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First Thursdays is a new evening programme bringing a little extra life to New Brighton on the first Thursday of the month.Launching in October 2026, First Thursdays brings together local businesses, artists, performers, creatives and community groups for a changing mix of things to see, do, eat, hear and experience around the neighbourhood.
Expect businesses open late, live music, workshops, pop-ups, performances, food, creative activities and unexpected uses of spaces around New Brighton.
The programme will build across three evenings:
Thursday 1 October - a light-touch launch
Thursday 5 November - building the programme
Thursday 3 December - a bigger end-of-year celebration
Celebrating Change
Our 2026 theme is Celebrating Change, recognising the changes happening in New Brighton while creating more reasons for people to visit, explore and support the businesses and people already here.
Rather than creating one big event in one place, First Thursdays is about New Brighton activating New Brighton. LiVS is helping connect people, spaces and ideas, with seed funding available to help local businesses, artists and community groups bring their own activations to life.
Come down, follow the trail, discover something new and see what New Brighton gets up to after hours.
First Thursdays New Brighton
1 October · 5 November · 3 December 2026
First Thursdays is made possible with the support of the Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Community Board and Christchurch City Council, with support from TIDE.
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Event venue
Brighton Mall, New Brighton, Christchurch 8061, New Zealand, 92 Brighton Mall, New Brighton, Christchurch 8061, New Zealand, Christchurch
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.