Free Festival Bus Design Competition

Calling all young creatives!

We’re looking for rangatahi to design the next Festival of Lights Free Bus wrap for the 2026/2027 season.

This competition celebrates creativity, community and the magic of the Festival of Lights — with the winning artwork travelling across Taranaki throughout the Festival.

The Free Festival Bus is a much-loved part of the Festival of Lights experience. For the 2026/2027 season, we’re turning it into a moving artwork designed by a young, local creative.

Who Can Enter?

  • Creatives aged 14–25

  • Living in Taranaki

  • No professional experience required

What's up for grabs?

The winning design will be transformed into a full bus wrap on the Free Festival Bus, travelling between Centre City and Pukekura Park each night of the Festival of Lights — a moving artwork seen by thousands.

The winner will also receive prizes to celebrate their creativity: a $300 Centre City voucher and a $200 Prezzy Card.

One runner-up will also be rewarded with a $150 Centre City voucher and a $100 Prezzy Card.

Entries close 5pm Monday 20 July

 By entering this competition, you agree to our terms and conditions as outlined below.

The Design Brief

Create an illustrated, eye-catching 4-side bus wrap inspired by the Festival of Lights and Pukekura Park.

You might reference iconic elements such as the Band Rotunda, Fountain Lake or Poet’s Bridge, or share your own interpretation of what the Festival of Lights means to you.

Please keep space for our logos free. Don't worry about placing these logos, we will do this part! You can get an idea of placements in the examples linked below.

Artwork Requirements

  • 4-side bus wrap design

  • Illustrated style

  • Leaves space for our logos (examples are provided below)

  • Supplied as a PDF

  • Use of a vector-based system is preferred

Resources:

We don’t expect you to be a branding expert, this competition is all about creativity. If you have any questions about the guidelines, the brief, or anything at all, we’re here to help. Just get in touch at tsbfol@npdc.govt.nz

SUBMIT YOUR ARTWORK HERE

Thanks to our friends at Centre City and Tranzit Coachlines for supporting the Free Festival Bus design competition