What’s on this summer in Auckland: Festivals, concerts and free family fun

Spend a day with your friends and family listening to live local music and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

For most of us, the holidays are over, but there’s plenty more fun to be squeezed out of the summer yet. We’ve rounded up a collection of some of the best festivals and events taking place over the next couple of months. Consider this your go-to guide for summer entertainment from live music to ocean races, there’s a plethora of wide-ranging events to cater to almost every interest.

1) Waitangi Day out

Start the Waitangi long weekend with a fun-filled whānau event that both reflects on the meaning of the day and is full of entertainment. Waitangi ki Manukau will be held once again at Manukau Sports Bowl and features performances by Sid Diamond, J-Hu$tle, Sweet & Irie, Lopz and the Rastaz, and Vibe City Band. There’s a dedicated zone called The Village where event-goers can get kai, attend weaving workshops, enjoy free activities for kids, engage in educational kōrero and check out the craft stalls. It’s a great – and free – way to spend a day with your friends and family listening to live local music and honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

When: February 6, 10am-4pm.

Where: Manukau Sports Bowl, Te Irirangi Drive, Manukau.

Price: Free.

2) Summer adventures

Adventure Challenges encourage families to get out in nature. Photo / 123rf

The last couple of weeks of the school holidays can be the hardest – siblings have had their fill of each other, fists are flying, and the summer soundtrack is a crescendoing symphony of whining. It’s tempting to shove the kids in front of a screen and walk away but Forest and Bird is urging us all to try something else. They’ve created Summer Adventure Challenges that encourage families to get out in nature. They’re running through until February, and each time you enter a challenge, you go in the draw for prizes. The grand prize for the entire Summer Adventure Challenge series is an overnight stay for four, courtesy of Intrepid Travel. Check out the challenges and get the family outdoors for some green therapy.

When: On now until February 1. Visit the Kiwi Conservation Club Facebook page or forestandbird.org.nz for more information.

3) Coastal Wine Festival

Next weekend is the Raglan Vine Festival – an afternoon of wine, craft beer, spirits and food appreciation. Photo / 123rf

For anyone who enjoys a summer tipple, next weekend is the Raglan Vine Festival – an afternoon of wine, craft beer, spirits and food appreciation at the Raglan Town Hall. It’s a boutique event with just 100 tickets available to each session so that attendees can get up close and personal with the winemakers. Barreled Wines, Karamū Barrelworks, Fen & Field Gin Distillery, Known Unknown, Meyer Cheese and Cult Wine are among the vendors attending. If you’re planning to drive, take a sober driver or better yet get accommodation and spend a couple of days surfside in Raglan.

When: January 25, 1pm and 3pm sessions.

Where: Raglan Town Hall, 41 Bow St, Raglan.

Price: Tickets $55 from raglanvine.com. Enter code 15OFF to get a $15 discount at checkout.

4) So much to see, so little time

Auckland will be brimming with creativity and opportunities to see some incredible performances from all over the world.

There are few better ways to spend a leisurely summer afternoon than by perusing the Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival programme. For 18 days in March, Auckland will be brimming with creativity and opportunities to see some incredible performances from all over the world. Some of the highlights of this year’s festival include Stut & Fret’s La Ronde, performing circus, comedy and live music in the Speigeltent; the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra; and Royal New Zealand Ballet’s Macbeth. Aotea Square will be transformed into the Festival Garden, where you can get food and drinks and watch free live performances, including the family-friendly festival opener Sau Fiafia! Boogie Down!, and the Whānau Day on March 8. Physical programmes can be found in cafes, libraries and galleries, or just download it from the website and make plans to support the arts in March.

When: March 5-22.

Where: Various venues in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Price: Visit aaf.co.nz for the full programme and tickets.

5) Spend summer in the square

Summer in the Square is back!

Returning once again this year is Auckland Live’s Summer in the Square, a series of free events in Aotea Square to wake the city centre from its sleepy summer. It kicks off with the Auckland Latin Fiesta on January 30 and February 1 and includes skateboarding spectacular Street Fest on February 20, pro-wrestling event Rumble in the Square on February 8, AfroFest on Valentine’s Day and many more live music events. Stick around after work for the Thursday and Friday evening events, and be sure to check the train timetable as partial and full closures are scheduled for some weekends in February.

When: January 30-February 22.

Where: Aotea Square, Auckland Central.

Price: Free.

6) The pipes, the pipes are calling...

