International Hobbit Day is set to return on 22 September 2026, bringing fans back to the rolling green hills of Matamata for an evening of celebrations
The annual event transforms the Hobbiton Movie Set into a night-time festival, combining guided storytelling, themed food, live entertainment, and a rare chance to experience the Shire after dark.
A One-Night Journey Into Middle-earth
The evening begins with a short 10-minute coach ride through the Alexander family farm — the same landscape Peter Jackson chose for the Shire more than two decades ago. Guests then step straight into a guided tour of the 12-acre set, moving past Hobbit Holes™, the Millhouse, and the famous Green Dragon™ Inn.
Marketplace Festivities
As the sun goes down, the route leads into the Green Dragon Marketplace, where stalls overflow with Hobbit-style canapés, performers wander through the crowd, and live music fills the night air. Hobbit™ Southfarthing™ beverages and a range of wines will be served throughout the festivities.
The Party Marquee hosts a hearty Shire-inspired buffet – and in true Hobbit fashion, second helpings are encouraged.
Prizegiving and a Walk Beneath Lantern Light
A prizegiving will celebrate the best-dressed guests, game winners and a raffle draw, before the evening concludes with a peaceful lantern-lit walk through the glowing Hobbit Holes. Guests then board the coach for the return journey across the Alexander family farm.
Why Hobbiton is the Perfect Setting
Hobbiton is one of those rare locations where the world created on screen still feels alive. The permanently rebuilt set, the working farmland, and the natural glow of the village at night all contribute to an experience that feels authentic and immersive.
Events like International Hobbit Day highlight why Hobbiton remains such a standout experience:
A living film set, permanently maintained for visitors.
A landscape that requires no special effects, exactly as seen on screen.
A rare after-dark atmosphere, with Hobbit Holes illuminated across the hillside.
It’s this combination – movie history, storytelling, and the landscape itself – that makes the site one of New Zealand’s most iconic attractions.