Dates and venues checked against the organisers’ own pages on .
On Diwali, Sunday, 8 November 2026, the sun sets at 8:10 pm (GMT+13) in Wellington. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening after sunset, in the pradosh period — roughly the first two and a half hours after it; the lamps are lit as it gets dark. Sunset in other cities in New Zealand
The biggest night of the Indian year: lamps, sweets, new clothes and fireworks. Abroad it is celebrated over the surrounding weekends, with one large public event in most big cities. Every Diwali event posted in and around Wellington is below.
The biggest Diwali celebration in Wellington
Wellington Diwali Festival of Lights
When
Sunday 25 October 2026, 2pm to 8.30pm; fireworks over the harbour at 8.50pm
Where
TSB Arena and Shed 6, Queens Wharf, Wellington
Entry
Free
The capital’s Diwali on the waterfront: South Asian dance and music, food, henna and craft stalls, then a short fireworks display over the harbour watched from Queens Wharf.
Hindu temples and gurdwaras near Wellington for Diwali
Most mandirs hold Lakshmi Puja on Diwali evening and many hold Annakut the day after; gurdwaras keep Bandi Chhor Divas the same night. Each temple sets its own times, so check its page before you go.
The Diwali Festival of Lights at the TSB Arena and Shed 6 (Sunday 25 October, free), with fireworks over the harbour at 8.50pm, and the Wellington Indian Association’s Navratri garba at Bharat Bhavan in Kilbirnie the fortnight before (10 October).
📬 New Indian events near Wellington, by email
Once a week, and only when something new is on within 10 km of where you live — garba nights, Diwali melas, meetups, concerts. Free, and one click switches it off.
Diwali in Wellington is better with people near you
The Namaste Community app finds what is on around you in Wellington and everywhere else — free.
👥Groups near youJoin the Indian community groups in your city — chat, plans and people who get it.
📅Events near youEvery Diwali mela, festival and meetup, ranked by distance, with RSVP and reminders.
🛍️Buy and sellSarees, kurtas, furniture, kitchen things — from people a few streets away.
🏠Rent near youRooms and flats from the community, with the person behind the listing one tap away.
The biggest night of the Indian year: lamps, sweets, new clothes and fireworks. Abroad it is celebrated over the surrounding weekends, with one large public event in most big cities.
If it is your first one
Book restaurant tables two weeks ahead — the Diwali weekend fills every Indian restaurant in town.
Check local fireworks rules before buying any; most European towns restrict them to New Year.
Sweets (mithai) can be ordered from Indian grocers a week ahead; many deliver nationwide.
The big city events sell tickets in advance and sell out; children under a certain age are usually free.
Questions people ask
When is Diwali 2026 in Wellington?
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. In Wellington the biggest public celebration is Wellington’s free Diwali Festival of Lights at the TSB Arena on 25 October.
What time does the sun set in Wellington on Diwali 2026?
On Sunday, 8 November 2026, the sun sets at 8:10 pm (GMT+13) in Wellington. That is for the city centre with a flat horizon, as every published table gives it; behind buildings or hills it appears a few minutes later. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening after sunset, in the pradosh period — roughly the first two and a half hours after it; the lamps are lit as it gets dark.
Where is Wellington Diwali Festival of Lights?
TSB Arena and Shed 6, Queens Wharf, Wellington. Sunday 25 October 2026, 2pm to 8.30pm; fireworks over the harbour at 8.50pm.
How much are tickets for Wellington Diwali Festival of Lights?
Free — as published by the organisers (WellingtonNZ).
Where can I go to a temple for Diwali in Wellington?
3 temples and gurdwaras are listed within 20 km of Wellington, among them Kurinji Kumaran Temple, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and Wellington Gurudwara Sahib. Most mandirs hold Lakshmi Puja on Diwali evening and many hold Annakut the day after; gurdwaras keep Bandi Chhor Divas the same night. Each temple sets its own times, so check its page before you go.
What Diwali events are there in Wellington?
Organisers usually post Diwali events four to six weeks ahead; they appear on this page as soon as they do.
Organising something?
Post it from the app under Events, wherever you are. It is free, a moderator checks it, and it appears here and to every member nearby. Running several a year? Email hello@namaste.community for a listing invite.