Held in the South Wairarapa wine village about 80 kilometres north-east of Wellington, The Martinborough Music Festival run from 20-27 September, culminating in four chamber music concerts in the Martinborough Town Hall from September 25 to 27.

Founded in 2017 by professional musicians living in Martinborough, the festival has steadily built a reputation as one of the region’s premier chamber music events, attracting leading artists from Aotearoa/New Zealand, Australia and Europe while maintaining an intimate atmosphere in the town’s restored civic hall.

Artistic directors Wilma Smith and Donald Armstrong have led the festival since its inception, curating concerts pairing established masterpieces with contemporary works and New Zealand premieres.

Australian musicians again feature prominently in the 2026 line-up, reflecting the close trans-Tasman ties that have become a hallmark of the festival. Returning for his fifth Martinborough appearance is Australian violist Christopher Moore, joined by violinist Zoë Black.

Martinborough Music Festival co-director Wilma Smith. Photo © Agatha Yim

Guitarist Slava Grigoryan and cellist Sharon Grigoryan will also perform in a Tea for 10 event at the Tirohana Estate winery on 25 September, alongside Japanese-born violinist Kana Ohashi, now Assistant Concertmaster of Leipzig’s Gewandhaus Orchestra and a former student of Smith.

Ohashi will take centre stage in one of the festival’s signature events, performing Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons in a program that interweaves the Baroque masterpiece with a newly commissioned work by New Zealand composer Victoria Kelly. Kelly’s composition responds to climate change, creating a contemporary dialogue with Vivaldi’s famous depiction of the natural world.

“If you haven’t met Victoria and her music, you’re in for a big treat,” Smith said. “Her work will make a stunning finale to the Festival.”

The four main concerts take place on September 25-27, with the final performance preceded by a “Meet the Composer” session with Kelly. Audiences can also expect a diverse repertoire ranging from South American works for classical guitar and Liszt’s dazzling Hungarian piano music to Beethoven reimagined for string ensemble.

Shan Liu. Photo © Adrian Malloch

Among the youngest performers is 16-year-old pianist Shan Liu, fresh from winning second prize at this year’s Lev Vlassenko Piano Competition in Brisbane.

Smith said introducing audiences to Australian repertoire remained an important part of the festival’s artistic identity.

“We’re especially looking forward to introducing some Australian composers with Iain Grandage’s Black Dogs and the first New Zealand performance of Lee Bradshaw’s arrangement for string septet of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7,” she said.

“And we’re thrilled that Lee can join us to hear the performance.”

Slava Grigoryan and Sharon Grigoryan. Photo supplied

Since moving into the Martinborough Town Hall in 2019, the festival has become known for its conviviality. It has also developed an extensive community outreach program, delivering workshops and performances in local schools and collaborating with arts organisations across the Wairarapa.

This year’s anniversary celebrations include a photographic retrospective, artist open rehearsals and family events designed to broaden the festival’s appeal beyond dedicated chamber music audiences.

Festival chair Mike Armour said the milestone year presented an ideal opportunity for Australian audiences to discover both the music festival and the renowned wine region.

“We would love to welcome more visitors from Australia to the Festival,” Armour said.

“Martinborough is a charming town with excellent restaurants and accommodation. It’s a great base for a spring break and we make a big effort to ensure everyone has a great time at the concerts.”

The Martinborough Music Festival opens on 20 September, 2026. Bookings at iTicket or martinboroughmusicfestival.co.nz