When Is NZ Pie Fest? Dates, Times and Tickets

The answer to when is NZ Pie Fest is worth putting straight into the calendar: Friday 15 to Sunday 17 January 2027. For three summer days, Frank Kitts Park on Wellington’s waterfront becomes the place to taste your way around signature pies from bakeries across New Zealand, enjoy live entertainment and help decide who takes the People’s Pie crown.

This is not a quick stop for one snack and a stroll home. It is a proper day out built around one of New Zealand’s most argued over, proudly defended and reliably delicious foods. Bring your favourite pie opinions, then see whether they hold up.

When is NZ Pie Fest in 2027?

NZ Pie Fest runs from 15 to 17 January 2027, with gates open from 10am to 10:30pm daily. It takes place at Frank Kitts Park in Wellington, right on the waterfront and right in the middle of a great summer weekend.

The three day format means there is room to make the festival your own. Come during the day with family, meet friends after work, settle in for an evening session, or return across the weekend with a three day pass. Every day brings the same central challenge: choose your next signature pie wisely.

January is made for this kind of outing. Wellington’s waterfront has the open air energy, harbour views and easy going pace that suit a long lunch, a catch up with mates or a full afternoon of serious pie research. The festival keeps the focus clear. One weekend. Every pie worth eating.

What happens at NZ Pie Fest?

Every participating bakery presents one signature pie it is prepared to put its name behind. That makes every token a decision. Do you stick with the kind of pie you already know you love, follow a friend’s recommendation, or take a chance on something completely new?

The point is not to rush through a pile of food. It is to compare, discover and decide. Each pie is a bakery’s statement of intent, served alongside a nationwide field of serious competition. The result is a rare chance to try signature work from bakeries around New Zealand in one easy waterfront location.

There will also be a licensed bar and live entertainment across the day and evening. Your entry pass includes festival access, a courtesy drink and the right to vote in the People’s Pie competition. The public vote is not an afterthought. It is the moment that gives the winning bakery the bragging rights.

Your vote has a job to do, so taste with purpose. Think about the pastry, the filling, the balance and the simple question that matters most: would you go back for another one? There is no need to arrive with a perfect scoring system. A strong opinion, an honest appetite and a willingness to try something new will do nicely.

How tickets and pie tokens work

NZ Pie Fest keeps the buying process straightforward. First, choose your entry pass. Once inside, purchase digital signature pie tokens. Each token costs $7.50 and can be redeemed for one bakery’s signature pie.

Tickets and tokens are managed through a cashless QR system. Your ticket is delivered straight away, making it easy to arrive ready for the festival rather than sorting paperwork at the gate. It also means you can manage your pie choices as the day unfolds. Start with one, compare notes, then decide whether another contender deserves your next token.

There is a useful trade off to consider when planning. A day pass is ideal if you want one big waterfront session. A three day pass suits people who would rather pace themselves, return with different friends or give more pies the attention they deserve. There is no wrong approach, except perhaps leaving without voting after finding a pie you cannot stop talking about.

Ticket prices for 15 to 17 January 2027

A daily entry pass is $19.90 until 10 November 2026. From then, daily entry is $25, while tickets purchased at the gate on the day are $27. A three day pass is $59.70 and is available online only.

Children under 5 enter free on their own free ticket. That makes a daytime visit an easy option for families who want a relaxed summer outing with plenty happening around them. Parents and carers should still make sure every little pie fan has their ticket organised before arriving.

Buying early is the clearest way to secure the lower daily price. It also gives you one less thing to think about when January rolls around and Wellington is in full summer mode. Choose your day, get your QR ticket sorted and save your big decisions for the pie line.

Why the People’s Pie vote matters

New Zealanders do not need much encouragement to have a firm view on a good pie. We notice the details. We remember the flaky pastry, the generous filling and the pie that surprised us when we expected it to be merely good.

NZ Pie Fest gives that everyday passion a proper stage. Rather than handing the decision to a closed panel, the People’s Pie competition puts attendees at the centre of it. The bakery that earns the public vote takes the crown.

That changes the feel of the festival. You are not just choosing lunch. You are part of a national conversation about what makes a signature pie worth putting your name behind. Compare your favourites with friends, make the case for your top pick and cast your vote before the weekend is done.

The line up will be announced from 10 November 2026. Until then, the promise stays simple and strong: the bakeries taking part, each bringing one signature pie and one shot at the crown.

Planning your day at Frank Kitts Park

Give yourself enough time. The festival runs for more than twelve hours each day, so there is no need to treat it like a race. Arrive earlier if a daytime waterfront session suits you, or build the festival into your evening plans and stay for the entertainment.

If you are coming with a group, it helps to agree on the basics before you get there. Choose your entry day, buy tickets together if that makes organising easier, then let everyone follow their own pie instincts once inside. The best post pie conversations tend to happen when no one has ordered exactly the same thing.

Dress for a Wellington waterfront day and keep an eye on the weather before heading out. The festival experience is designed around good food, good company and the kind of summer energy that makes a few hours disappear quickly. A little planning leaves more room for the important business of deciding what to eat next.

For ticket conditions, refund information and festival updates, check the published terms before purchasing. Clear details matter, especially for a weekend you will want to plan around.

Make the weekend count

15 to 17 January 2027 is your date with the country’s signature pies, a waterfront crowd and a public vote that means something. Whether you arrive with a bakery favourite already in mind or a completely open appetite, NZ Pie Fest is where that opinion gets tested.

Bring the people who understand why a pie can be worth talking about for weeks. Then take your time, spend your tokens well and make sure your vote is part of the story when one bakery earns the People’s Pie crown.