Join us at The Hannah on 6 December for the Wellington Theatre Awards, Ngā Whakarākei O Whātaitai 2026, celebrating excellence in theatre.
We are excited to announce our new creative team for 2026: Co-hosts Maeve O'Connell and Raureti Ormond, and Creative Director, Parekawa Finlay.
For more information, please go to News page.
Photography Credit: Renati Waaka
Nominations open for 2027 Judging Panel
We are seeking expressions of interest for three new judges to join our wonderful judging panel for 2027! This is a volunteer position. For more information, please go to Current Vacancies page. Or submit your nomination here:
Nominations open for 2026 Community &
Backstage Awards
⭐️ Community Awards: We invite you to submit your nominations for individuals or companies that have made a significant and positive impact on our community in their work and practice across the last year for a
Especially those whose efforts are behind the scenes and sometimes go unnoticed - from Ushers, Volunteers, Publicists and all our unsung heroes across Te Whanganui-a-Tara.
⭐️ Backstage Award: We invited you to submit your nominations to recognise the theatre practitioners that work backstage and have demonstrated excellence vital to the success of theatre in Wellington this year. The Backstage Award is open to nominations from the wider sector and the winner is selected by the judges.
The specific roles that are eligible are Operators, Production Managers, Stage Managers. This can be summed up as: Excellence in the fields of Technical Operation (Sound, Lighting, Vision) or Arts Management (Stage, Production or Technical).
Community Award Nominations and Backstage Award Nominations also close at 10pm on Thursday 12th November 2026.
Submit your nomination here:
The 2026 Awards are proudly supported by:
You are warmly invited to attend and celebrate another year of spectacular professional theatre in the capital at the 2017 Wellington Theatre Awards ceremony on Sunday 10 December.
For the 25th anniversary of the awards, we will be celebrating with a Brilliance Behind The Scenes themed evening on the stage of the iconic St James Theatre.
Guests are encouraged to dress to impress - go for glitz and glamour in your finest tux or most glorious gown.
Nominees are listed below. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for some wonderful video snippets from our theatre community and Awards updates https://www.facebook.com/wgtnta/
The Wellington Theatre Awards 2017
6pm, Sunday 10 December
St James Theatre
Ceremony Proceedings
6pm: Sponsor and VIP event
6.30pm: Industry Arrive
7-9pm: The Awards Ceremony
9-11.30pm: Celebration Function
We look forward to seeing you at this joyful evening honouring excellence in local theatre arts.
The Theatre Awards Trust
