The Festival of Colour is Central Otago's premier arts festival, held biennially in Wānaka in April when the deciduous trees of the region are turning to gold, amber and red in one of the most spectacular autumn displays in Aotearoa. Over five days, it brings together theatre, music, comedy, visual art, dance and ideas events in a programme that combines the intimacy of a boutique festival with the quality of a major national arts event.
What makes the Festival of Colour distinctive is its setting and its timing. Wānaka in autumn is one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand — the lake, the mountains, the golden poplars and the clear Central Otago light create a backdrop that is unlike anywhere else in the country. The festival uses this setting deliberately, staging events in venues that frame the landscape and creating an experience where the art and the environment are in constant conversation.
For visitors from across New Zealand and beyond, the Festival of Colour is both an arts festival and a reason to experience Wānaka at its most beautiful. The combination of quality programming, extraordinary scenery and the relaxed warmth of a festival that knows exactly what it is makes it one of the most satisfying arts experiences on the New Zealand calendar.