Audiences are invited to experience never-before-seen creative works in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, as E/Merge Festival of Creativity returns from 8 - 23 October 2025.
Spanning nearly three weeks, the festival offers a jam-packed programme of performances, exhibitions, and events across music, theatre, dance, screen, and digital media, all presented by Whitireia and WelTec ākonga (students).
From cabarets and musical theatre to short plays, digital exhibitions, and high-energy concerts, E/Merge brings together a diverse lineup of creative showcases. Highlights include:
- E/Merge Digital Media, Design and Animation Exhibition – Explore game design, motion graphics, animation, screen production, and graphic design across a 10-day exhibition from 15–23 October.
- Screen Production Films – Watch fresh 5-minute films in the cinema, including Grandstand story, Bushwacked and Watching You. Everything from experimental drama to documentary.
- Musical Theatre Cabarets and Solos – Performances including Wanted!, CTRL_ALT_DEL, Noir, Make A Splash! and Musical Theatre Solos invite audiences into a world of dark, bold, and playful storytelling.
- Stage and Screen – Original short works including Stage & Screen D.I.Ys, Ego: Albeit, and You, The Garden & The Grave traverse themes from love and loss to adventure and self-discovery.
- Music Concerts – The Ngā Toi Music School Concert delivers a dynamic evening spanning genres and showcasing high-energy performances.
- Commercial Dance and Bedtime Stories – Immersive performances that blend movement, storytelling, and audience engagement for a truly memorable experience.
"E/Merge is such an exciting opportunity to share my work with a live audience," says Sean Leamy, who is studying Digital Media and Design at Whitireia and WelTec.
"This year, I’ve been working on creating a physical pare (a traditional Māori carved lintel) that incorporates augmented reality to enhance its storytelling, and it’s incredible to see it come to life in the exhibition. I can’t wait for people to explore it and interact with it.”
Brenda Saris, Kaiwhakahaere Hōtaka (Programme Manager) Digital Media and Design at Whitireia and WelTec, says there’s something for everyone to enjoy at this year’s showcase.”
“E/Merge is a celebration of creativity in all its forms, and a chance for the public to experience new ideas, stories, and performances, all under one festival. Every year, audiences tell us how impressed they are by the breadth of talent,” says Saris.
Get tickets to E/Merge Festival of Creativity
Tickets to E/Merge Festival of Creativity are on sale now. Visit the event listing to see the full programme and secure tickets.
