World of WearableArt is stepping beyond the arena this season, launching a brand-new dining experience and a taste of WOW.
Debuting during the 2026 World of WearableArt (WOW) Show: GLO! season, Taste of WOW is a limited series of curated dining and high tea experiences designed to expand the WOW universe beyond the stage, offering a new way to experience wearable art through food, storytelling and performance. The menu is being developed in collaboration with InterContinental Wellington’s Executive Chef Carl Maunder, pairing award-winning creations with a multi-sensory offering.
With more than 20 years’ experience in fine dining, Maunder is creating a menu inspired by the colour, texture and theatricality of WOW, translating the artistry of the garments into a culinary experience.
Maunder said there are similarities between designing a garment and creating a menu, with the key to connection in the discovery of the deeper story behind that initial look or first bite.
“We’re excited to create a menu that really elevates this journey for guests and offers a new connection to their experience of these award-winning designs,” he said.
“I always start any menu with a vision for the flavours and textures, then the fun really starts with experimenting and bringing those elements together to create the final dish; drawing inspiration from these garments will take that to another level, with so many possibilities to bring a beautiful moment from stage to taste,” Maunder added.
Taste of WOW is designed as an immersive, social experience, where guests will move through the space, encounter wearable art up close and enjoy moments of surprise, performance and storytelling throughout. Worn Landscape by Cushla O'Connell of New Zealand, the 2025 winner of the Wētā Workshop Outstanding Design Award and the Aotearoa Section, will feature alongside other award-winning garments and finalists from last year’s competition.
World of WearableArt Chief Executive Meg Williams said the brand-new experience responds to a long-standing audience appetite to get closer to the work behind the show.
“WOW has always sparked curiosity, people don’t just want to see the garments on stage, they want to get closer, look longer and discover more,” she said.
“Taste of WOW gives people the chance to experience our award-winning garments in an entirely new way, hearing how they move, appreciating the craftspersonship and seeing up close some of the more unexpected materials used to bring them to life, all while enjoying some of the capital’s best hospitality,” Williams added.
With more than 30,000 people expected to visit Wellington for the show, Williams says it’s an opportunity for people to experience more WOW across the day and into the evening, just a stone’s throw from the main show venue
“We’re excited to expand the WOW universe in a completely new direction. WOW has always been a feast for the senses, and this experience builds on that in a way we’ve never done before.”
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