CubaDupa has unveiled the entire lineup for the 2025 edition of the iconic street festival.
This March, organisers are championing communal joy and local talents from the capital city of New Zealand. The all-ages, accessible event will fill the iconic Cuba Street Quarter with diverse performing arts, music and food.
Announced this week, CubaDupa has shared the final names on the bill like Chelsea Jade, Anna Coddington, Black Comet, COLOSSAL, and Mass Frevo Orchestra.
Among the list are local R&B band TOI, Taite Music Prize winner Vera Ellen and Best Pacific Male Artist Diggy Dupé, who was seen writing with fellow artist MACEY on social media recently.
Making a return to CubaDupa is Mā & The Fly Hunnies, after opening for Ice Cube at the Major Flavours Showcase.
For those looking to immerse themselves in Māori performance, the kapa haka group Hiwa will welcome festivalgoers in a Mihi Whakatau.
On offer at CubaDupa are over a staggering 140 acts over 170 performances. The full lineup can be found here.
Festival Director, Bianca Bailey (also known as artist Wiri Donna), said: “Our mission is to be the leading arts organisation that supports emerging arts as well as sparking communal joy in Pōneke.”
Bailey said she is “really proud of this incredible lineup”, where the organisers have “worked incredibly hard to pay artists their rates and make a pathway for Aotearoa acts to be on our main stages.”
“This year will rock!” she added.
CubaDupa continues to propel the careers of local emerging performers such as Samoan tenor LJ Crichton, who won Creative New Zealand’s Most Promising Pasifika Artist at NZ Fringe 2024. He will be featured in NZ Fringe theatre show LILA.
All-female Pasifika pop trio, A.R.T., plus hip hop visionaries Justice & Empty the Clip, are two of many acts pushing the realms of performance.
For the first time, CubaDupa will also host NZSL interpreters on the Wellington Airport Ngā Taniwha stage through the support of Platform Interpret NZ and the Performing Arts Foundation (PAF).
Exciting dance performances, theatre acts and culinary delights are also on the menu.
The staple Wellington event will run from Saturday, March 29th–Sunday, March 30th.
