Colour your summer with these exciting activities across New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images
High-speed sailing takes over Auckland at the height of summer. On February 14 and 15, SailGP returns to the Waitematā Harbour and turns the City of Sails into a world stage. The New Zealand Sail Grand Prix brings elite teams, heart-racing speeds and tight competition just metres from the waterfront. Peter Burling and Blair Tuke’s Black Foils lead the charge as they race against the best sailors on the planet.
The upgraded Wynyard Point Race Stadium puts fans right above the action. The harbour fills with boats as spectators watch from the sold-out Bring Your Own Boat and Adrenaline Yacht fleets. With the city skyline behind the racecourse and summer sun overhead, SailGP transforms Auckland into a global sporting stage. heartofthecity.co.nz/auckland-events/sailgp
Auckland’s summer calendar peaks in February with a citywide celebration of pride, creativity and community. Running from February 1 to 28, the month-long Auckland Pride Festival 2026 fills Tāmaki Makaurau with art, music, performances, talks and community events that celebrate Tākatāpui and Rainbow communities in all their diversity.
Across Auckland, free and ticketed events invite locals and visitors to join parades, watch live performances, explore exhibitions, and gather in spaces built on creativity and connection. Highlights include the Auckland Rainbow Parade along Ponsonby Rd, alongside community-led shows and inclusive cultural moments that bring people together. The festival captures the best of Auckland’s energy, creativity and openness during one of the liveliest months of the year. See the list of events here: aucklandpride.ssboxoffice.com/events
If you travel for culture, Wellington is the place to be this summer. The Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts returns for its 40th year from February 24 to March 15, 2026. The biennial festival brings world-class performance to the capital and celebrates creativity across music, theatre, dance, visual arts and literature. This year’s programme honours the past while looking firmly to the future.
Standout moments include Gloria — A Triple Bill paying tribute to choreographer Douglas Wright, new waiata from Ron Ruha performed with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and TEIWA’s bold vision of tribal futurism. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds also arrive in Wellington for two nights of live music. Tāwhiri Warehouse becomes a major hub after its recent renovation, hosting theatre, dance and cabaret. Exhibitions, talks and free events spread across the city. Check the full programme at wellingtonnz.com/visit/events/aotearoa-new-zealand-festival-of-the-arts
SkyCity Summer Garden is running now beneath the Sky Tower and continues until March 1. It brings easy summer energy right into the heart of Auckland.
The pop-up opens daily from 8am and suits everything from morning coffees to relaxed evening catch-ups. Visitors can grab fresh pastries early, then return later for classic favourites like hot chips, wings and hot dogs. The Lunar Summer Garden Bar serves themed cocktails and Lunar New Year bites, adding a festive twist to sunny afternoons. Live music plays every Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 7pm, setting the tone for long summer evenings. Sugar & Steam sits nearby with scoops and sundaes for an easy cool-down. For Kiwis and travellers alike, SkyCity Summer Garden offers a simple, social way to enjoy summer in the city. heartofthecity.co.nz/auckland-events/skycity-summer-garden
National Geographic’s The Greatest Wildlife Photographs exhibition is on at Orana Wildlife Park until April 30. Curated by renowned picture editor Kathy Moran, the exhibition brings together more than 70 images drawn from 115 years of wildlife photography. Each photograph captures a moment of beauty, tension and survival, shot by some of the world’s most respected photographers, including Paul Nicklen, Steve Winter and Beverly Joubert.
Set alongside the real-life animals of Orana Wildlife Park, the experience feels immersive and immediate. Visitors move through decades of visual storytelling while surrounded by the living inspiration behind the images. For wildlife lovers, this is a front-row seat to life on Earth at its rawest and most powerful. christchurchnz.com/visit/whats-on/listing/national-geographics-the-greatest-wildlife-photographs-13628
