10 Of The Best Things To Do In Auckland This Weekend

Art and culture are off the chain this weekend with a giant, three-day, street-long art crawl, a celebration of all things caffeinated, everybody vying for tickets to Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori celebrations, plus we get tantalisingly close to discovering who will be crowned Te Manu Rongonui o Te Tau. This, and a whole lot more. Ka rawe!

Here are 10 of the best things to do in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this weekend. 

Jump to: 

• What’s On This Friday
• What’s On This Saturday
• What’s On This Sunday
• Things To Do All Weekend

What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Friday

Tell Me How You’re Really Feeling

If you’ve ever claimed to be ‘fine’ when you’ve really actually been anything but that, you need to see comedian Bailey Poching’s Doing Great. The solo show gets into grief, avoidance and trying to convince everyone else you’re okay (which, let’s be real–is all too relatable), and took out the Best Debut award at the NZ International Comedy Festival. 

The Details

Where: Basement Theatre
When: 18 & 19 September 2026
Cost: Choose what you pay 
Find out more here. 

Witness Latte Artists Going Cup-To-Cup

If your phone gallery’s chocka with a bit more snaps of your coffee than you’d care to admit, you might just find your people at the annual Aotearoa Barista Champs. With heats on Friday and finals on Saturday, grab a spectator ticket to be in on the action as the country’s most top tier baristas fight it out to win the right to represent Aotearoa at the World Barista Championship. 

The Details

Where: AUT - Sir Paul Reeves Building - WG Building 
When: 18 & 19 September 2026
Cost: Free
Find out more here. 

What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Saturday

Explore A Pocket Market In The Heart Of Waitematā

If you’re in need of a gift for someone (or yourself), skip down to Wonder Journal’s Pocket Market between 9am and 2.30pm and take a gander at the stunningly curated lineup. At a glance: ceramics, woodwork, knives, soap, accessories, leather goods, vintage clothes, and paint, plus delightful baked goods, crepes, onigiri, curry bread, miso, matcha and organic food.  

The Details

Where: The Pavilion at Waitematā
When: Saturday 19 September 2026
Cost: Entry is free
Find out more here.  

Shine For A Cure

Put your steps towards a heartfelt cause this Saturday, joining Blood Cancer NZ’s 5km lantern walk and help support the charity to offer hope, connection and life-saving research and support to people affected by cancer. Raise $100 before Saturday to receive a silk lantern to shine while you walk. Check-in at 5pm for a 5.30pm start. 

The Details

Where: Auckland Domain
When: Saturday 19 September 2026
Cost: Entry is free 
Find out more here. 

Ensure Your Holiday Plans Make It Out Of The Chat 

If you haven’t already locked in Euro Summer 2027 with Singapore Airline’s Early Bird deal that went live last week (or even if you have), you might like to pop along to House of Travel’s Auckland Travel Bazaar load up on holiday advice and dream itinerary inspo before making it official with some seriously great deals. Plus, you might just snag a family trip for four to Anaheim, complete with a Disneyland Resort Park Hopper ticket. And while you’re there, check out the Auckland Pet & Animal Expo that just so happens to be in the next building. 

The Details

Where: Auckland Showgrounds, 217 Green Lane West, Epsom
When: Saturday 19 September 2026
Cost: Entry is free 
Find out more here. 

Get Ready To Rock 

This weekend, Dead Witch will morph into a two-night soundbath of pure, unadulterated, gritty Filipino rock as 14 bands take to the stage to flex their talent. Expect face-melting riffs, main character energy, and slick guitar solos. 

The Details

Where: Dead Witch (inside Ding Dong Lounge), 26 Wyndham Street
When: 18-19 September 2026
Cost: $15
Find out more here.

What’s On In Tāmaki Makaurau This Sunday

Learn To Carve A Koruru 

Join artist Ngaroma Riley (Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Pākehā) and learn to carve a koruru mask–a face that typically adorns the gables of a mare as a guardian. The two-hour workshop includes all tools and materials, and will introduce you to the tikanga of carving using a piece of soap. It’s part of a series at Te Ana o Hine, a wāhine-led carving space at Te Tuhi, born from the need for a sanctuary for wāhine and others who encounter barriers in the carving world. 

The Details

Where: Te Tuhi, 13 Reeves Road, Pakuranga
When: Sunday 20 September 2026
Cost: $20
Find out more here. 

Take A Hikoi And See Queen Street From A Totally Different Perspective 

Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is bringing back its gorgeous guided walking tour for Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. The 75-minute tour begins in the gallery’s main foyer and follows the pathway of the Waihorotiu stream, which once ran down the Queen Street gully, before ending in Takutai Square. Head along to wander the streets as Tāmaki Makaurau’s history unfolds before you, strengthening your connection with the whēnua and history of place. 

The Details

When: 19 & 20 September 2026
Where: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, 1 Kitchener Street
Cost: Free but booking is essential.
Find out more here. 

Cast Your Vote For Bird Of The Year 

Lowkey one of the most highly-anticipated annual contests, Te Manu Rongonui o Te Tau Bird of the Year 2026 is back, and time’s running out to vote for your favourite. The latest leaderboard update on Forest and Bird’s IG last week revealed the kākāpo to be the crowd favourite, with the karuru/black robin and the kārearea close behind. Each person gets five votes (totally unhinged, but I’m so here for it), and you’ve got until 5pm this Saturday to cast yours.

The Details

When: Until 20 September 2026, 5pm 
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Cast your vote here.

The Best Things To Do This Weekend

Get Amongst A Street-Long Art Crawl 

For three days, Karangahape Road is turning into a giant art gallery, with 20 local galleries throwing opening their doors for late-night openings, an art trail for kids, exclusive exhibitions, experimental music and sound programmes, artist talks, guided tours, workshops, studio visits and live music (with plenty of kai on hand from local eateries to keep you fuelled). Best of all, it’s totally free, and thanks to the freshly-opened City Rail Link, it’s a cinch to get there. 

The Details

Where: Karangahape Road 
When: 18-20 September 2026
Cost: Free
Full programme here. 

Celebrate New Māori Storytelling 

Back for its 12th year, Te Ahurei Whakaari o Kōanga is a 10-day celebration of Māori storytelling at springtime kicks off with an evening of opera, waiata, poetry and prose. And as the festival unfolds, expect a free whānau day, a writing workshop, a live collaboration performance, a musical comedy about the queer son of a rugby player, bilingual theatre, and a whole heap more. 

The Details

When: 10-20 September 2026
Where: Te Pou Theatre, 2 Mount Lebanon Lane, Henderson
Cost: Varies (but mostly free)
Find out more here. 

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