The third edition of the Treats of Taupō food festival returns from 26 September to 4 October with a nine-day menu of foodie events celebrating the region's food and beverage scene.
The festival brings together local producers, chefs, makers, and food experiences, offering a prime opportunity for locals and visitors to discover regional flavours and meet the creatives behind them. The 2026 programme includes a long lunch, family BYO picnic, morning tea lake cruise, chocolate and distillery tours, tastings and a Sunday market take-over.
Just last month, the festival was awarded Food, Beverage or Lifestyle Event of the Year at the New Zealand Event Awards. Taupō local and festival creator Fleur Wolstenholme, who has earned a place in Cuisine Magazine’s Top 50 Women in Food & Drink, is “very excited to be back for our third year.”
“This year has been very much community-led, so a huge thank you to everyone who has made the effort to bring back The Treats of Taupō! The events, as always, are of an incredible calibre, with something for everyone!”
Graffiato Street Art Festival returns for Labour Weekend 2026 (24-26 October) to transform the Taupō town centre into a living canvas, as local, national and international artists put their vibrant stamp on the walls of the town’s streets and laneways.
Launched in 2011, Graffiato has become Aotearoa New Zealand's longest-running street festival. Over the years, the festival has produced an impressive collection of more than 80 public artworks—a gallery that keeps growing every year. This free, family-friendly festival is a great opportunity to watch artists at work in the ever-evolving outdoor gallery.
Town Centre Taupō GM, Julie McLeod, says, “Graffiato 2026 will provide even greater viewing opportunities with all artists working in the same laneway. We are hoping this creates a real community vibe, allowing people to linger longer and watch several artists from a single point. This year’s lineup of 11 artists includes international artist from Ireland, Codo, eight artists from our incredibly talented NZ street art community and two emerging, local artists painting murals for the first time.”
Destination Great Lake Taupō GM, Patrick Dault, says “Treats and Graffiato are the first real signs of spring activity around here, together they’re a double dose of culture that’s a good omen for the summer season. Treats of Taupō brings world-class dining that locals and visitors from all over the world get to taste, and Graffiato takes our passion for the arts out onto the street. It's a collaboration with our community and the artists who come here, and it brings the town to life."
