The World Of WearableArt will return to Wellington later this year for its annual celebration of creativity and innovative live performance.
Announcing the 2026 spring show, GLO!, World Of WearableArt (WOW) chief executive Meg Williams said the new production will be “high voltage”.
“There’ll be fire and flame, unreal nature
The TSB Arena will host the show from September 17 to October 4, platforming both local and international creatives.
GLO! will revolve around six themes, including the Bizarre Bra showcase, which returns for the first time since 2023.
Williams says Bizarre Bra – which first debuted in 1995 and has inspired more than 400 creations in the time since – is back, due to popular demand.
“The challenge of designing such a small garment sparks incredible creativity. The results are unexpected, witty, camp and truly bizarre – you won’t find a better finale," Williams said.
Executive creative director Brian Burke, who returns for his fifth year, says GLO! aims to encourage connection and celebrate creative expression. There will also be an effort to connect audience members more intimately to the garment.
“People want to feel connected again to creativity, inspiration and what makes them happy. The message of this show is simple ... Live your day with what inspires you, what lights you up.”
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Advertise with NZME.On September 18, designers will also celebrate with an awards night. Last year, a husband-and-wife team from the United States took out the top prize for garments inspired by their time living in Japan.
WOW will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year and Burke says approaching this occasion encourages the creative team to innovate for unforgettable theatrical moments.
“The ambition is always to keep evolving and push the boundaries of live entertainment.”
Tickets for the 2026 World Of WearableArt Show GLO! are now on sale at Worldofwearableart.com.
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