Rotorua Events Calendar: Annual Festivals and Races by Month
Rotorua's biggest annual events are the Blue Lake Multisport Festival in late January, Waitangi Day on 6 February, the Tarawera Ultra-Trail in mid February, Crankworx Rotorua in March, the Rotorua Marathon in early May, and Matariki in June or July. The calendar leans heavily toward outdoor sport, alongside cultural celebrations led by local iwi. Dates below are for the next edition of each event where they have been announced.
Rotorua annual events at a glance
| Event | When | Where | Next date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Lake Multisport Festival | Auckland Anniversary weekend | Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) | 30 to 31 January 2027 |
| Waitangi Day | 6 February | Lakefront and Te Puia | 6 February 2027 |
| Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB | Mid February | Kawerau to Rotorua trails | 13 to 14 February 2027 |
| Crankworx Rotorua | March | Skyline Rotorua | 10 to 14 March 2027 |
| Rotorua Marathon | Early May | Around Lake Rotorua | 1 May 2027 |
| Highlander MTB Challenge | Late May | Te Puia to Lake Tikitapu | 30 May 2027 |
| Matariki | June or July | Across Rotorua | Public holiday Friday 25 June 2027 |
January: Blue Lake Multisport Festival
Rotorua's longest running triathlon and multisport event, held over two days every Auckland Anniversary weekend at the Blue Lake Reserve on Tarawera Road. The 2027 edition runs 30 to 31 January. The programme covers a reverse aquathon, open water swims, kids' triathlons, a taster triathlon and the main sprint triathlon, with children's races starting from age 4. Athletes who finish the aquathon, the 2km swim and the sprint triathlon compete for the King and Queen of the Lake titles. The festival marked its 40th anniversary in 2026.
Auckland Anniversary Day is also a public holiday in Rotorua, so town is busier than a normal weekend. If you are visiting rather than racing, the Blue Lake Circuit walk follows the same shoreline.
February: Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day on 6 February is a public holiday, and Rotorua's official celebration is free. Called Mō te Aroha o te Iwi (For the Love of the People), it is delivered on behalf of Te Paratehoata Marae (Tūnohopū) at Wai Ariki Hot Springs on the lakefront. The event moved there in 2024 to handle the crowds, with attendance reported at up to 10,000 people in 2025. That year's programme included Pacific and international cultural performances, weaving, games, food and craft stalls, and waka lessons and rides on the lake.
Te Puia also runs its own Waitangi Day event in the Whakarewarewa geothermal valley from 9am to 3pm, with family activities and train rides past the Pōhutu Geyser. In 2026, adult tickets were $5 and children entered free.
February: Tarawera Ultra-Trail by UTMB
New Zealand's largest trail running event and part of the UTMB World Series. The 2027 edition runs 13 to 14 February. Distances range from 14km through 21km, 50km and 102km up to a 100 mile run. The courses pass eight lakes, waterfalls and native forest, and the 102km race runs point to point from Kawerau to Rotorua. Rotorua local Paul Charteris started the event in 2009.
March: Crankworx Rotorua
A five day mountain bike festival on the slopes of Mt Ngongotahā at Skyline Rotorua, and one of the stops on the international Crankworx World Tour. 2026 was its twelfth year, and the 2027 festival runs 10 to 14 March. Events include downhill, slopestyle, dual slalom, pump track and the whip-off, along with an expo zone. In 2026 the national downhill championships were also raced during Crankworx week. Kidsworx gives younger riders their own races and activities.
Spectators need a festival pass. Buy online before you go, since passes bought at the gate cost more.
May: Rotorua Marathon
First held in 1965, the Rotorua Marathon's full course is a 42.2km lap of Lake Rotorua. The 2027 event is on 1 May. Alongside the full marathon there is a half marathon, a 12km and a 5km, all open to runners and walkers. In 2026 the full marathon and 5km started from Government Gardens, the 12km from Te Puia, and the half marathon from Whangamarino School at Okere Falls.
May: Highlander MTB Challenge
A point to point mountain bike race from Te Puia through the Whakarewarewa Forest trails to the shore of Lake Tikitapu, run by the organisers of the Whaka100. Riders choose from 10km, 30km or 60km courses. The 2027 race is on 30 May.
June or July: Matariki
Matariki marks the Māori New Year with the winter rising of the Matariki star cluster (the Pleiades). The public holiday falls on the Friday nearest the Tangaroa lunar period, so the date moves each year: 10 July in 2026, 25 June in 2027 and 14 July in 2028. Celebrations commonly include dawn ceremonies and hāngī. Rotorua hosts events around town and at cultural venues, including a hautapu ceremony at Te Puia. The 2027 programme is usually published closer to the time, so check RotoruaNZ's Matariki page in the weeks before.
Every week: Rotorua's markets
- Rotorua Night Market: Thursdays from 5pm to 9pm on Tutanekai Street between Hinemoa and Haupapa Streets. It runs roughly October through February, weather permitting. Free entry, with food trucks, craft stalls and live music.
- Kuirau Park Saturday Market: Saturdays from 7am to 1pm, run by the Rotary Club of Rotorua North since 1988.
Check before you plan: events that have paused
Two long-running free events have not run reliably in recent years, so confirm before building a trip around them.
- Lakeside Concert: a free lakefront concert with a fireworks finale, held since 1997. The 25th concert took place on 22 March 2025, but the 2026 edition was cancelled because of a funding shortfall, with organisers aiming to bring it back every second year. No 2027 date has been announced.
- GLO Festival: a free New Year's Eve event on the lakefront Village Green with music and fireworks, which historically drew around 15,000 people. It was cancelled in 2020 and again in 2021 because of Covid, and there has been no confirmed return since. Check what is on closer to New Year's Eve.
Planning around Rotorua's events
The busiest stretch runs from late January through March, when the Blue Lake Multisport Festival, Waitangi Day, the Tarawera Ultra-Trail and Crankworx all fall within about seven weeks. If your trip overlaps with one of these, book accommodation early. If you would rather avoid the crowds, check the dates above and plan around them.
The venues, walks and eats around every event
Race weekends fill the town, and the good spots are the ones locals already know. The venues, walks and places to eat around each of these events are all mapped in the Rotorua Guide app.
Explore Rotorua Guide