The Top Events & Festivals in Tonga 🎉 [2024]

The Ultimate Guide to Celebrations, Festivals and Events in Tonga

Tonga sure knows how to party, with amazing street parades, competitions for singing and dancing, as well as spiritual Christian celebrations. Attending one of the Tonga events is a great way to immerse in the local culture. So check out the top events and festivals this year in the list of events below!

Plus, check out the 10 Biggest Events in Tonga for more events to check out.

Public Holidays in Tonga

Tonga enjoys a series of public holidays each year, which means many businesses are closed during these days. The public holidays in Tonga include:

January 1 – New Year’s Day
Changeable between March 22 and April 25 – Good Friday
Changeable between March 22 and April 25 – Easter Monday
April 25 – ANZAC Day
The Monday following June 4 – Emancipation Day
July 4 (if it falls on a Sunday, will be moved to the following Monday) – King Tupou VI’s Birthday
September 17 – Birthday of Crown Prince
The Monday following November 4 – Tonga Day
The Monday following December 4 – King Tupou I Day
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day

For more information on the public holidays, see Public Holidays in Tonga (& Other Important Dates).

The Top Events & Festivals in Tonga 🎉 [2023]

January Events

The main event in January is the New Year.

Public Holidays in January

January 1 – New Year’s Day

Note that if any public holiday dates fall on a weekend, the following Monday is observed as the national public holiday.

New Year’s Celebrations

Kick off the New Year much like anywhere in the world with fireworks displays and parties in Nuku’alofa between 31 December and 1 January. See how to experience this public holiday for yourself with our guide, Where to Spend New Year’s Eve in Tonga.

What is the weather like in January? Find out in our guide, Tonga Weather in January.

February and March Events

It’s hot and humid, so February and March are less lively months in Tonga’s events calendar.

Chinese New Year

Celebrated by the Chinese community in Tonga, the Chinese New Year is about removing the bad and the old and replacing them with the new and the good. The date changes each year, beginning with the new moon that occurs between 21 January and 20 February.

What is the weather like in February and March? Find out in our guide, Tonga Weather in February and March.

April Events

April is a special time for the Christian country of Tonga. There are two public holidays dedicated to the Easter weekend.

Public Holidays in April

Changeable between March 22 and April 25 – Good Friday
Changeable between March 22 and April 25 – Easter Monday
April 25 – ANZAC Day.

Easter

Easter most commonly falls in April and is celebrated with enthusiasm with events organised by Tonga’s churches. Learn more about how to experience Easter in The Guide to Easter in Tonga.

ANZAC Day

ANZAC stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. ANZAC Day is commemorated on 25 April when forces landed at Gallipoli to fight the Turks over 100 years ago. The public holiday date always stays the same on 25 April.

What is the weather like in April? Find out in our guide, Tonga Weather in April.

May Events

The festival season kicks off in May on the island of ‘Eua.

‘Eua Tourism Festival

Typically occurring during the second week of May, the ‘Eua Tourism Festival is one of the first festivals in the annual events calendar. The festival celebrates traditional Tongan culture on the island of ‘Eua. Learn more about the upcoming festival on the Tonga Tourism event page.

What is the weather like in May? Find out in our guide, Tonga Weather in May.

June Events

More cultural festivals take place in June, as well as a public holiday.

Public Holidays in June

The Monday following June 4 – Emancipation Day.

Ha’apai Tourism Festival

It’s Ha’apai‘s turn to host a cultural festival with a whirlwind of tastes and performances showcasing traditional Tongan culture. The Ha’apai Tourism Festival takes place during the second week of June every year. Learn more about the upcoming festival on the Tonga Tourism event page.

Emancipation Day

Emancipation Day is a day to commemorate when King Tupou I officially abolished serfdom in Tonga on 4 June 1862. This meant that commoners were freed from the virtual ownership of chiefs. The public holiday takes place on the Monday following 4 June.

What is the weather like in June? Find out in our guide, Tonga Weather in June.

July Events

Not only is July during the popular whale season in Tonga, but it’s also a lively month for some of the country’s biggest events.

Public Holidays in July

July 4 (if it falls on a Sunday, will be moved to the following Monday) – King Tupou VI’s Birthday.

Heilala Festival

The biggest festival in Tonga, the Heilala Festival starts around the beginning of July and lasts for one to three weeks. The festival has a wealth of shows and events happening throughout, including a “Tradition & Tongan Night”, a parade, a “Block Party”, gospel service, a “Grand Ball” and the highlight of the event, the “Miss Heilala Beauty Pageant”. The festival takes place in Nuku’alofa on Tongatapu. Learn more about the upcoming festival on the Tonga Tourism event page.

Free Wesleyan Church Conference

Some of the top events in Tonga are events surrounding the Christian calendar. One of the highlights is the week-long Free Wesleyan Church Conference. The event usually takes place in Nuku’alofa, starting around the beginning of July. Prominent members of the church get together to make speeches, while other public events include marching bands. Learn more about the upcoming festival on the Tonga Tourism event page.

