11 Of The Best Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend

How do you like to spend your weekend? Is your ideal Saturday night spent at the cabaret? How about a Friday night learning to knit? Perhaps your dream day is spent drinking some of the city’s cocktails? What if we told you could do all that and more this weekend in Auckland?

Auckland seems to be hell bent on continuing to offer us a series of epic events to keep you busy and the city full of life across the weekends. From multi-venue dance parties in one of the city’s most iconic precincts, to the raucous fun that is the Auckland Cabaret Festival and the educational films on show at Doc Edge, the worst part about this weekend in Auckland will be deciding which events to sacrifice because, sadly, you can’t do it all. 

You sure can try, though. Here is our pick of the best things to do this weekend in Auckland. 

What’s On Friday

Dance The Night Away At Sugar At The Civic Theatre

Few times in Auckland are more fun, raucous, and joyous than the Cabaret Festival. For a week, the city comes alive with an incredible roster of performers who will sing, dance, and joke their way into your hearts. This weekend, our pick of the bunch is Sugar at The Civic Theatre, an outrageously silly and sexy show about sugar babies and the hurdles along the way to finding success in transactional relationships. Throw in a soundtrack with hits from Lady Gaga, Chappell Roan, Kylie Minogue and more and you have the makings of a very fun Friday night. 

The Details

Where: Wintergarden at The Civic, 269-287 Wellesley Street West

When: Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June, 9.30pm

Cost: From $20.39

For more information, click here.

Cosy Up At Nana Night At Crushes 

We can’t think of many more soul soothing ways to finish your week than to head to Crushes on Friday Night for Nana Night—an evening of crocheting, quilting and knitting hosted by real life grannies, including the owner’s Nana Bev. Drinks will be provided by Alba so you can sip a crispy marg while you learn a new skill and revel in the power of matriarchal energy. 

The Details

Where: Crushes, 235 Karangahape Road 

When: Friday 26 June, 6.30pm-8.30pm 

Cost: $30

For more information, click here.

Warm Up In Takutai Square And Watch The Matariki Lights Turning On  

You may have seen some structures popping up in Takutai Square this week. That’ll be the foundations of Mangōpare, a light installation by Arama Tamariki-Enua (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Tumu-te-Varovaro (Rarotonga)), designed in collaboration with Angus Muir, Catherine Ellis and Peter Hobbs to celebrate Matariki, which will light up the square from Friday 26 June until Thursday 16 July. Designed to honour the resilience, strength and determination represented by the hammerhead shark, the work is a manifestation of courage. To celebrate, there will be free hot chocolate from Miann, free pastries from Amano and a very special taonga pūoro performance by Tāmaki Oro Rau. Feel like continuing the fun? The sculpture actually makes up just one part of the Tūhono Light Trail which stretches across Commercial Bay, Britomart and Te Tōangaroa, with other pieces designed by three other Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei artists, Arama Tamariki-Enua, Caine Taihia, Uira Nahi and Maraea Shaw. 

The Details

Where: Takutai Square, Britomart 

When: Friday 26 June, 4.45pm 

Cost: Free

For more information, click here.

What’s On Saturday

Cheer On The All Whites With A Beer At One Of Auckland’s Best Sports Bars

Look, we know the last game wasn’t ideal. But while the All Whites may have made history with their first world cup loss, there’s still time for them to make history again by winning their game against Belgium on Saturday. Either way, it’s a good excuse to gather at one of Auckland’s best sports bars with your pals over a pint or two to cheer on the lads as they take on Belgium in Vancouver. Imagine the euphoria if they finally crack that win? As social media has been saying for weeks, No Payne, No Gain. 

The Details

Where: One of Auckland’s best sports bars

When: Saturday 27 June, kick off at 3.00pm 

Cost: Free

For more information, click here.

Sing Along To Homegrown Heroes The Veils At The Powerstation

There’s nothing like a homegrown band returning to our shores on a world tour. The Veils are a band with one foot firmly in England and the other in NZ—frontman Finn Andrews was born in London but raised in Auckland—but very much see their Aotearoa shows a homecoming. Fresh off the back of their critically acclaimed 2025 record Asphodels, the band are back with Fragile World, which was released on 19 June this year and recorded right here in NZ. Expect an enthusiastic crowd. 

The Details

Where: The Powerstation

When: Saturday 27 June, doors open 8.00pm

Cost: $60

For more information, click here.

