Great Sounds Great festival

Saturday 5 September 2026

Multiple venues
Te Aro precinct, Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington, NZ

Eyegum presents GREAT SOUNDS GREAT, a multi-venue music and arts festival taking over Te Whanganui-a-Tara’s Te Aro precinct for one night only showcasing 40 of Aotearoa's best artists across 10 neighbouring venues. This is one big party you won’t wanna miss.

We have curated a programme that offers something for everyone, from first time gig-goers to seasoned live music obsessives. There will also be plenty more to be announced soon including more music, poetry, talks, and a roaming venue takeover.

Excitingly for 2026, we will be adding a new venue, the incomparable Meow Nui, helping make this year's event bigger and better than ever.

Limited tickets to Pōneke's biggest party on sale now.

Venues: Meow Nui, San Fran, Meow, Valhalla, Rogue & Vagabond (x RadioActive.FM), Bedlam & Squalor, Hotel Bristol, St Peter’s on Willis, Flying Nun Records, 13 Garrett St, and Tonic Travelling Stage.

Presented with support from

Venues

Meow Nui

One of the newest and most important additions to the Wellington music scene, Meow Nui brings together the perfect mix of high capacity, incredible acoustics, and an impeccable audience experience. We we are so excited to welcome it to the GSG venue lineup in 2026.
Meow

Tucked away down alley-like Edward St, Meow is a stalwart of the Wellington music scene, a hallowed space for serial gig-goers. Some of the biggest names on the line-up will perform here, and the night will also end at Meow as it hosts the unofficial afterparty with DJs playing long into the morning.
San Fran

Another big name among capital venues. San Fran sits in prime position, right in the heart of Te Aro and of the festival, its famed balcony looking out over central Cuba St. This grand old dame, one of the largest venue of the festival, will again feature a stellar roster of amazing artists.
Valhalla

Valhalla holds a special place in the heart of Wellington live music lovers. It is unique, sounds incredible, and is 100% original. Fittingly, the vibe here will be heavier, the programme skewing more punk/post-punk/post-rock, so get amongst.
Rogue & Vagabond/Bedlam & Squalor

These twin bars are not only important music venues, particularly for those of a jazz persuasion, but also some of our most beloved watering holes. They will feature alternating sets from an incredible list of performers, including some of our top local poets performing live. We are also very proud to be partnering with RadioActive.FM who will be sponsoring the Rogue stage, and have curated a killer lineup up especially.
Hotel Bristol

Not normally a live music venue, but a beautiful space for performances and an integral part of Cuba Mall, Hotel Bristol will be hosting two stages during the festival. Within the stacked programme, you can catch exciting indie stars, both local and from round the motu.
St Peter's on Willis

A standout venue in 2025, three amazing artists will be performing in the breathtaking St Peter’s church, sitting proud on the corner of Willis and Ghuznee streets. A stunning space in which to experience live music, we have carefully curated a lineup to fit this unique venue. You are in for a treat.
13 Garrett Street

The top storey of this long-time home of capital creatives will be transformed into a space in which punters can experience a diverse range of artists, delivering unique performances in an intimate setting
Flying Nun Records

The flagship Wellington record store for legendary label Flying Nun has been a welcome addition to Cuba St and our music community in recent years. For Great Sounds Great, they will be hosting a series of in-store performances that will not disappoint.
Tonic Travelling Stage

Returning after successful addition to the festival last year, this ambitious undertaking is a roaming venue takeover orchestrated by electronic music collective Tonic. They will be hosting pop-up DJ and electronic performances at several different spaces, armed only with a PA system and a trolley. Punters are encouraged to grab a map, choose your adventure, and dance your way around Te Aro.

Frequently Asked Questions

That’s easy, just click on the link at the top of this page and it will take you to an online ticketing platform where you can purchase your festival pass (and more for your friends so they don’t miss out).
As this is a multi-venue festival, due to venue-specific ticketing arrangements we are selling tickets through two platforms, Moshtix and Ticketek. Although this may same confusing, don’t worry as regardless of which site you use, the tickets cost the same and give the exact same access to the festival.
No, every ticket holder will receive a wristband that will give you access to all participating venues throughout the festival. You can pick this up on the day (5 September) between 12pm and 10pm from Trades Hall (124 Vivian Street).
If you have pre-purchased a ticket, or want to buy a ticket on the day (if available), you can pick up your wristband from Trades Hall (124 Vivian Street) between 12pm and 10pm on the day of the festival.
Yes, a range of festival and artist merch will be for same at the same place where wristbands are picked up, Trades Hall (124 Vivian Street).
Given that the majority of participating venues are licensed premises, the festival is restricted to those aged 18 years and older. However, adults may be able to have their children with them so long as they comply with alcohol licensing laws and each venue’s policies.
We will announce the performance schedule closer to the event date, which will be included on this page. Don’t be overwhelmed by the choice, everything on the programme is worth seeing. We will also share a handy map to help navigate between venues and plan your night’s route in advance.
Each venue has a maximum capacity and when this has been reached access will be managed as a 1-in-1-out system. If there are any artists you really can’t miss, make sure you get to the venue with lots of time, otherwise remember there will also be multiple acts performing at any time, so don’t be afraid to try something else, something new, and make the most of it!
During the festival we will have security at each venue, and a team from Pōneke Party Guardians will be circulating throughout. They will be wearing pink hi-vis and are there to help if you or anyone you know or see might be having a rough time or needs assistance. They are trained volunteers there to champion consent culture and harm reduction.
Unfortunately not, and if you are planning to come to the festival and have any accessibility needs or concerns, please feel free to get in touch with us at eyegum.music@gmail.com.
A good thing about a festival that only happens at indoor venues is that the weather does not affect our ability to host the festival. Just bring a good rain coat and shoes and be prepared to move quickly between venues. No better way to stay warm than by dancing to some of the best music in Aotearoa.