Event Calendar, Islands of Tahiti
January
TERE ‘A’ATI
FIRST OR SECOND WEEK OF JANUARY AUSTRAL ISLANDS
A Cultural and historic event which takes place on Rurutu in the Austral islands where people go for a long walk with stops at ancestral sites, archeological and cliffs, etc. to the 3 villages Moerai, Avera and Auti, and visit different homes with talc powder onto them. Tourism Board of Rurutu.
February
Chinese New Year
JANUARY 21st - FEBRUARY 5TH, 2023 TAHITI
The French Polynesia’s Chinese community celebrates the “Year of the Rabbit”. The whole country’s Chinese cultural and folkloric wealth will be emphasized through these celebrations and especially dancing, cooking, demonstration of ancestors’ arts and rites
PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
TBD TAHITI
FIFO is a long-term event that gathers filmmakers and audiovisual professionals from Oceania. More than 40 documentary films dealing with Oceania are screened and the international jury of the festival rewards the best of them. During the festival, film screenings, free workshops, conferences and encounters are organized. All the events invite the festival goers to dive into the fascinating universe of filmmaking and to meet the amazing people and cultures that Oceania is made of. http://www.fifotahiti.com
March
TAHITI NUI PRO
TAHITI
The Tahiti Nui Pro is a set of 3 competitions of Professional Surf classified QS 1000: The Tahiti Nui Pro Open Men Tahiti The Tahiti Nui Pro Junior Boys The Tahiti Nui Pro Junior Girls with the participation of nearly 110 athletes (almost 70% foreigners from Hawai’i, Australia, France, South America and South Africa)
April
TIFAIFAI EXPO
TAHITI
Celebration and exhibition of the traditional Tahitian art of quilt making
ARTISTS EXPO
TAHITI
Celebration and exhibition of the local artists of Rurutu.
May
June
July
HEIVA I TAHITI
JULY 2ND-16TH, 2023 TAHITI
The Heiva i Tahiti is an emotional encounter, a plunge into our age-old culture, made of grace and liveliness, festivities and competitions, diversity and unity. Dualities that unite us: the Heiva i Tahiti is certainly the most beautiful expression of Polynesian culture.
HEIVA I MATAITEA I MUTA'A IHORA
HUAHINE
The living forces of the cultural, sporting and youth world of Huahine have agreed to create an event around an event, that of Heiva I Huahine, inspired by the roadmap traced by the President of our Country for our youth: “Reconnect our Youth to its roots”.
August
TAHITI PRO
AUGUST 11TH-20TH, 2023 TAHITI
The Tahiti Pro is the tenth stop on the 2023 Championship Tour Season and the last stop before the Rip Curl WSL Finals. If it’s a slice of paradise you’re after, few places compare to Tahiti.
September
October
INTERNATIONAL GRAFFITI ART FESTIVAL ONO’U
BEGINNING OF OCTOBER TAHITI
It is the most important international meeting about the contemporary street art staged in the Pacific region. ONO’U brings together up to fifty renowned graffiti artists from the world over and thousands of youths, families, connoisseurs, and art lovers. The guest artists go down the streets of the capital city to create magnificent wall frescos.
PAPEETE INTERNATIONAL 7
TAHITI
International Rugby 7-a-side tournament with participation of fenua teams (Tahiti, Moorea and ISLV) and invited foreign teams (NZ, France, USA, Rapa Nui, Monaco, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, etc…) in senior men and women category. Opening ceremony at the Papeete town hall with presentation of the teams, official photo of the captains and trophies, opening speeches of the public and private partners, draw of the pools, Polynesian dance shows and cocktail reception. Rugby tournament spread over 2 full days at the Fautaua stadium in Pirae with pool phase on Friday and final phase on Saturday then trophies awarded to the teams. Closing ceremony in the evening at a partner’s home with individual awards. “Polynesian Day” open to foreign and local participants and to the public.
November
POLYNESIAN TATTOO CONVENTION
TAHITI
This annual international cultural event is the official tattoo festival in French Polynesia, set up by tattoo artists, for tattoo artists and for the general public. It aims to promote, protect and enhance the art of Polynesian tattooing, by bringing together all the local professional tattoo artists as well as several famous international artists.
FLYING PACIFIC GAMES
TAHITI
The Flying Pacific Games is the largest gathering of sail foils in the South Pacific, bringing together the main flying supports of the moment: Onefly, Moth Foil, Waszp, Windfoil, KiteFoil.
MANGAREVA PEARL TRAIL
TAHITI
The Mangareva Pearl Trail, an event organized by the AS Coureurs Des Gambier – ASCDG in partnership with the commune of Gambier, the Youth Sports Committee of Rikitea / Gambier under the aegis of the Athletics Federation of French Polynesia. The Mangareva Pearl Trail is a running race in the mountains, on the Mangareva road & trails.
MATATII I NIA (THE RISING OF THE PLEIADS)
TAHITI
For its 4th edition, this annual international cultural event is the official tattoo festival in French Polynesia, set up by tattoo artists, for tattoo artists and for the general public. It aims to promote, protect and enhance the art of Polynesian tattooing, by bringing together all the local professional tattoo artists as well as several famous international artists.
HAWAIKI NUI VA’A – POLYNESIAN CANOE RACE
NOVEMBER 19TH-24TH, HUAHINE, RAIATEA, TAHA'A, BORA BORA
In the Leeward Islands, Va’a or outrigger-canoe practice is the pre-eminent traditional Polynesian sport. Over 100 canoes will link the islands of Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora. The finish line is expected to be set at Point Matira beach – Bora Bora.
MINI FESTIVAL OF TRADITIONAL TATTOO
TAHITI
Organization of a mini-festival of traditional Polynesian tattooing, with the coming of a great Samoan master. A man from Western Polynesia will receive a full “Pe’a” for a duration of 10 days.
The site will be “tapu” and will be open only to tattoo artists and media to preserve the sacred and intimate side of the ceremony. The objective of the festival is to reintroduce the practice of traditional tattooing.
December
RAID APETAHI
RAIATEA
This magnificent race in full nature on the island of Raiatea is a tribute paid to this “Apetahi” flower which gets harder and harder to find. Indeed, the eco-friendly organizers wish to make all the athletes and media aware of the need to protect this endangered endemic species.
THE WHITE EVENING
TAHITI
During a magical evening, visitors are invited to enjoy variety of workshops, shows and various activities dedicated to the flower with many virtues. This event organized by Tahiti Tourisme is colorful and marked by the scent of the emblematic Tahitian Tiare. Used as ornamentation is cooking, cosmetics and medicine, it is celebrated every first Friday of December by the Tahitian Women's Solidarity Group.
DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS
MID DECEMBER TAHITI
The city of Papeete goes through a makeover for the event with illuminations of Pomare Boulevard, on the waterfront, and the city hall at dusk. The merchants contribute in their own way by displaying downtown Christmas-themed store windows in order to amaze both children and adults for prospective sales.
SALON DE NOËL
FROM DECEMBER 20 TO DECEMBER 24, 2023 TAHITI
The Polynesian Handicraft art association puts some great skill on display showcases, in Papeete, an extraordinary array of know-how and diverse handicraft work in the hall of the Assembly of French Polynesia.