MATARIKI & OXFORD WINTER LIGHTS FESTIVAL
Celebrate the magic of Matariki at the Oxford Winter Lights Festival — a vibrant community festival filled with light displays, whānau fun, local food, storytelling, entertainment and winter celebrations.
Set against the stunning backdrop of Oxford, North Canterbury, this year’s festival embraces the theme of Matariki Herenga Waka, bringing people together to reflect, celebrate and connect.
Wander through illuminated displays created by local homes, businesses and community groups, enjoy special events across the festival weekend, and experience the warmth and creativity of our community in the heart of winter.
Oxford Winter Lights Festival 2026
Celebrating Matariki Herenga Waka
This winter, Oxford will once again come alive with light, creativity, culture, and community spirit as the Oxford Winter Lights Festival returns for 2026.
Running from Saturday 27th June until Sunday 12th July 2026, the festival invites locals, businesses, schools, and visitors to embrace this year’s Matariki theme: Matariki Herenga Waka – The Mooring Place of Canoes
This special theme reflects connection, arrival, togetherness, and the strength of community. Entrants are encouraged to interpret and display the essence of Matariki through light displays that embody whānau, kai, celebration, community, and new beginnings.
Whether through colour, storytelling, creativity, or cultural inspiration, the festival aims to transform Oxford into a glowing celebration of the Matariki season.
Oxford Winter Lights Festival Categories
This year’s Oxford Winter Lights Festival will feature three exciting categories:
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Te Kete Whetū (The Basket of Stars) - Children’s Category (13 years and under) – a brand-new category for 2026
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Ngā Kāinga Tīrama (Homes of Light) - Residential Category
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Te Ara Pakihi Whetū (The Pathway of Shining Business) - Business Category
We are thrilled to introduce the Children’s Category, encouraging our youngest creatives to become part of the festival and share their own interpretation of Matariki through light and imagination.
Each category will have its own judging criteria, with judges looking at:
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Creativity and originality
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Connection to the 2026 Matariki theme
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Community spirit
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Use of light and visual impact
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Representation of whānau, kai, celebration, and new beginnings
Entries Open Soon
Entries for the Oxford Winter Lights Festival will:
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Open: Monday 18th May 2026
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Close: Friday 12th June 2026
Further information about prizes and category details will be released soon.
A special judging evening will take place on Thursday 11th July 2026, with the community encouraged to explore Oxford and enjoy the incredible displays across the district.
Matariki Weekend Celebrations
Friday 10th July – Sunday 12th July 2026
Alongside the Winter Lights Festival, Oxford will host a vibrant weekend of Matariki celebrations, bringing together culture, storytelling, entertainment, food, and family-friendly activities.
The Matariki Weekend Celebrations will honour the Māori New Year and provide opportunities for the community and visitors alike to come together and reflect on the season.
Planned activities include:
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Kids Roller Skating at the GP Hall
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Māori storytelling sessions
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Matariki star gazing experiences
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Whānau-focused community activities
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A hāngī and kapa haka display (to be confirmed)
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And so much more still to come
Throughout the weekend, Oxford’s local businesses, eateries, accommodation providers, and community groups will also be joining the celebrations with special events, winter offerings, and opportunities to experience the warmth and hospitality of our town during the Matariki season.
Whether you are visiting for the weekend or are lucky enough to call Oxford home, the Oxford Winter Lights Festival and Matariki Weekend Celebrations promise to be a magical and memorable experience for all ages.
We look forward to celebrating together in Oxford this winter.
For updates, entry information, and event announcements, follow Experience Oxford on social media or visit Experience Oxford.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MATARIKI
Matariki is the Māori name for the cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades, which rises in the midwinter skies of Aotearoa New Zealand. For Māori, the appearance of Matariki signals the beginning of the Māori New Year — a time to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to the future with hope and renewal.
Traditionally, Matariki was a significant time for Māori communities. It marked the end of one seasonal cycle and the beginning of another. Whānau would gather to remember loved ones who had passed, share kai, tell stories, sing waiata, and prepare for the year ahead. It was also a time to give thanks for the harvest, acknowledge the natural world, and strengthen the bonds between people and community.
While the way Matariki is celebrated may have evolved over time, its essence has never changed. Today, families and communities across Aotearoa continue to come together under the stars to celebrate connection, remembrance, hope, and new beginnings. Whether through shared meals, storytelling, cultural events, lighting displays, or quiet reflection, Matariki remains a powerful symbol of unity and belonging.
No matter how you celebrate Matariki, the heart of it remains the same — a time to come together, honour the past, celebrate the present, and look toward the future with hope.
Matariki in the past - celebrated with whānau
Modern Matariki - still celebrated and recognised with whānau and friends