The May edition will showcase events and pop-ups, Dine and Cocktail Wellington; while the August edition will feature Burger Wellington and Beervana.
The new dates have been guided by industry feedback, and takes into account the growth of the festival. The theme for 2023 is Breaking the Mould which will run across both editions, encouraging innovation and creativity across the festival programme.
Visa Wellington On a Plate Head of Programming Beth Brash says the 2023 theme is all about pushing the boundaries, looking to the future, thinking outside the box and encouraging the trailblazers.
“Applications are flowing in and there are some fantastic ideas in the works. We have a passionate and supportive culinary community here in Wellington, and it’s shaping up to be a cracking festival next year.”
From 35 participants in 2009 to more than 200 in 2022, Visa Wellington On a Plate has grown to become the largest food festival in the Southern hemisphere. The festival is independently run by the Wellington Culinary Events Trust, and contributes more than $30 million to the Wellington economy each year.
Visa Wellington On a Plate CEO Sarah Meikle says, the festival was created to celebrate and support hospitality businesses during what was traditionally the quietest time of the year.
“These days August has become one of the busiest periods for operators, and Visa Wellington On a Plate is now a fully fledged major event for the city’s calendar.”
“We are looking forward to exploring all the incredible Dine dishes and Festival Events for the May edition, and in August Burger Wellington will be adding flavour to the buzz around the FIFA Women’s World Cup, giving people even more reason to visit and experience the best of the city,” Sarah adds.
Key dates for Visa Wellington On a Plate 2023 are below:
- 5-21 May, 2023 - Visa Wellington On a Plate May edition which features even and pop-ups, Dine and Cocktail Wellington.
- 11-27 August, 2023 - Visa Wellington On a Plate August edition which features Burger Wellington and Beervana (19 & 20 August).
- 6 March, 2023 - May edition programme launches
- 20 March, 2023 - Visa Presale tickets available for the May edition, with general release tickets from 23 March.
For more information on Visa Wellington On a Plate, including information for businesses looking to participate in the festival in 2023, visit www.visawoap.com.