CubaDupa Festival 2025 to take over New Zealand's Wellington for two days

CubaDupa, a large, free festival celebrating creativity, local talent, diversity, and inclusion, will take place in Wellington, New Zealand from March 29-30, 2025. The festival, funded in part by the Wellington City Council, will feature over 140 acts with over 170 performances encompassing music, dance, theatre, and visual arts. Road closures will be in effect from 11:59 pm (New Zealand time) on Friday, March 28 to 3:00 am (New Zealand time) on Monday, March 31.

The festival will se streets getting transformed into stages and spaces for two days of food, music, and entertainment. It will take place along Cuba Street and neighboring streets. Saturday's events run from 12 pm to 12 am, and Sunday's from 11 am to 6 pm.

According to Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau CubaDupa is a celebration of the city’s “edgy and bold spirit” as well as a significant economic driver for the city. She stated that the event is as an investment in Wellington’s cultural capital, solidifying the city's reputation as a creative hub.


“It’s an investment in our cultural capital and solidifies Wellington’s reputation as a creative hub. CubaDupa showcases the best of Wellington and is by far my favourite event of the year. As Mayor and a central city local, I can’t wait to join the festivities,” she added.

The event offers family-friendly fun, food, and free entertainment for all ages and backgrounds. Attendees are encouraged to utilize ride-sharing apps, public transportation, or alternative routes due to significant road closures in the surrounding area.

Pedestrians, cyclists, and e-scooter users should exercise additional caution due to the changes over the weekend. Information regarding road closures can be found on the Wellington City Council website. Public transport users are advised to check for changes to timetables and bus replacements.

The festival signifies the start of autumn in Wellington. Despite the change in season, the sights, scents, and sounds of CubaDupa promise a vibrant atmosphere. The festival is recognized as one of the biggest and most iconic events of the year in Wellington.