BOLD. BRIGHT. BRILLIANT.

The New Zealand Improv Festival is returning this year from 2 - 11 October in beautiful Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington)!

Featuring a dizzying variety of shows, workshops, mixers, conference sessions and social events, NZIF showcases the best of improv from Aotearoa, Australasia and beyond. Check out the programme for this year’s festival!

Check out this year's programme

NZIF returns from 2–11 October 2026

Want to take part in the 2026 Festival? Sign up to our participant mailer. Or sign up for a workshop or conference session and come along to the shows!

Want to be the first to hear when tickets go on sale for the 2026 Festival? Sign up to our audience mailer.

*Scene painting* at NZIF 2025. Photo by Jessica Happe.

Proudly Supported

New Zealand Improv Festival is grateful to have been supported by Wellington City Council, NZ Community Trust, Insight to Action Consulting, the Performing Arts Foundation of Wellington, the John Ilott Charitable Trust, and the Berwyn Gibbons Theatre Trust in delivering this incredible event in recent years.

Want to get behind us? There’s room for you too!

Become a Sponsor →

The Latest

Featured

October 24, 2025

New Leadership Team for NZ Improv Fest 2026–2028

October 24, 2025

The New Zealand Improvisation Trust (NZIT) Board is thrilled to announce the appointment of the new leadership team for the New Zealand Improv Festival for the 2026–2028 term.

October 24, 2025

October 8, 2025

NZIF 2025: Over and out!

October 8, 2025

And with that, NZIF 2025 comes to a close!

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for a PACKED week-and-a-bit of shows, workshops, social events, magic, mischief and mayhem.

October 8, 2025

August 3, 2025

NZIF 2025: Financial Assistance

August 3, 2025

Thanks to the generous support of our partners and funders, we're delighted to announce the return of our scholarship and financial assistance programme.

August 3, 2025

May 31, 2025

Artistic Director Applications Open Now

May 31, 2025

The New Zealand Improvisation Trust board seeks applications for the role of Artistic Director for the NZ Improv Festival, 2026-2028.

May 31, 2025

May 30, 2025

NZIT welcomes Tara McEntee to the board

May 30, 2025

The NZ Improvisation Trust is thrilled to announce the appointment of Tara McEntee as its newest board member and secretary.

May 30, 2025

April 23, 2025

Join the NZ Improvisation Trust – Secretary (Board Member) Position

April 23, 2025

Are you passionate about the arts, highly organised, and ready to make a difference? The NZ Improvisation Trust is seeking expressions of interest for a new trustee to join our board as Secretary.

April 23, 2025