Town Hall events

The Town Hall has hosted some of the biggest events and shows in Wellington's history.

The Town Hall has hosted some of the biggest events and shows in Wellington’s history.

The building, which is closed for a major upgrade, will re-open to the public in 2023 and will become part of a national centre for musical excellence in Civic Square.

The Council is collaborating with Victoria University’s New Zealand School of Music and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra to make Civic Square a location for musical performance, education, culture and the arts in Wellington.

When the upgrade is finished, the Town Hall will be a stronger and safer event space for people to enjoy.

The Town Hall has been a major Wellington venue with unique characteristics. Its architectural features add a grand dimension to any event. The main auditorium is one of the best in the world acoustically, especially for symphonic and choral works. It is one of the foremost venues in the country to hear the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Screaming fans held back by policemen at a Beatles concert at Wellington Town Hall in June, 1964. — Beatles concert in Wellington Town Hall in 1964

Many other concerts have been held at the Town Hall, including pop, country, classical, chamber and pipe organ.

Visitors have also experienced a host of other events such as:

comedy and choral shows
cultural celebrations
debutantes’ balls
funerals of well-known Wellingtonians
political rallies and conferences
sporting events like wrestling and boxing matches.

The Town Hall has hosted various royal visitors including Queen Elizabeth II during her 1953-1954 Commonwealth tour (pictured in the photo gallery).

Average annual visitor numbers and events

Before the Town Hall closed to the public in 2013, it's average visitor numbers each year included:

more than 34,000 people seeing one of 60 performances
more than 8,000 people networking and learning at one of 30 local or international conferences
20,000 people taking part in a ceremony, wedding or ball
nearly 7,000 people attending a private dinner or cocktail party
more than 11,000 people attending to a private event such as a meeting or seminar.