activities among Arrowtown's golden trees. The 2026 festival was the 40th.
Winter
Snow Fest (King's Birthday weekend)
A new community festival that marks the start of winter, with events in town and at Coronet Peak. It replaces the former Queenstown Winter Festival, which ended in 2023.
Queenstown Mardi Gras (July)
A winter music festival at the Queenstown Events Centre.
Winter Pride (late August to early September)
The Southern Hemisphere's largest winter pride festival, with on-mountain days and evening events. It took a break in 2026 and plans to return in 2027.
Snow Machine (September)
A ski and music festival with stages at Coronet Peak and The Remarkables.
Spring and New Year
At The World's Edge Festival (spring)
Classical, jazz and contemporary music in venues around the Queenstown Lakes district.
Queenstown Marathon (November)
Starts at Millbrook Resort and finishes in central Queenstown, with half marathon, 10 km and kids' races.
Rhythm and Alps (30–31 December)
The South Island's biggest New Year festival in the Cardrona Valley, between Queenstown and Wānaka.
New Year's Eve on the waterfront
A free celebration with live music and fireworks over Lake Whakatipu.
Getting a group to Queenstown festivals
Most big Queenstown festivals have road closures, limited parking and a designated bus or coach drop-off zone. A private minibus or coach keeps your group together and gets everyone home at a set time, without anyone needing to drive.
- Ski field and Cardrona Valley roads can be affected by snow and ice, so leave extra time in winter.
- Confirm the official coach drop-off point on the festival's transport page.
- Agree a pick-up time and a meeting spot before your group goes in.
- Book transport as soon as you have tickets, especially for long weekends.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to the Queenstown Winter Festival?
The Queenstown Winter Festival ended in 2023. A new event, Snow Fest, now marks the start of winter over King's Birthday weekend.
Can you transport a group to Rhythm and Alps?
Yes. We can arrange transfers from Queenstown or Wānaka to the Cardrona Valley festival site.
Bus hire for Queenstown festivals
Bus Hire NZ arranges minibuses and coaches for groups of all sizes, from 11-seat minibuses to 53-seat coaches, with professional drivers who know the venues, the drop-off points and the event traffic plans.
Tell us your event, date and group size through our quick quote form and our Queenstown bus hire page, and we will come back with options.