Heroes Who Made Us is an emotionally stirring musical and visual spectacle.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – a rare spectacle on an impressive scale – is coming to Auckland for the very first time next month. There are more than 1100 performers involved in the 75th Anniversary show, The Heroes Who Made Us, at Eden Park. Among the more than 30 bands performing is the Royal Navy, The Army and Royal Air Force, New Zealand Defence Force Guard of Honour and Combined Services Band, His Majesty’s Royal Marines Band & Royal Drum Corps UK, the Australian Defence Force’s Air Force, His Majesty’s Armed Forces Royal Corps of Musicians Tonga, and His Majesty the King’s Guard Band and Drill Team of Norway. It’s an emotionally stirring musical and visual spectacle with incredibly precise marching, skilled dancers and a light show. It’s been a decade since it was last in Aotearoa, so this is a rare delight.

When: February 19-21.

Where: Eden Park, Reimers Ave, Sandringham, Auckland.

Price: Tickets start at $99.90 + booking fees from ticketek.co.nz.

7) Back the Black Foils

The ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix is taking over Wynyard Quarter once again. Photo / Felix Diemer for SailGP

Returning after last year’s wildly successful event, the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix is taking over Wynyard Quarter again this February. Held over Valentine’s Day weekend, New Zealand’s Black Foils will take on teams from around the world, each racing in a super speedy F50 catamaran. The grandstand at Wynyard Point – which gets spectators extremely close to the action and has hospitality services – has expanded this year, reaching a capacity of 10,000 each day. There are several ticketing options, including tickets to watch from your own boat within the exclusion area. With quite a bit more distance, you could also catch the action for free from North Head. These races are exciting to watch with boats reaching speeds of up to 100km/h, so the atmosphere at Wynyard Point will be electric.

When: February 14-15.

Where: Waitematā Harbour and Wynyard Point, Auckland.

Price: Tickets start at $199 for adults and $110 for children from tickets.sailgp.com.

8) Art Deco on display

Napier’s annual Art Deco Festival takes place in February, and it’s a brilliant excuse for a unique extended weekend getaway. Across the four-day festival, attendees take a stylish step back into the past with events like the Paisley Stage Prohibition Party, One Night in Buenos Aires at the Napier Tango Club, and My New York: the City and Songs of Cole Porter, Noel Coward and Irving Berlin performed by Jason Henderson. There are learn-to-dance events, dining experiences, vintage car tours, silent movies, art exhibitions, a vintage market, jazz music and many more one-of-a-kind events all paying homage to the unmistakable style of the 1920s and 30s.

When: February 19-22.

Where: Various locations in Napier, Hawke’s Bay.

Price: Visit artdecofestival.co.nz for more information and tickets.

9) Gong xi fa cai

The BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival will celebrate the Chinese New Year at the Manukau Sports Bowl.

See ya later snake, we’re about to herald in the year of the horse – a symbol of energy, independence and creativity. Consistently a highlight of the summer calendar, the BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival will celebrate the Chinese New Year at the Manukau Sports Bowl with four evenings of live performances, food and craft stalls, and most importantly, more than 500 illuminated lanterns. It’s free, whānau-friendly and finishes with a fireworks display on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Check out the public transport options closer to the time as parking nearby can be tricky.

When: February 26-March 1, 4pm-10.30pm.

Where: Manukau Sports Bowl, Te Irirangi Drive, Manukau.

Free tickets available from aucklandnz.com.

10) An icon at Laneway

There are usually a few wild cards on the Laneway Festival set list, but rarely as big a superstar as this year’s headlining act Chappell Roan. It’s worth the ticket price alone just to see Roan’s 90-minute set, and as a bonus, you get a full day of some exciting emerging and established indie performers like Lucy Dacus, Pink Pantheress, Role Model and our own Benee among many others. You’ll have to take the afternoon off work to attend the full festival, but it’s followed by a long weekend so there’s plenty of time to recover from dancing till your feet go numb and singing till your voice is gone.

When: February 5.

Where: Western Springs, Stadium Rd, Western Springs.

Price: Tickets $249.90 + booking fees from ticketek.co.nz.

11) So fringey, so chic

A wide range of emerging and established local artists will bring their edgy, creative, revolutionary works to life.

Festival February is just around the corner and one of the most noteworthy is the New Zealand Fringe Festival in Wellington. For three weeks, a wide range of emerging and established local artists will bring their edgy, creative, revolutionary works to life on stages throughout the Wellington region. This year’s Fringe features 178 events covering everything from comedy and burlesque to dance and whānau-friendly shows. The city will be buzzing. Some events are free, many are ticketed and you’ve got under a month to sort your travel plans, so hop to it.

When: February 13-March 7.

Where: Various locations in Pōneke Wellington.

Price: Visit fringe.co.nz for the full programme and tickets.

12) Living and loving proudly

Auckland will host nearly 200 events celebrating the visibility, safety and right to a free and joyful life of Aotearoa’s Takatāpui and Rainbow communities.