King Tupou VI’s Birthday

Although the current king’s real birthday is on 12 July, the King’s Birthday public holiday is observed on 4 July or the following Monday if the 4th falls on a Sunday. Celebrations take the form of the Heilala Festival (see above).

What is the weather like in July? Find out in our guide, Tonga Weather in July.

August Events

August is a relatively quiet month in Tonga, especially as it sits between two lively months for events. Nevertheless, August is one of the best months for swimming with whales and is the height of the tourism season, allowing travellers to meet like-minded people from around the world during this time. Learn more about the whale season in The Guide to Whale Swimming in Tonga.

What is the weather like in August? Find out in our guide, Tonga Weather in August.

September Events

The Tongan events calendar livens up again in September with a couple of interesting events, as well as a public holiday.

Public Holidays in September

September 17 – Birthday of Crown Prince.

Vava’u Blue Water Festival

The Vava’u Blue Water Festival is the largest event on Tonga’s cruising calendar. The event is essentially Tonga’s regatta festival, complete with yacht races, as well as other shenanigans. Join in on a charity auction, watch school children perform cultural songs and dance, attend charity dinners, community barbecues and more! Catch it in Neiafu on Vava’u at the end of September.

Faka-Sepitema

An interesting church event happening around the end of September is Faka-Sepitema. Women members of the Wesleyan church denominations attend a sort of “roll call”. Interestingly, the event sees women dressed all in white, rather than their usual formal Tongan dress wear such as a waist mat.

Birthday of the Crown Prince

17 September is the birthday of the next heir to the throne, Prince Tupoto’a-‘Ulukalala. The date of this public holiday will change depending on who is the heir at the time.

Rugby Union Season

Although the rugby union season in Tonga kicks off in July, Saturdays in September are a good time to catch a game. Learn more about watching sports in the 10 Sports in Tonga You Can Get Stuck Into.

What is the weather like in September? Find out in our guide, Tonga Weather in September.

October Events

October is a time to experience some of Tonga’s most unique events!

White Sunday

Children get their special day in Tonga with White Sunday. White Sunday is when Tonga’s children dress up in their best white clothing, attend special church services, and end with a family feast where the kids often get to enjoy their favourite food and are served first, as well as other privileges usually reserved for elders. The best way to experience the celebrations is to attend a church service at one of the 10 Best Churches in Tonga for Tourists.

What is the weather like in October? Find out in our guide, Tonga Weather in October.

November Events

Not much is happening in the events calendar as Tonga approaches its wet season, with the exception of a public holiday.

Public Holidays in November

The Monday following November 4 – Tonga Day.

Tonga Day

Tonga’s national day is Tonga Day on 4 November to commemorate the adoption of its constitution on this date in 1875. The original name for the public holiday was Constitution Day but it was changed in 2006 to celebrate the entire culture and heritage of Tonga.

What is the weather like in November? Find out in our guide, Tonga Weather in November.

December Events

The festive season is also one of the most lively months of the event calendar! Book your flight early for this popular time to be in Tonga.

Public Holidays in December

The Monday following December 1 – King Tupou I Day
December 25 – Christmas Day
December 26 – Boxing Day.

King Tupou I Day

This day commemorates the first in the Tupou line of kings, Taufa’ahau, who became known as King George Tupou I. The public holiday is every December 1 or the following Monday if it falls on a weekend.

Christmas

An important Christian holiday, Christmas (25 December) is celebrated in Tonga and Boxing Day (26 December) is also observed as a public holiday. Look out for events in Nuku’alofa and Neiafu. Learn more about Christmas in our guide, Where to Spend Christmas in Tonga.

What is the weather like in December? Find out in our guide, Tonga Weather in December.

5 Things That Make Tongan Events Special

How do Tongans celebrate? A Tongan festival or event often has the following features:

Beauty pageants
Singing competitions
Traditional dance performances, such as ‘lakalaka‘
Colourful parades
Marching brass bands

For more ways to experience the local culture, see our 10 Best Ways to Experience the Tongan Culture.

More About the Top Events and Festivals in Tonga

That’s it for our complete guide to the top events and festivals in Tonga. If you didn’t find an event exciting enough, check out more ideas in the following guides:

Finally, fill up the rest of your time on the islands with the 101 Best Things to Do in Tonga: The Ultimate List.

Author

Laura (Lola) S.

This article was reviewed and published by Laura, editor in chief and co-founder of Tonga Pocket Guide. Since arriving solo in the South Pacific over 10 years ago with nothing but a backpack and a background in journalism, her mission has been to show the world how easy (and awesome) it is to explore a paradise such as Tonga. She knows the islands inside-out and loves sharing tips on how best to experience Tonga’s must-dos and hidden gems. Laura is also editor of several other South Pacific travel guides.

Contact Laura via our contact page