Port Marlborough celebrates 21 years of support for the Picton Maritime Festival Port Marlborough is proud to continue its long-standing support of the Picton Maritime Festival, returning to the Picton Foreshore on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 January 2026 to celebrate 21 years as one of Marlborough’s most loved community events. Sponsored by Port Marlborough since its inception, the festival brings together Picton’s maritime heritage, the local community and a shared celebration of the town’s connection to the sea. Held annually at the height of summer, and run by a dedicated volunteer team, the free, family-friendly festival remains a highlight on the regional events calendar, attracting locals and visitors alike for two days of entertainment, activities and seaside celebration. The festival features a wide programme of on-water and onshore activities for all ages, alongside food and craft stalls, live music and community performances. While Friday evening hosts a local music showcase, Saturday’s festivities begin with the Port Marlborough tugboat display in the harbour and conclude with a fireworks display sponsored by Crafar Crouch Picton. Port Marlborough Chief Executive Rhys Welbourn says the festival is an important opportunity to celebrate Waitohi Picton’s long history of maritime culture and connection to the sea. “Waitohi Picton has always been shaped by its connection to the sea, and for more than 150 years the port has supported the people and industries that rely on it,” says Port Marlborough Chief Executive Rhys Welbourn. “The Picton Maritime Festival celebrates our shared maritime history and the strong connections between the harbour and the community. We are proud to have supported the festival since its beginnings and to see it continue to bring people together on the waterfront each summer.” Saturday’s festival day will run from 11.00am to 11.00pm and is expected to attract up to 6,000 people to the Picton Foreshore. Port Marlborough proudly sponsors the on-water activities, which include inflatable family fun, dory and clinker boat rides from the Picton Marina visitors’ jetty, the competitive legendary local raft races, Rārangi Surf Life Saving Club’s demonstration and the seagull boat race. For updates and programme information, visit the Picton Maritime Festival Facebook page or www.maritimefestivalpicton.co.nz