Celebrate An Auckland Icon At Caluzzi Cabaret's 30th Birthday

Few establishments are as sewn into the fabric of Auckland as Caluzzi Cabaret. The longest-running drag cabaret in Australasia, this fantastic performance is a complete K Road icon. To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the cabaret will take to the stage of The Civic for an extra special show as part of Auckland Cabaret Festival. Come and see Kita Mean and Anita Wigl’it at their absolute finest, supported by cast member Ling Ling and her girls for an evening of rhinestones, glamour, mischief and a whole lot of fun. 

The Details

Where: Wintergarden at The Civic, 269-287 Wellesley Street West

When: Saturday 27 June 9.30pm, and Sunday 28 June 4.00pm

Cost: From $20.39

For more information, click here.

Settle In For A Big One At Commercial Bay Live 

Have you ever been shopping in Commercial Bay and thought, this place would make for a great night out? If so, listen up—the annual Commercial Bay Live night is back. Bring your dancing shoes, because across four floors the precinct will come alive on Saturday night with a multi-venue party set across Kemuri Hifi, Reign and Pour, Dos Donkey, and Public Bar. Each venue will have its own unique programme of artists and music, and your ticket gets you access to all of them. Not enjoying the song at one? Simply head upstairs or downstairs for a shift in vibe. This layered, textural evening will take you on a journey of sounds and energy all under one roof. European super club who? 

The Details

Where: Commercial Bay

When: Saturday 27 June 

Cost: From $20

For more information, click here.

What’s On Sunday

Raise Your Serotonin Levels With Paint And Pup

Banish any Sunday scaries and head to Studio One Toi Tū in Ponsonby to spend your morning doing arguably two of life’s most calming activities: painting and playing with puppies. Art in Bloom are partnering with Auckland Puppy Rescue for this wholesome morning where you’ll not only learn the basics of painting and guidance on how to create your first piece, but you’ll also get to cuddle a bunch of puppies. The best part? All the dogs there on the day are available for adoption, so you might just head home with a new best friend, and proceeds go towards the Auckland Puppy Rescue so they can continue to help find puppies new homes. 

The Details

Where: Studio One Toi Tū, 1 Ponsonby Road

When: Sunday 28 June 

Cost: $110

For more information, click here.

What’s On All Weekend

Get Sipping At Auckland Cocktail Week 

The inaugural Auckland Cocktail Week has already hit us with some great events, and the fun continues into the weekend with a series of great collabs, one-offs and pop-ups across Tāmaki Makaurau. Head to Goblin on Friday for an educational session on the importance of ice in cocktails and how to best make it, dip into ACS down the road for a choose your own adventure approach to cocktails in collaboration with Suntory, or settle in at Curio for Hendricks Cabinet of Curiosities. On Saturday, you might head to Rocketman for The Art of Whisk(e)y, or celebrate Truth or Dare’s first birthday with The Glenlivet. Clear any sore heads on Sunday with bloody marys at Bar Mea, or go large at the finale party at The Broken Lantern. Cheers. 

The Details

Where: Across Auckland

When: All weekend

Cost: Varies

For more information, click here.

Slurp Your Way Through The Weekend At The Khao Soi SO/ Auckland Pop-Up 

Good news for Thai food lovers in Tāmaki Makaurau. First, we got our own dedicated Khao Soi in Remuera—after the restaurant had gained legions of fans in Wellington. And now, the team are popping up at SO/ Auckland’s Javalab Cafe for two weeks from 25 June. The curated menu will, of course, feature their hero dish, khao soi bowls in either soup or stir fry format, alongside signature drinks to wash everything down. Come hungry and warm up in the best way. 

The Details

Where: Javalab Cafe, SO/ Auckland

When: 25 June-9 July 

Cost: Varies

For more information, click here.

Get Your Culture Fix At Doc Edge Festival

A good documentary should get under your skin. It should teach you something about our world, and take you inside a part of it you might not otherwise see. Some of New Zealand and the world’s greatest documentaries will be shown across Auckland as part of the Doc Edge festival, with a series of extra-special premieres to boot. Whether you head to Takapuna Beachside Cinema on Friday to catch Laurits Nansen’s story of an activist fighting Cambodia’s increasingly corrupt beer industry in Cambodian Beer Dreams, or to The Capitol to catch Mr Mungai’s battle for justice in the Kenyan highlands in Kikuyu Land, each of the 75 films on the lineup is a transportive, educational experience. 

The Details

Where: Across Auckland

When: 24 June-12 July 

Cost: Varies

For more information, click here.