The Performance Arcade announces its open call to musicians from around Aotearoa for its 2026 Live Music Series,  from 19 February - 1 March.  Hosted on a stage made by shipping containers, this free programme has become a defining experience for Wellington musicians and music fans. Sign up here to play your part!​
 

The Performance Arcade is an annual exhibition and festival programme of events located on Wellington Waterfront, with ten years of successful presentations from 2011-2025. Our hybrid gallery/stage architecture is made from an assembly of shipping containers that create a series of spaces for installation, performance art, sonic art, interactive media, video-art, forums, theatre, dance, and live music. Opening onto the bustling Wellington Waterfront, these sites of encounter engage the public in contemporary art and performance practices outside the familiar constraints of gallery or theatre spaces, visited by 50-90,000 people each year.

We recognise the Mana Whenua of Te Upoko-o-te-Ika-a-Maui (Te Ati Awa, Taranaki Iwi, Ngai Tara) where we present our work every year, and are committed to actively promoting diversity, accessibility, and inclusivity in artist, audience, and team-members' experience of our event.

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APPLY NOW

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STEP 1: complete a proposal document with the below information included
 

1. Name of band / act

2. Name/s of musicians

3. Contact email address

4. Personnel Involved: please include bios for your team

5. A little pitch about your act (100-200 words )

6. A technical rider

7. Links to your work online (Linktree, Bandcamp, Soundcloud, Youtube)

8. 3-4 images that can be used to promote your work on our website and social media.

 

STEP 2: Submit your completed proposal document in the Application Portal below

Please use PDF or JPEG file formats only.

Applications are due by 5.00pm 28 August 2025 (NZ time)

For queries contact: theplaygroundnz@gmail.com / + 64(0)210653992  ​​​​​