Accommodation marketing: mega events not to miss in 2025
Continuing our mission to make your life easier, we’ve wrangled a swathe of popular Australian and New Zealand music, sports, cultural and other entertainment events into a handy calendar to help you plan your accommodation marketing efforts to attract the crowds.
Whether your guests are flocking to stomp to Shihad, swoon to Katy Perry, experience the cultural phenomenon that is Wellington’s CubaDupa, or represent the Barmy Army at the Ashes, they’ll appreciate a well-timed deal and some local knowledge during their stay.
This calendar complements our earlier ‘key dates for 2025’ calendar identifying public holidays, days of significance and school holiday dates for accommodation providers to consider in their marketing and promotion plans for the year ahead.
February
As the dust settles from the terrific tennis tussle that is the Australian Open and Chinese New Year celebrations continue, there’s a host of gigs, festival action and a three-day golf bonanza happening in February as summer gets into full swing.
Key dates in February
- 1 February – Bryan Adams (Christchurch, NZ)
- 4 February – Bryan Adams (Auckland, NZ)
- 6 February – Laneway Festival (Auckland, NZ)
- 6 February – Bryan Adams (Melbourne)
- 7 February – Bryan Adams (Adelaide)
- 7 February – Shihad (Nelson, NZ)
- 9 February – Bryan Adams (Perth)
- 9 February – Laneway Festival (Sydney)
- 9 February – UFC 312 (Sydney)
- 12 February – Bryan Adams (Sydney)
- 13 February – Bryan Adams (Brisbane)
- 13 February and 14 February – The Prodigy (Sydney)
- 13 February – Shihad (Adelaide)
- 14 February – Laneway Festival (Melbourne)
- 14 February, 15 February and 16 February – LIV Golf (Adelaide)
- 14 February – Shihad (Sydney)
- 14 February to 8 March – New Zealand Fringe Festival (Wellington, NZ)
- 14 February to 2 March – Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras
- 15 February – Auckland Rainbow Parade (NZ)
- 15 February – Bryan Adams (Melbourne)
- 15 February – Laneway Festival (Adelaide)
- 15 February – Kylie Minogue (Perth)
- 16 February – Laneway Festival (Perth)
- 16 February – The Prodigy (Brisbane)
- 18 February – The Prodigy (Melbourne)
- 18 February – Kylie Minogue (Adelaide)
- 20 February, 21 February and 22 February – Kylie Minogue (Melbourne)
- 21 February and 22 February – Shihad (Perth)
- 21 February to 22 February – Electric Avenue (Christchurch, NZ)
- 21 February to 23 March – Adelaide Fringe Festival (Adelaide)
- 22 February to 23 February – World Triathlon Cup (Napier, NZ)
- 26 February and 27 February – Kylie Minogue (Brisbane)
- 27 February and 28 February – Shihad (Brisbane)
- 27 February to 1 March – Golden Shears (Masterton, NZ)
March
Gigs and festivals rock, roll and pop off throughout March, with the WOMAD festivals attracting tens of thousands of world music enthusiasts and some huge names in music, both old and new, drawing in fans across Australasia.
Key dates in March
- 1 March, 2 March and 3 March – Kylie Minogue (Sydney)
- 1 March – Shihad (Christchurch, NZ)
- 5 March and 7 March – Shihad (Melbourne)
- 6 March to 23 March – Auckland Arts Festival (Auckland, NZ)
- 7 March to 10 March – WOMADelaide festival (Adelaide)
- 13 March to 16 March – Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne)
- 14 March – Shihad (Auckland, NZ)
- 14 March to 15 March – Jim Beam Homegrown festival (Wellington, NZ)
- 14 March to 16 March – WOMAD festival (New Plymouth, NZ)
- 15 March – Bob Geldof (Sydney)
- 17 March, 19 March, 20 March, 22 March and 23 March – Dua Lipa (Melbourne)
- 19 March – Bob Geldof (Melbourne)
- 20 March – Australia vs Indonesia FIFA Football World Cup Qualifier (Sydney)
- 22 March – Bob Geldof (Canberra)
- 24 March – FIFA World Cup 2026 Oceania Qualifier Final (Auckland, NZ)
- 25 March – Bob Geldof (Adelaide)
- 26 March, 28 March and 29 March – Dua Lipa (Sydney)
- 26 March to 20 April – Melbourne International Comedy Festival (Melbourne)
- 28 March – Bob Geldof (Auckland, NZ)
- 29 March – Bob Geldof (Wellington, NZ)
- 29 March to 30 March – CubaDupa festival (Wellington, NZ)
April
April keeps the grooves going strong with legendary New Zealand funkateers’ The Phenomenon Tour in full effect and ZZ Top rocking Australasia. Some of Supergroove’s 12 gigs have already sold out and demand for accommodation is likely to spike as the band rolls through New Zealand cities.
