In response to one of the most turbulent years for Wellington’s hospitality industry, Eat, Drink, Play is providing a new initiative designed to breathe life into the city’s bars, cafés, and restaurants, called The Performance Fund.
This targeted funding, available through the Vitalise Wellington programme, will help venues host local performers and musicians during key event weekends throughout 2025. Grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to eligible venues to support live performances that contribute to a lively, welcoming city atmosphere.
Capital Events
“It’s been a tough year—venue closures, rising costs, and fewer late-night crowds,” said Brett McCall, Event Manager for Eat Drink Play. “The Performance Fund is about giving operators and performers a boost when they need it most—and giving Wellingtonians a reason to head back into the city.”
Eat Drink Play is Wellington’s year-round celebration of food, drink, live entertainment, and unforgettable experiences. Designed to coincide with the capital’s biggest events, the programme transforms the city into a multi-week cultural and culinary showcase that brings together locals, visitors, and businesses in a shared celebration of Wellington’s unique spirit.
Diverse Hospitality
The 2025 calendar is packed with city-wide activations and high-profile moments. Highlights include Eat Street on 13 September, timed with the All Blacks v South Africa test match; 20 Years of WOW in Welly from 18 September to 5 October, marking two decades of the World of WearableArt in the capital; Notes & Nibbles, a food-and-jazz fusion running during the Wellington Jazz Festival from 5 to 19 October; Sounds of the Capital in November, a month-long live music trail across venues; and the grand finale, Courtenay Carnival on 31 December—Wellington’s biggest New Year’s Eve street party.
With themed menus, cocktail nights, curated music trails, and more, Eat Drink Play connects Wellington’s diverse hospitality scene with its most iconic cultural and sporting moments.
“Eat Drink Play is more than a campaign—it’s a city-wide celebration of what makes Wellington special,” said McCall. “We’re inviting every venue to be part of something bigger. Eat Drink Play is an open invitation to the entire hospitality sector. Whether you’re a bar, café, restaurant, or live venue, participating means being part of Wellington’s cultural heartbeat—and gaining tangible benefits.”
Performance Fund Grants
Venues that join the programme will gain access to marketing and promotional support, be featured in official event guides, digital maps, and themed trails, and be connected with a network of local performers and entertainment opportunities. Participation also means increased visibility during Wellington’s busiest weekends, helping drive foot traffic and revenue when it matters most.
To be eligible for the Performance Fund and the full range of promotional support, hospitality businesses must register for Eat Drink Play 2025 and complete a short application via the website https://eatdrinkplay.co.nz/.
Eat Drink Play is supported by Wellington City Council, Wellington Airport, CentrePort, Hospitality New Zealand, and Gilmours.