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Home / Waikato News / Lifestyle

Waikato event guide 2026: The big events coming to the region this year

Danielle Zollickhofer
Danielle Zollickhofer
Waikato News Director & Multimedia Journalist·Waikato Herald·
6 Jan, 2026 06:00 PM4 mins to read

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Jim Beam Homegrown is coming to Hamilton in March.

Jim Beam Homegrown is coming to Hamilton in March.

The year has only just started but the Waikato event calendar is already looking full for the months ahead.

There are a ton of big gigs coming and March especially looks like a banger month, with cricket, rugby, motorcycle racing, surfing and triathlon, as well as Balloons over Waikato, Beach Hop and Homegrown’s return to the region.

Other upcoming highlights include the opening of the Waikato Regional Theatre and Soundsplash Festival this month, NRL All Stars matches, Blindspott and Hamilton Arts Festival in February and Supercars and Waikato Queer Arts Festival in April.

Later in the year, the Black Ferns will play France in Hamilton and the Royal New Zealand Ballet will stage Sleeping Beauty.

Looking at the list so far, January 24 appears to be an especially busy day with five events.

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January

  • January 11-17, Waka Ama Sprint Nationals, Lake Karapiro
  • January 16-18, Soundsplash, Wainui Reserve, Raglan
  • January 23, Teeks, Waikato Regional Theatre - sold out
  • January 23-26, Festival One, Hartford, Karapiro
  • January 24, Summer Concert Tour, Taupo Amphitheatre
  • January 24, Wings and Wheels, Sir Keith Park Memorial Airfield, Thames
  • January 24-25, Sir Dave Dobbyn, Waikato Regional Theatre - sold out
  • January 24-25 Manu World Champs Hamilton heat, Waterworld, Hamilton
  • January 27, Jimmy Carr - Laughs Funny, Claudelands Event Centre, Hamilton
 Iggy Pop will perform at the Summer Concert Tour. Photo / Jimmy Fontaine
Iggy Pop will perform at the Summer Concert Tour. Photo / Jimmy Fontaine

February

  • February 3, Sophie Ellis-Baxtor, Waikato Regional Theatre
  • February 6, Dub in the Valley, Kauaeranga Valley Hall
  • February 6-7, Fiji Hamilton Sevens NZ, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
  • February 12-13, Upu, Waikato Regional Theatre
  • February 14, Paeroa Highland Games and Tattoo,
  • February 15, NRL All Stars, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
  • February 18, Prima Facie, Clarence Street Theatre, Hamilton
  • February 19, Australia’s Thunder from Down Under, Clarence Street Theatre, Hamilton
  • February 20-March 1, Hamilton Arts Festival
  • February 25 and 27, White Ferns v Zimbabwe T20i, Seddon Park
  • February 28, Chiefs v Crusaders, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
  • February 28, Blindspott Arena Tour, Great Lake Centre, Taupō
From left to right: NRL players Harata Butler, Gracie Kemp, and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. Photo / Malisha Kumar
From left to right: NRL players Harata Butler, Gracie Kemp, and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. Photo / Malisha Kumar

March

  • March 1, White Ferns v Zimbabwe T20i, Seddon Park, Hamilton
  • March 1, Frankton Thunder, Hamilton
  • March 6, Rock Orchestra by Candlelight, Hamilton
  • March 6, Chiefs v Moana Pasifika, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
  • March 7, Ironman New Zealand, Taupō
  • March 7-8 Motofest Bike Show, Hampton Downs
  • March 7-16, Mercury Bay Art Escape, Coromandel
  • March 14, Homegrown, Claudelands Oval, Hamilton
  • March 14-15, NZ Women’s Surf Festival, Pauanui
  • March 14-15, Motomania, Taupō International Motorsport Park
  • March 17, White Ferns and Black Caps v South Africa, T20i, Seddon Park, Hamilton
  • March 20-21, Kickdown Festival, Whangamatā
  • March 21, Bic Runga - Red Sunset Tour, Waikato Regional Theatre, Hamilton
  • March 21-28, Balloons Over Waikato, Hamilton
  • March 25-29, Beach Hop, Coromandel
  • March 28, Soweto Gospel Choir, Waikato Regional Theatre, Hamilton
  • March 28, Middle-earth Halfling Marathon, Hobbiton Movie Set - sold out
 The Nightglow will open the annual Balloons over Waikato Festival on Saturday, March 21 at the University of Waikato.
The Nightglow will open the annual Balloons over Waikato Festival on Saturday, March 21 at the University of Waikato.

April

  • April 4, Chiefs v Waratahs, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
  • April 4-6, Sonic Waves, Whangamatā
  • April 10, Night of Champions, Cambridge Raceway
  • April 10-12, ITM Super440, Supercars, Taupō International Motorsport Park
  • April 16-18, Waikato Queer Arts Festival, Hamilton
  • April 18, Chiefs v Hurricanes, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
  • April 18, Waitomo Trail Run
  • April 25, Magic v Tactix, Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
Supercars are heading to Waikato for the ITM Taupō Super440 in April before travelling to the South Island. Photo / Mark Horsburgh
Supercars are heading to Waikato for the ITM Taupō Super440 in April before travelling to the South Island. Photo / Mark Horsburgh

May

  • May 8, The Rock Tenors - Anthems Reloaded, Clarence St Theatre, Hamilton
  • May 15, Chiefs v Highlanders, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
  • May 19, Tommy Emmanuel, Waikato Regional Theatre, Hamilton
  • May 30, Chiefs v Blues, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
  • May 30, Magic v Stars, Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
The Chiefs are marking their 30th anniversary this year. Photo / Andrew Cornaga, Photosport
The Chiefs are marking their 30th anniversary this year. Photo / Andrew Cornaga, Photosport

June

  • June 6, Magic v Pulse, Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
  • June 10-13, Fieldays, Mystery Creek Event Centre

July

  • July 5, NRLW Warriors v Bulldogs, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
  • July 19, Harlem Globetrotters - The 100-Year tour, Claudelands Event Centre, Hamilton
  • July 31, Alan Davies - Think Ahead, Waikato Regional Theatre, Hamilton

August

  • August 8, NRLW Warriors v Knights, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Fieldays will be back at Mystery Creek from June 10. Photo / Maryana Garcia
Fieldays will be back at Mystery Creek from June 10. Photo / Maryana Garcia

September

  • September 26, Whangamatā Half Marathon, Williamson Park

October

  • October 1-4, Waikato Home and Garden Show, Claudelands Event Centre, Hamilton
  • October 17, Black Ferns v France, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
  • October 24-26, Raglan Arts Weekend

November

  • November 27-29, Royal NZ Ballet: Sleeping Beauty, Waikato Regional Theatre, Hamilton
  • November 28, Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge

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