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The programme for Open Christchurch 2026 has been released for your chance to have a look through some of the city's most notable buildings.

This year’s festival, presented by Te Pūtahi Centre for Architecture and City-Making, takes place 1-3 May and is an invitation to come together. 

Fifty-two buildings, two cycle tours, four guided walks and over forty activities make up its largest programme to date and offer a range of ways to connect with the city’s special places.

From the iconic Sugarloaf Transmission Tower to the unique commercial 200 High Street building, the programme spans a rich variety of buildings, landscapes and experiences. Open Christchurch 2026 covers 165 years of residential architecture, celebrates unusual and unexpected gems, explores architectural styles and shines the spotlight on design excellence in recreation and sustainability.   

Special architectural encounters include being among the first to experience the latest addition to the city’s recreation-scape, One New Zealand Stadium.

Open Christchurch, in conjunction with Venues Ōtautahi and Christchurch City Council, celebrates the architecture, design, architects and engineers of this public asset through a public open day and free, bookable tours, in addition to those designed specifically for blind and low-vision participants, the deaf community and those with mobility requirements on Saturday 2 May.

The festival also offers people the chance to explore and become more familiar with buildings they know through talks and tours, such as the Addington Railway Station, Sumner Post Office, Antigua Boatsheds, Timeball Station and Mona Vale.

The full programme runs Friday through Sunday with 52 buildings of different ages, styles and uses open for the public to experience for free, apart from limited entry experiences that require a small booking fee. 

“We all know Ōtautahi Christchurch is a special place - and Open Christchurch is a celebration of this place, its architecture, history and designed spaces. Architecture literally shapes our lives and Open Christchurch invites everyone to explore a diverse range of the city’s buildings, many of which we don’t have access to on a regular basis," Te Pūtahi director Jessica Halliday says. 

"We welcome the city’s residentsand visitors to Ōtautahi to plan their Open Christchurch adventure - come and explore these special buildings, encounter a place you might not otherwise know or get to know a treasured building better. The doors are open.”  

Event organisers encourage residents and visitors to study the programme and website to create their own itinerary of highlights so that they can discover the city in new ways.

Buildings are open at different times across the weekend, bookable activities are timetabled and some buildings require advance bookings.

Open Christchurch wishes to acknowledge and thank its family of supporters for making the 2026 festival possible: Open Christchurch Champion, Christchurch City Council; Event Partner, Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects; Principal Sponsors Gib & NZ Steel; Supporting Sponsors, Resene, Vida Space, Blum and ECC; and Te Pūtahi Core Sponsors, Works and Kendons.

For the full programme, timetable of activities, bookings and accessibility information, please visit openchch.nz.