What to do in Auckland this weekend: Arts festival, EcoFest, World of Cultures and more

Waiora Te Ūkaipō – The Homeland is on at ASB Waterfront Theatre.

It’s March Madness in Tāmaki Makaurau, with festivals of all kinds winding up and winding down all across the isthmus. This weekend, we farewell the Auckland Arts Festival for 2026 and usher in EcoFest, World of Cultures, Cambridge Autumn Festival and a bevy of other events. There’s simply no good reason to stay home this Saturday or Sunday. Here are our top picks for things to do in Auckland this weekend and one big one to start planning for later in the year.

1) Freedom films

Catch Five Films For Freedom, a collection of short films that powerfully platform the LGBTQIA+ experience.

Tomorrow at the Capitol Cinema in Balmoral, catch a screening of Five Films For Freedom, a collection of short films that powerfully platform the LGBTQIA+ experience. A collaboration between the British Council and BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, FFFF is now in its 12th year. This year’s films hail from Britain, the United States/Mexico, France, Vietnam and Brazil, and tell unique, thoughtful and moving stories of queerness. They are available for free online until Sunday March 29, but if you’d like to see them as the filmmakers intended – on the big screen – you can do so at the Capitol tomorrow, AUT on Wednesday, the Basement Theatre next Saturday (March 28), and at various locations nationwide throughout the next week.

When: Tomorrow, 4pm.

Where: The Capitol, Dominion Rd, Balmoral.

Price: Free tickets available from thecapitol.co.nz For more information and the full schedule of screenings, visit britishcouncil.org.nz.

2) Football frenzy

Auckland FC are playing today and the Premier League Trophy is here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Photo / Sky Sport

Fans of football have two things to get excited about this weekend: Auckland FC are playing today, and the Premier League Trophy is here in Tāmaki Makaurau. Following last week’s triumph over Newcastle Jets FC, Auckland FC will take on Macarthur FC this afternoon at Go Media Stadium. It’s a fun outing for the whole family, with a bucking bronco in the family zone to keep the kids entertained and the chiropractors employed. Then, tomorrow, a pop-up Sky Sport Studio will be in the CBD to host the Premier League Trophy, in Aotearoa for the very first time. Fans will be able to take photos with the iconic trophy in Te Komititanga Square and participate in Premier League activities. In celebration of Sky Sport’s partnership with the Premier League, the day will kick off with a live screening of Leeds United v Brentford.

Auckland FC

When: Today, 3pm.

Where: Go Media Stadium, 2 Beasley Ave, Penrose, Auckland.

Price: Tickets start at $15 + booking fees from ticketmaster.co.nz.

Sky Sport Studio pop-up

When: Tomorrow, 9am-3pm.

Where: Te Komititanga Square, Auckland Central.

Price: Free.

3) International cultural explosion

World of Cultures festival is a celebration of the many cultures that co-exist in Tāmaki Makaurau. Photo / David St George

Today is the first day of Auckland Council’s annual World of Cultures festival, which is on all over the city over the next two weeks and three weekends. A celebration of the many cultures that co-exist in Tāmaki Makaurau, the festival features dozens of free and low-cost events that include opportunities to sample international food and enjoy international dance, art, crafts, music and more. Among the highlights this weekend is Culture Night at Lake House Arts; Dancing in Parks at Howick Green; Discover Latin America at Auckland Central Library; Te Oro Food Market; Sandringham Cultural Feast; and a Zen Tea Experience at Takapuna Library. The centrepiece of World of Cultures is next Sunday’s CultureFest at Mt Roskill War Memorial Park, a vibrant one-day event with more than 100 stalls and a plethora of cultural experiences.

When: Now until April 5.

Where: Various locations around Tāmaki Makaurau. Visit worldofcultures.co.nz for the full schedule of events.

4) It starts with just a seed

Seed is all about the complicated world of women, pregnancy, babies and IVF. Photo / John McIver

Best known as one of Shortland Street’s original villains, Nurse Carla, Elisabeth Easther has been busy lately not hatching evil plans to take down her sister Ellen (Robyn Malcolm) but writing poignant page-turners. Her recently released book Seed is all about the complicated world of women, pregnancy, babies and IVF and comes with the tagline “How far would you go to get a life?” This week, the stage version of Seed opened at Titirangi Theatre. Directed by Fiona Mogridge, the story of four Auckland women facing various baby-related dilemmas is both witty and heartbreaking, and is an Adam Award winner.

When: Now until March 28.

Where: Titirangi Theatre, 418 Titirangi Rd, Titirangi, Auckland.

Price: Tickets start at $15 from eventfinda.co.nz.

5) More than mothpods

EcoFest 2026 is an opportunity to take action around your relationship with the environment and its preservation.

Tomorrow is the first day of EcoFest 2026, your annual opportunity to educate yourself and take action around your relationship with the environment and its preservation. We can’t always be perfect eco warriors, but, for one month of the year, it’s not that hard to commit to participating in one thing that relates to the environment – especially when some of the things on offer include free give-it-a-go kayaking sessions and organic wine tastings. This weekend alone offers more than 50 events throughout Auckland and online, including workshops, walks, competitions, community gatherings and more. Do something meaningful this weekend, maybe get outdoors, and do your bit for our precious little nook of the planet.

When: Tomorrow until April 22.

Where: Various locations throughout Tāmaki Makaurau. Visit ecofest.org.nz for the full schedule of events.