Among next month’s abundance of offerings, Auckland Pride is an important mainstay. Throughout February, the city will host nearly 200 events celebrating and supporting the visibility, safety and right to a free and joyful life of Aotearoa’s Takatāpui and Rainbow communities. This year’s theme is Ngā Uri E!, a rallying cry for the descendants of the pride movement to pick up the torch and carry it forward into the future. Along with festival staples like the Big Gay Out and Auckland Council’s Proud Centres, new additions for the 2026 programme include PrideXSplore and Anito, a queer Filipinx Futurism show by Australian-based artists Justin Talplacido Shoulder and Victoria Hunt. The festival will close with a huge street party on Karangahape Rd: Out of the Gutter.

When: February 1-28.

Where: Various locations throughout Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

Price: Visit aucklandpride.org.nz for the full programme and tickets.

13) Fifty-three years of folk fest

This year’s festival features a bounty of international guests. Photo / Dennis O’Keeffe

One of Tāmaki Makaurau’s most enduring festivals, the Auckland Folk Festival, will be taking over the Kumeu Showgrounds once again over Auckland Anniversary Weekend. Always a good time, this year’s festival is headlined by our own Mel Parsons and features a bounty of international guests including Canadian Troubadours, Scott Cook & Pamela Mae; Canadian roots singer Old Man Luedecke; Swedish groups Marine Simonson Wiskari and Dragkroka; British folk-punk ballad singer Jennifer Reid and loads of talented local acts. It’s family-friendly with plenty of great food vendors, a craft village, music and dance workshops, open mic opportunities and a relaxed vibe. And, if you want the full weekend experience, you can camp onsite with your fellow festival goers for three whole days of folk fest fun.

When: January 23-26.

Where: Kumeu Showgrounds, 35/41 Access Rd, Kumeu.

Price: Day and weekend passes available from aucklandfolkfestival.co.nz or eventbrite.co.nz.

14) Auckland International Buskers Festival

The Auckland International Buskers Festival will bring street performers from all around the world into our CBD. Photo / Tom Klockseth 2022

Auckland Anniversary Weekend is one of the city’s busiest and one that can be royally thwarted by bad weather. The central city is hosting the Auckland International Buskers Festival, which will bring street performers from all around the world into our CBD. This year’s skilled – often in very niche ways – lineup includes acrobatics, improv, comedy, circus cube manipulation, contact juggling, fire acts, crystal ball techniques, double dutch, freestyle football, diabolo, trick-shots and puppetry by performers from Taiwan, Japan, Romania, Italy, Chile, UK and Aotearoa. On Friday January 23, there’s a night show at Te Rimutahi in Ponsonby from 6pm. If you head into the city on Monday, you can check out some of the gasp-worthy acts on your way to watch the Auckland Anniversary Regatta.

When: January 23-26.

Where: Auckland Waterfront Harbour and CBD, Auckland.

Price: Free. Visit aucklandbuskersfestival.co.nz for more information and the full schedule.

15) Summer at Brick Bay

Brick Bay Wines and Sculpture Trail has added a few extras to their summer offerings. Photo / Tom Klockseth 2022

Less than a one-hour drive north of Auckland is Brick Bay Wines and Sculpture Trail, which has added a few extras to their summer offerings. There are three new impressive artworks on the sculpture trail, meaning it’s worth a mosey even if you’ve been before. Plus, throughout the summer and beyond, the restaurant is open for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, and the trail has extended hours on those nights as well, so that visitors can go for a twilight walk before or after their meal. On Saturday afternoons, for the rest of January, there are DJ sessions and you can book curated picnic packages as well. Self-guided and guided (subject to staff availability) wine tastings are offered daily.

When: Open Monday-Thursday 10am-4pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-9pm, Sunday 10am-5pm.

Where: 17 Arabella Lane, Snells Beach, Auckland.

Price: Trail only $12-$18 per person, discounted with dining in. Visit brickbay.co.nz for more information.

16) Free outdoor movies and concerts

Music in Parks and Movies in Parks continue to provide some of the best free entertainment the city has to offer. Photo / Cactus Photography

Auckland Council’s Music in Parks and Movies in Parks continue to provide some of the best free entertainment the city has to offer. Music in Parks is already in full swing, with concerts popping up at parks all around Tāmaki Makaurau, each centred on a specific genre like jazz, pop, reggae and more. It’s a great opportunity to discover new local artists and soak up the summer while you’re at it. Movies in Parks for 2026 kicks off on February 20 and has some blockbuster family favourites on the programme, including A Minecraft Movie, The Super Mario Brothers Movie, Paddington in Peru, Tinā and Moana 2. There’s pre-movie entertainment on site as well as food trucks. Or, save your pennies and pack a picnic.

When:

Music in Parks: January 7 - February 21.

Movies in Parks: February 20 - March 21.

Where: Various parks and reserves in Auckland. Visit musicinparks.co.nz and moviesinparks.co.nz for the full schedules.

