WOW - World of WearableArt
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2020 World of WearableArt Awards Show:
24 September – 11 October
Many of you will be pleased to know that we are in full swing, creating the next World of WearableArt Awards Show!
Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date.
Tickets on sale from 01 FEB 2020
Preferential period opens: 01 Feb 2020
General sales period opens: 01 March 2020
Heralded as ‘a visual feast for the soul’, the World of WearableArt (WOW) Awards Show inspires and thrills audiences from around the world. Each year a completely unique show is lovingly crafted by a team of creatives over an 18-month process. Creating an extraordinary fusion of world-class dance and theatrical performance, stirring music that takes you through a magical soundscape, visual projections and larger than life backdrops, the WOW Awards Show captivates audiences from the moment they step through the door and invites them on a journey beyond imagination …
At the heart of each theatrical spectacular are astounding works of wearable art, created by designers from around world who enter the World of WearableArt Awards Competition; the world’s largest wearable art competition. These incredible works of art bring awe-inspiring creativity, curiosity, playfulness and breath-taking beauty to exhilarating life on stage as part of the six different worlds that make up each year’s WOW Awards Show.
Critically acclaimed by audiences each year and described by Coveteur as ‘part Cirque du Soleil, part Broadway play, and part avant-garde couture show’, enter another world and lose yourself in the magic of the 2020 WOW Awards Show.
Expect the unexpected at the TSB Arena for a three-week show season this September and October.
‘One blink, and magic is missed.’
Please note: each year the show is called the WOW Awards Show to reflect that the designers are entering a competition. The show itself is not a traditional awards show, and the Awards Night performance is the only night that is followed by a live awards ceremonly. For more information read our blog post on choosing which performance to attend.
Preferential Period
2020 Preferential Sales Period open 01 – 29 February:
The World of WearableArt Preferential Period is a month-long “buy first” opportunity for our fans who wish to buy ahead of general sales (01 March 2020).
The Preferential Period will open on 01 February and will run until 29 February 2020. Buying during this period allows you to be the first to choose and purchase your tickets for the 2020 World of WearableArt Awards Show.
Why buy in the Preferential Period?
| Be the first | Take your pick | Join the Club |
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Be the first to secure your tickets to the 2020 World of WearableArt Awards Show ahead of General Sales opening on 01 March!
Take your pick of the very best seats available.
Join the Club – enjoy automatic registration into the 2020 WOW Club; our way of saying thanks to our WOW fans who buy early. Find out more about the WOW Club here!
Please note: An additional NZ $25.00 Preferential Fee applies to bookings made during this period. If you prefer not to purchase during the Preferential Period, you can purchase tickets when general sales open on 01 March 2020.
Performance Dates & Times
The 2020 World of WearableArt Awards Show will take place at the TSB Arena, Wellington, New Zealand. The Show will be approximately 1 hour 45 mins. There will be no intermission during the performance.
Please note the change in start times from previous WOW Awards Shows.
*Awards Night (Friday 25 September) will include the 2020 Awards Ceremony (approx. 40mins) immediately after the performance. This is when the winners of the Competition will be announced live.
On all performances following the Awards Night, there will be a short AV projection (approx. 10mins) at the end of the show listing the 2020 award-winning garments. The only night where there is no awards information provided is the Opening Night performance.
Seating Plans
Ticket Type
Platinum
Premium
Standard
Restricted View
The 2019 WOW Awards Show season
Thank you to everyone who joined us as we journeyed out of this world in 2019!
In 2019 we invited you to explore the beauty and grandeur of a frozen land, dive into hidden realms where ancient monuments were waiting to be revealed and experience surreal landscapes that unfolded before you. All around the city WOW delighted Wellington with surprising creativity across retailers and restaurants and of course the Welly Loves WOW sign that shone in bright yellow on the Wellington waterfront.
This year the 115 finalist designers were presented with six design provocations, which subsequently form the six worlds of the stage show. Three of these thematic worlds are recurring – Aotearoa, Avant-garde and Open, and three were new for 2019 – Mythology, Transform and White.
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2019 WOW Souvenir Programme
It’s not too late to take home a piece of the unimaginable and relive your experience with the 2019 WOW Souvenir Programme!
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The Souvenir Programme is the perfect accompaniment to the 2019 World of WearableArt Awards Show; featuring the full catalogue of this year’s breathtaking entries in the Competition, an opportunity to learn the journey that happens before the doors open with insights from the 2019 Creative Team behind the show, and much more about the wonderful worlds of WOW.
This beautiful guide is full of energy and creativity to match what you saw come to life on stage!
What were you saying about the 2019 WOW Awards Show?
“It’s insane! The whole experience was just out of this world. It’s like beyond imagination.”
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“It is the most incredible, amazing spectacle you will ever see! It is just indescribable.”
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“This was one of the most unique shows I’ve seen. Thank you for a fantastic experience. My daughter barely waited for the end of the show to eagerly ask if we could return next year!”
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“Thank you for a dream night out. Brilliant world class show. Extraordinarily superb.”
2019 Award Winners
At the heart of World of WearableArt is the internationally renowned Awards Competition. This year works of wearable art were submitted from 43 countries and regions into the Competition, in July – at First Judging – an incredible 108 garments created by 115 designers representing 22 countries and regions were selected as finalists.
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2019 Supreme WOW Award Winner
The 2019 Supreme WOW Award winner was The Lady Warrior by Rinaldy Yunardi of Jakarta, Indonesia. Rinaldy created The Lady Warrior with the toughest warrior of all in mind – the woman. The Lady Warrior plays the role of daughter, wife and mother. She is about inner strength rather than brute physical strength.
“I used various mediums of materials to represent different elements of The Lady Warrior. Recycled paper made into rope and woven tightly together represents humanity and inner strength built from her experiences – she was born vulnerable but with life experiences she has strengthened and become strong”
What is the World of WearableArt?
World of WearableArt (WOW) is a unique combination of the world’s largest wearable art competition and a spectacular stage show held in Wellington, New Zealand. WOW attracts cutting-edge talent from across the globe, from the garment designers to the show’s dancers, aerialists, musicians and performers and the creative team which spends 18 months bringing each bespoke WOW Awards Season together.
World of WearableArt Awards Show is New Zealand’s largest theatrical production and is a not-to-be-missed event for around 60,000 people each year as well as a coveted competition for international designers working at the cutting edge of fashion, art, design and costume, alongside students and first-time entrants.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT WORLD OF WEARABLEART
World of WearableArt Awards Competition
At the heart of the World of WearableArt, is the internationally renowned Awards Competition that attracts entries from over 40 countries each year. Anything that is wearable art can find a place on the stage, as long as it is original, innovative and well executed.
Entries are now officially open for the 2020 World of WearableArt Awards Competition! Bring us the world of your imagination and defy creative expectations in 2020.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE AWARDS COMPETITION
National WOW Museum
Opened in 2001 and situated in the birthplace of World of WearableArt, Nelson, New Zealand, the National WOW Museum showcases two very distinct collections that collide in a celebration of design, innovation and wonder.
The World of WearableArt is a testament to the imagination, with the current exhibition, 2018 World of WearableArt Exhibition showcasing finalist garments from the 2018 WOW Awards Show. In November 2019 this exhibition will update to feature the 2019 finalist and award-winning garments. The Classic Car Collection displays a stunning range of cars dating from 1908, all in immaculate condition.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE NATIONAL WOW MUSEUM