6) AAF: Last chance saloon

That devastating time of the year has come again: Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival is coming to a close. This is your last weekend to get along and see some amazing theatre and art from near and far. At ASB Waterfront Theatre, you can see an important piece in Aotearoa’s theatre canon, Waiora Te Ūkaipō - The Homeland, by Hone Kouka MNZM. At the Civic, Ten Thousand Hours is a mindblowing and creative circus show suitable for the whole whānau, while La Ronde, at the Spiegeltent, is a mindblowing and creative circus cabaret that you’ll want to leave the kids at home for. Q Theatre is hosting The Visitors and Sincere Apologies, Aotea Centre has Ihi. Wehi. Mana. and Auckland Town Hall has Big Horns. There are also loads of art exhibitions, and the Festival Square (Aotea) will be buzzing for one last weekend. If you haven’t seen anything in the festival yet, what are you waiting for?

When: Today and tomorrow.

Where: Various locations in Tāmaki Makaurau. Visit aaf.co.nz for more information and tickets.

7) Plan ahead: Bizarre bras are back, baby

Straw-ry Eyed, Bethany Cordwell, Australia. Photo / Andi Crown Photography

Tickets are going on sale next week for our nation’s most iconic annual event, WOW. Opening on September 17, the World of WearableArt competition and show takes over the capital in spring, and you’re going to want to get your tickets and make your travel plans early. Incredibly, the Great Journeys New Zealand WOW Train package from Auckland has already sold out, but you can still get tickets to hop aboard from Christchurch if taking a scenic choochoo is on your bucket list. As always, the production of the show under the creative direction of Malia Johnston and Brian Burke will be world-class. This year’s six design categories include audience favourite Bizarre Bras, Metallic and Kinetic, alongside the staple Aotearoa, Open and Avant Garde categories. It’s wacky, it’s wonderful, and it’s well worth travelling for!

When: September 17 - October 4.

Where: TSB Arena, Wellington.

Price: Tickets on sale March 24 from worldofwearableart.com.

8) Cambridge calling

The Cambridge Autumn Festival is transforming the town into a buzzing hub of arts and culture.

Take a Sunday drive to Cambridge tomorrow for the Te Awa Lifecare Main Street Carnival and Art Market, which is part of the annual Cambridge Autumn Festival. The 10-day festival started on Friday, transforming the town into a buzzing hub of arts and culture. There are music events, workshops, a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, comedy and more. Tomorrow’s street festival has more than 200 performers and 60 art stalls, with live music and plenty of entertainment for kids.

When: Now until March 29 (Street Carnival: tomorrow, 10am-2pm).

Where: Cambridge. Visit cambridgeautumnfestival.co.nz for more information and the full schedule.

9) Words that won’t be silenced

My Name is Rachel Corrie is a story of love and humanity in the face of horror.

Based on the real journals and emails of American Rachel Corrie, who was killed in Gaza in 2003 at 23 years old, My Name is Rachel Corrie is a story of love and humanity in the face of horror, and it’s all too relevant 23 years after the events on which it’s based. Edited by Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner and staged by Sumud Ensemble, this is theatre at its most intimate and powerful.

When: Today and tomorrow, 6.30pm.

Where: Te Pou Theatre, Auckland.

Price: Tickets start at $15 from tepoutheatre.nz.

10) Musicianship and mentorship

More than 30 young musicians will perform alongside NZTrio in Kāhui St David's Great Hall for String Together. Photo / Conan Fitzpatrick

After a weekend of masterclasses and rehearsals with some of Aotearoa’s leading chamber musicians, more than 30 young musicians aged 10 and up will take to the stage to perform alongside NZTrio in Kāhui St David’s Great Hall for String Together tomorrow. Within the repertoire is a medley of traditional Samoan songs created by talented New Zealand-Samoan composer Poulima Salima to be performed with NZTrio, pianist Madeleine Xiao and the young musicians. Prepare to have your heart warmed by the combination of mentorship and musicianship in one of Auckland’s most historic churches.

When: Tomorrow, 3pm.

Where: Kāhui St David’s, Grafton, Auckland.

Price: Tickets $20 waged adults, pay what you can unwaged adults, children free from humanitix.com.

Coming up

• Waiheke On Stage presents Stones In His Pockets: March 26 - 28, Q Theatre, Auckland.
• Bic Runga, Red Sunset Tour: March 27, NZICC, Auckland.
• Aspiring Conversations, Festival of Ideas and Kōrero: March 27 - 29, Wānaka.
• Auckland Phil’s Tunes 4 Tamariki: March 28, Bruce Mason Centre; April 12, Auckland Town Hall.
• Breakfast with Dame Malvina Major: March 28, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland.
• CubaDupa 2026: March 28 - 29, Wellington.
• MOTAT’s Stem Fair: March 28 - 29, Motat, Auckland.
• Dreamer Light Festival: April 3 - 12, NZICC, Auckland.
• K-Pop Live: April 7 - 18, nationwide.
• Helen Clark in Six Outfits: April 7 - 26, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland.
• Milli: April 7 - 11, Basement Theatre, Auckland.
• & Juliet: April 9 - May 3, The Civic, Auckland.
• Auckland Phil’s Six-thirty Session, Tchaikovsky 4: April 9, Auckland Town Hall.
• Darklight, The Hidden World: April 9 - 18, Aotea Centre, Auckland.
• NZSO Resonance featuring Jörgen van Rijen: April 10, Auckland Town Hall.
• Finding Cynthia: April 10 - 11, Artworks Theatre, Waiheke Island
• Jimmy Barnes, Working Class Man: April 19, Spark Arena, Auckland.
• Split Enz, Forever Enz Tour: May 6, Wellington and May 9, Auckland.

Email canvasplanner@nzherald.co.nz with brief details of your upcoming event, including dates/times, location and website.