Key dates in April
- 2 April and 4 April – Dua Lipa (Auckland, NZ)
- 3 April – Bob Geldof (Tweed Heads)
- 5 April – Bob Geldof (Perth)
- 8 April – Supergroove (Rotorua, NZ)
- 9 April – Supergroove (Whanganui, NZ)
- 10 April, 11 April, 12 April and 13 April – AFL Gather Round (Adelaide)
- 11 April and 12 April – Supergroove (Wellington, NZ)
- 17 April – Supergroove (Nelson, NZ)
- 19 April – Supergroove (Christchurch, NZ)
- 20 April – Supergroove (Dunedin, NZ)
- 21 April – Supergroove (Invercargill, NZ)
- 24 April and 25 April – Supergroove (Havelock North, NZ)
- 26 April and 27 April – Supergroove (Auckland, NZ)
- 26 April – ZZ Top (Bendigo)
- 27 April – ZZ Top (Mornington)
- 29 April – ZZ Top (Adelaide)
May
The Australasian gig scene bubbles along nicely in May, with some iconic names gracing our shores and fittingly playing at venues that can accommodate thousands of fans, many of whom will be looking for a place to stay. On the other hand, the fiercely fought State of Origin battles will be a major drawcard for rugby league fans.
Key dates in May
- 1 May – NRL Magic Round (Brisbane)
- 1 May – Women’s State of Origin Game One (Brisbane)
- 1 May – ZZ Top (Perth)
- 3 May – ZZ Top (Hunter Valley)
- 4 May – ZZ Top (Wollongong)
- 7 May – ZZ Top (Melbourne)
- 10 May and 11 May – ZZ Top (Brisbane)
- 13 May – ZZ Top (Sydney)
- 15 May – Women’s State of Origin Game Two (Sydney)
- 17 May – ZZ Top (Auckland, NZ)
- 18 May – ZZ Top (Wellington, NZ)
- 21 May – Alison Moyet (Auckland, NZ)
- 24 May – Alison Moyet (Wellington, NZ)
- 26 May and 27 May – Alison Moyet (Christchurch, NZ)
- 28 May – Men’s State of Origin Game One (Brisbane)
- 29 May – Women’s State of Origin Game Three (Newcastle)
- 29 May – Alison Moyet (Brisbane)
- 31 May – Alison Moyet (Sydney)
- 31 May – Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final (location TBC)
June
Entertainment acts including stellar pop sensation Katy Perry pack out high-capacity venues across Australia in June. In Hamilton, New Zealand the southern hemisphere’s largest agricultural event Fieldays usually hosts over 100,000 rurally inclined punters over four days.
Key dates in June
- 1 June – Alison Moyet (Melbourne)
- 4 June – Alison Moyet (Perth)
- 5 June – Australia vs Japan FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier (Perth)
- 9 June and 10 June – Katy Perry (Sydney)
- 11 June to 14 June – Fieldays (Hamilton, NZ)
- 12 June, 13 June and 14 June – Katy Perry (Melbourne)
- 14 June and 15 June – Torvill and Dean (Brisbane)
- 17 June and 18 June – Katy Perry (Sydney)
- 18 June – Men’s State of Origin Game Two (Perth)
- 18 June and 19 June – Torvill and Dean (Melbourne)
- 21 June and 22 June – Torvill and Dean (Sydney)
- 22 June and 23 June – Katy Perry (Perth)
- 26 June, 27 June, 28 June and 29 June – Katy Perry (Adelaide)
July
From a live-music perspective, July is all about 10cc and their Ultimate Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour – maybe all the other bands are taking a ‘dreadlock holiday’. In any case, many of the band’s fans will be revving for the ultimate accommodation solution. Additionally, Melbourne will be under the spell of the Melbourne Magic Festival – the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
Key dates in July
- July 7 to July 19 – The Melbourne Magic Festival (Melbourne)
- 9 July – Men’s State of Origin Game Three (Sydney)
- 10 July – 10cc (Christchurch, NZ)
- 11 July – 10cc (Wellington, NZ)
- 12 July – 10cc (Auckland, NZ)
- 13 July – 10cc (Hamilton, NZ)
- 16 July – 10cc (Brisbane)
- 17 July and 18 July – 10cc (Tweed Heads)
- 19 July – 10cc (Caloundra)
- 20 July – 10cc (Toowoomba)
- 22 July – 10cc (Newcastle)
- 23 July – 10cc (Penrith)
- 25 July – 10cc (Sydney)
- 26 July – 10cc (Wollongong)
- 27 July – 10cc (Canberra)
- 28 July – 10cc (Albury)
- 30 July – 10cc (Castlemaine)
- 31 July – 10cc (Geelong)
August
August attracts visitors to Brisbane and Hamilton Island with Australia’s largest offshore keelboat regatta, while Sydney expects to host an estimated 90,000 fun runners – with a bit of leg work some of them could be your guests.