17) Exceptional and innovative opera

In March, Auckland will get to experience a groundbreaking production presented by NZ Opera and the Auckland Arts Festival. Photo / Latitude Creative

Wellington and Christchurch have had the joy of both experiencing the UK’s Theatre of Sound production of Bluebeard’s Castle in 2023 and bragging to Aucklanders about it ever since. But in March, Auckland will get to experience this groundbreaking production presented by NZ Opera and the Auckland Arts Festival. Starring American baritone Lester Lynch and British soprano Susan Bullock, the production reimagines Bartók’s opera with an ageing couple at its centre, their long marriage facing the cruel realities of a deteriorating mind. Accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia, featuring a supporting cast of New Zealand talent and directed by Daisy Evans, the UK director of the original production, Bluebeard’s Castle is a truly innovative and heart-rending opera, which will be a highlight of AAF.

When: March 13 - 14, 7.30pm.

Where: Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall, Auckland.

Price: Tickets start at $33 + booking fees from nzopera.com or ticketmaster.co.nz.

18) Joyful Kirikiriroa

This year’s Hamilton Arts Festival begins on February 20 and has the welcome theme of joy.

Hamilton Arts Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa has grown to be one of the country’s best arts events and well worth some planned travel. This year’s festival begins on February 20 and has the welcome theme of joy. One of the festival’s key features is that its central hub is in the Hamilton Gardens, with performance venues including the Indian Char Bagh Garden, Japanese Garden of Contemplation, the Italian Medici Court and the Medieval Garden. Highlights of this year’s festival include the Fijian Flying Circus, Opera by Candlelight, Jackie Clarke’s Songs for Nobodies, HamLit – the literary festival within the festival, and the closing concert on the Rhododendron Lawn by Don McGlashan and The Others featuring Hollie Smith. Take a moment to pore over the programme and make plans to celebrate joy in Kirikiriroa.

When: February 20 - March 1.

Where: Hamilton Gardens and selected venues in Kirikiriroa Hamilton.

Price: Visit hamiltonartsfestival.co.nz for the full schedule and tickets.

19) Big bombs in Browny’s pool

The finals of the Z Manu World Champs will be held in Browny’s pool in March.

Now in its third year, Moana Auckland contains several festivals within the ocean-inspired festival itself, chief among them the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival, the Auckland Boat Show and the Z Manu World Champs. Showcasing the best and biggest bombs from the regional competitions, the finals of the Z Manu World Champs will be held in Browny’s pool in March. From a traditional V shape manu to Te Kāwhena (the coffin) and Te Tēpara (the staple), there are several categories, age divisions and scoring criteria. This is serious business. There’s even unique technology – ManuTech – developed by AUT to record and calculate the splash height. You can still register to participate or just head along and watch some expert manu action.

When: February 28 - March 14.

Where: Karanga Plaza (Browny’s Pool), Auckland Central. Registrations and schedule information can be found at manuworldchamps.com.

Coming up

• Auckland Shakespeare in the Park: January 16 - February 14, Takapuna, Auckland.
• Opera in the Park: January 24, St Heliers and January 31, Auckland Botanic Gardens.
• The Greenstone Summer Concert Tour: January 24 (Taupo), January 29 (Spark Arena), January 31 (Wānaka).
• Sophie Ellis-Bextor: February 3, Waikato Regional Theatre, Hamilton.
• Murder on the Orient Express [return season]: February 7 - 15, 2026, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland.
• Annual Dahlia Show: February 7, Western Springs Garden Community Hall, Auckland.
• Kelmarna Community Farm Dinners: February 11 - 21, Kelmarna Community Farm, Auckland.
• ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix: February 14 - 15, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland.
• Potluck (drag show by Haute Dish) February 17 - 21, Basement Theatre, Auckland.
• ASB Classic, Centre Court Sounds: February 21, Manuka Doctor Arena.
• An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi: February 21, Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Auckland.
• Splore 2026: February 20 - 22, Tāpapapakanga Regional Park, Auckland.
• BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival: February 26 - March 1, Manukau Sports Bowl, Auckland.
• Moana Auckland Ocean’s Festival: February 28 - March 15, Auckland’s Waterfront.
• NZ Theatre Company presents Prima Facie: February 27, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland.
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show (West End touring cast): February 26 - March 8, The Civic, Auckland.
• Little Kai Festival: March 8, Kelmarna Community Farm, Auckland.
• Menopause the Musical: March 10 - 23, nationwide.
• The Wooden Boat Festival: March 13 - 15, Jellicoe Harbour, Auckland.
• Pasifika Festival: March
• Linkin Park: March 18, Spark Arena, Auckland.
• Mānuka Phuel Synthony Festival: March 21, Auckland Domain.
• Equinox Festival: March 21, Kelmarna Community Farm, Auckland.
• EcoFest: March 22 - April 22, various locations, Auckland.
• Aspiring Conversations, Festival of Ideas and Kōrero: March 27 - 29, Wānaka.

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