As the Wellington Jazz Festival prepares to celebrate its milestone 30th anniversary this month, central city icon Gibbons Hotel has lined up back-to-back free music events.
The venue will host seven distinct, local acts across five days with free entry for every single performance.
Gibbons Hotel's 2026 program also mixes up the standard pure jazz formula, blending traditional brass and instrumental sets with high-tempo, multi-genre crossovers. Festivalgoers looking for variety will find neo-soul marathons, folk-rock tributes, and late-night dance parties all under one historic roof.
Venue Manager Brayden Holman said Gibbons Hotel is offering a real mix of entertainment this year.
“We’re so proud to be part of the Wellington Music Festival again this year,” Holman said.
“We really try to create a space that feels like 'Jazz Fest at the Pub'. You don’t have to dress up; you can grab a meal and a table and see top-tier local artists experiment with soul, salsa, and rock.”
It’s about celebrating the true community spirit of Wellington’s music scene, which we’ve been doing for years.
The Soul & Folk Kickoff
On Thursday, the 15th of October (8.30 pm), The Lowkeys bring the fourth instalment of their acclaimed "Soul Sessions," reimagining neo soul and R&B hits from Angie Stone to Marvin Gaye.
On Friday, the 16th of October (7.30 pm), The Zimmermans pivot the festival into folk territory with a dedicated tribute set covering the legendary discography of Bob Dylan.
The Friday Night Mini-Marathon
Friday functions as a continuous, three-act festival within a festival, kicking off with smooth evening jazz from Kaletta (6.30 pm), moving into Bob Dylan classics, and keeping the late-night crowd moving until midnight with The Bucks (10.00 pm).
The Saturday Salsa Explosion
Breaking away from traditional jazz seating layouts, Saturday, the 17th of October transforms the pub into a high-energy dance floor. Following an afternoon set by The Juice Quartet (3.00 pm), the C-26 Salsa Band will take the stage at 9.30 pm to deliver a massive, Latin-infused salsa party.
The Sunday Send-Off
Capital favourites Wellington Heads will close out the 30th-anniversary weekend with a relaxed, soulful Sunday session on 18th of October at 3.00 pm.
Full event schedule and table bookings for dining groups are on the Gibbons website.
Explore our concierge calendar here
