The Toi Rotorua Arts Festival is a week-long celebration of visual arts, craft and community creativity held annually in Rotorua, showcasing the remarkable depth of artistic talent in one of New Zealand's most culturally distinctive cities. Across open studios, exhibitions, art trails, tours and events, it invites visitors into the creative lives of Rotorua's artists and makers in a format that is accessible, welcoming and genuinely rooted in the local community.
Rotorua has a unique cultural identity shaped by its deep Māori heritage, its geothermal landscape and its long history as a destination that draws visitors from across New Zealand and the world. The arts festival reflects this identity — celebrating both Māori art forms and the broader creative community that has made Rotorua home, and offering audiences an experience of the city that goes beyond the geothermal attractions to the living culture within it.
For visitors to Rotorua in November, the Toi Arts Festival offers a different and rewarding way to engage with the city. Meeting artists in their studios, discovering work that responds to this extraordinary place, and experiencing the warmth of a community that is proud of its creativity — these are the qualities that make it one of the most authentic arts experiences in the central North Island.