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What's on in the Cook Islands
Festivals, dance competitions, canoe and running races, island nights and the Saturday market, with dates, places and the organisers' own pages. Running something? Add it for free.
October 2026
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to Thu 29 Oct
Cook Islands Squash Open (opens Destination Management Cook Islands in a new tab)
Week-long squash tournament on Rarotonga.
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2pm
Sunset Sessions 033 (opens Coco House Bros in a new tab)
Afternoon-into-night DJ session on the beach, 2pm to 10pm.
November 2026
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to Fri 27 Nov
Vaka Eiva 2026 (opens Vaka Eiva in a new tab)
A week of outrigger canoe racing: iron races Sat 21, singles Mon 23, Round Raro relays Wed 25 and Fri 27, juniors at Muri.
Avarua Wharf and Muri Lagoon · Rarotonga
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Tarai Vaka exhibition opens (opens Ministry of Cultural Development in a new tab)
New exhibition on the art and heritage of canoe carving.
December 2026
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to Fri 11 Dec
Netball in Paradise (opens Destination Management Cook Islands in a new tab)
Week-long netball tournament on Rarotonga.
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2pm
Sunset Sessions 034 (opens Coco House Bros in a new tab)
Boxing Day DJ session on the beach, 2pm to 10pm.
February 2027
March 2027
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Mire Atu (opens Ministry of Cultural Development in a new tab)
Cook Islands (venue on the organiser's page)
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Takurua (opens Ministry of Cultural Development in a new tab)
Cook Islands (venue on the organiser's page)
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to Thu 1 Apr
Maeva Nui ate Au Apii: schools' cultural festival (opens Ministry of Cultural Development in a new tab)
Schools' festival of dance, drumming and song.
Cook Islands (venue on the organiser's page)
April 2027
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Mire Ura: potiki, junior and intermediate (opens Ministry of Cultural Development in a new tab)
National dance competition: the younger dancers.
Cook Islands (venue on the organiser's page)
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Mire Ura: seniors (opens Ministry of Cultural Development in a new tab)
National dance competition: senior dancers.
Cook Islands (venue on the organiser's page)
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Mire Ura: golden oldies (opens Ministry of Cultural Development in a new tab)
National dance competition for older dancers.
Cook Islands (venue on the organiser's page)
June 2027
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to Fri 18 Jun
Pump the Beats: school drumming competition (opens Ministry of Cultural Development in a new tab)
Schools' drumming (tangi kaara) competition. Dates still to be confirmed.
Cook Islands (venue on the organiser's page)
July 2027
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to Fri 9 Jul
Epetoma o te Reo Māori (opens Ministry of Cultural Development in a new tab)
Cook Islands Māori Language Week.
Cook Islands (venue on the organiser's page)
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Taunga Tutara Awards (opens Ministry of Cultural Development in a new tab)
Awards for cultural knowledge holders; opens Te Maeva Nui.
Cook Islands (venue on the organiser's page)
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to Wed 4 Aug
Te Maeva Nui 2027 (opens Ministry of Cultural Development in a new tab)
The national festival for Constitution Day: dance, song and drumming teams from the islands.
Cook Islands (venue on the organiser's page)
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to Sat 31 Jul
Emo Aito: traditional sports (opens Ministry of Cultural Development in a new tab)
Traditional Māori sports, during Te Maeva Nui.
Cook Islands (venue on the organiser's page)
August 2027
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to Sun 29 Aug
Maroitiki Mangaia Maeva Nui (opens Ministry of Cultural Development in a new tab)
Mangaia's own island festival.
No events match.
Every week
Island nights (a buffet or umu feast with drumming and dance) and the market run most weeks of the year. Nights can change, so book ahead.
Rarotonga
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Saturdays, 7am
Punanga Nui Market The main market day, 7am to noon, with a free cultural show. A smaller market runs weekdays, 7am to 3pm.
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Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 6pm
Highland Paradise Sunset Show & Feast Show and feast hosted by descendants of the Tinomana tribe, until 9.30pm.
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Mondays and Thursdays, 6.30pm
Legends of Polynesia island night Umu feast and drum dance show, until 9pm.
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Mondays and Thursdays, 3pm
Umu feast, string band & fire show Help prepare an umu, then eat and watch a fire show, until 7.30pm.
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Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
Te Vara Nui over-water night show Buffet dinner and a show on a stage over the water, with fire dancing.
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Tuesdays
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Tuesdays and Saturdays
Edgewater island umukai feast Umukai (earth-oven) feast night.
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Thursdays, 6pm
Crown Beach island night Polynesian buffet and dance show. Booking essential; show-only tickets too.
Aitutaki
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Wednesdays and Saturdays, 6.30pm
Tamanu Beach Takurua feast & fire show Live music from 6.30pm, then the Takurua buffet and an 8.30pm dance show.
Dates come from the organisers' and the government's own pages, last checked 17 October 2026. Plans can change, so check the event's page before you go. Prices are in New Zealand dollars, the Cook Islands currency.