Key dates in August
- 1 August – 10cc (Melbourne)
- 2 August – 10cc (Adelaide)
- 4 August – 10cc (Perth)
- 10 August – City2Surf fun run (Sydney)
- 16 August to 23 August – Hamilton Island Race Week (Queensland)
September
With the AFL Grand Final and rugby union Bledisloe Cup clash having topped the 100,000-attendance mark previously, the ball is in your hands if you want to make a pass for the hordes of fans looking to stay in September.
Key dates in September
- 27 September – AFL Grand Final (Melbourne)
- 27 September – Bledisloe Cup (Auckland, NZ)
October
Melbourne is the place to be for league fans in early October, and with attendance records for NRL fixtures increasing year-on-year it’s a smart move to make a play for their custom so you can be ahead of the game. All Blacks and Wallabies supporters will pack out Perth’s Optus Stadium to witness the epic Bledisloe Cup around the same time.
Key dates in October
- 4 October – Bledisloe Cup (Perth)
- 5 October – NRL Grand Final (Melbourne)
- 9 October – Bathurst 1000 (Bathurst)
- 18 October – The Everest (Sydney)
November
In November Melbourne hosts the quintessential Australian sporting event – the race that stops a nation – with hundreds of thousands attending over the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival around cup day on the fourth of November. Gigs to suit all types of music afficionados welcome fans, while the first Ashes test kicks off late in the month and you can bet on England’s Barmy Army looking for somewhere to stay.
Key dates in November
- 1 November – Metallica (Perth)
- 1 November and 2 November – Cliff Richard (Perth)
- 4 November – Cliff Richard (Adelaide)
- 4 November – Melbourne Cup Day (Melbourne)
- 5 November – Metallica (Adelaide)
- 6 November and 7 November – Cliff Richard (Melbourne)
- 8 November – Metallica (Melbourne)
- 8 November and 9 November – Pixies (Freemantle)
- 9 November and 10 November – Cliff Richard (Sydney)
- 12 November – Metallica (Brisbane)
- 12 November – Cliff Richard (Brisbane)
- 13 November and 14 November – Pixies (Sydney)
- 14 November and 15 November – Cliff Richard (Auckland, NZ)
- 15 November – Metallica (Sydney)
- 16 November and 17 November – Pixies (Brisbane)
- 17 November – Cliff Richard (Wellington, NZ)
- 19 November – Cliff Richard (Christchurch, NZ)
- 19 November – Metallica (Auckland, NZ)
- 19 November and 20 November – Pixies (Melbourne)
- 21 November to 25 November – first Ashes cricket test (Perth)
- 23 November and 24 November – Pixies (Auckland, NZ)
- 26 November and 27 November – Pixies (Wellington, NZ)
December
High-profile cricket matches are the sporting order of the month in December, while the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race will bring in thousands of spectators plus sailors and support crews to Sydney. Dates for the start of Auckland’s ASB Classic tennis tournament at the end of 2025 have not been announced yet, but New Zealand’s biggest annual sporting event will be a magnet for tennis fans across New Zealand looking for accommodation.
Key dates in December
- 4 December to 8 December – second Ashes cricket test (Brisbane)
- 17 December to 21 December – third Ashes cricket test (Adelaide)
- 26 December to 30 December – Boxing Day fourth Ashes cricket test (Melbourne)
- 26 December to 2 January – Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race
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Contact our friendly team today to discover how Seekom can boost your marketing and promotions throughout 2025 and beyond.
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