What’s On In Auckland This Week, This Month And This Year 2025

And just like that, it's the END of November peeps. December already. Wow.

Time surely does fly when you're having fun... which means it's about to fly a whole lot faster.

Here's what's on in Auckland this week, as well as what's just around the corner.

Not satisfied? Here's all the wicked stuff happening this weekend.

Never miss a new opening or upcoming event in Auckland again—get us in your inbox here.

Jump to: 

• Don't Miss
• Free And Budget-Friendly Events
• Food And Drink Events
• Arts And Culture 
• Gigs
• Outdoor Activities
• Ongoing Events
• Ending Soon
• Coming Soon

Don’t Miss

Farmers Santa Parade

30 November | Queen Street | Free

Image credit: Farmers Santa Parade | Website

Quite possibly the merriest day of the year besides the big day itself, Farmers Santa Parade is as quintessential to the Kiwi summer calendar as chips and onion dip. This Sunday from 1pm the 92nd edition of this beloved day out will be taking place, with grand floats, lively marching bands, treasured characters, dazzling costumes, and The Enchanted Woodland float; a whimsical fairytale scene of mushroom houses, butterflies, and woodland creatures. AND a special trans-Tasman appearance from everyone's favourite Blue Heeler...

Free And Budget-Friendly Events

Christmas in Aotea Square

28 November-21 December | Aotea Square | Free

Another classic for the Kiwi Christmas calendar (in the big smoke) has to be Christmas in Aotea Square. For most of the month the square is transforming into an extravangza of holiday cheer, which you and the whanau can get down to and enjoy for free. All the info here.

Food And Drink Events

Queen's Rooftop x Tim Richards Movember Boogie

28-29 November | Queen's Rooftop

Image credit: Queens Rooftop | Supplied

Head to Queens Rooftop for the last week of Movember, a month of raising awareness on men’s health in November. From 12pm Friday to Saturday, DJ Tim Richards will be spinning the decks non-stop for 24 hours, raising $10,000 to support men’s mental health, suicidie prevention, and prostate and testicular cancer for Movember. Get your Saturday brekkie boogie on with a side of Allpress coffee, Morning Made matcha and a Bloody Mary Cart, plus a set menu with granola and bacon butties. Donate over on DJ Tim Richards’ Mo Space. - Vicki Young

Pici's 5th Birthday

28 November | Pici | $$-$$$

Image credit: Pici | Vicki Young 

Pici are celebrating five years of delicious pasta and natural wines on Karangahape road this Friday 28th November, at Pici Wine Bar. With magnums pouring and DJs on deck, join them in celebrating the five years (and here’s to many more). Happy Birthday Pici! - Vicki Young

Arts And Culture

The Wizard of Oz

28-30 November | Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre | $$

Image credit: NYT | Website

National Youth Theatre's yellow-brick whirlwind touches down for three nights only at the end of this week. Dorothy, Toto, and the gang in technicolour glory, with Kiwi flair and a live orchestra. Click your heels thrice to grab tickets... or click this link.

Tales of a City by the Sea

25-29 November | Te Pou Theatre | $ 

A Palestinian journalist writes poetry on the beach. A diaspora doctor must decide to stay or leave. Then come the missiles and the phosphorus showers. Set against the backdrop of Gaza in 2008, Tales of a City by the Sea is a furious and tender exploration of the fragility of freedom. Led by Tāmaki Makaurau’s Palestinian community, supported by people from all over the world and housed by Māori, this play is all about connection.

Gigs

IKEA Secret Kiwi Housewarming Parties

28, 29 & 30 November | Various Venues

Image credit: IKEA x Lab54 | Supplied

If you didn't already know, IKEA is coming to town. Yes, that's a fact and before they throw open their big blue doors on 4 December, they're first throwing three secret Kiwi housewarming
parties across Auckland. In collab with UK pop-up party innovators, Lab54, it's three parties, three secret locations, celebrating three different aspects of Kiwi life, namely a house party, garage party and beach party. And it's free. How good.

The Others Way

29 November | Karangahape Road | $$$

Image credit: The Others Way | Facebook

Simply nothin' better than a good street festy. particularly when the festy in question is on the mighty K' Road. The Others Way is back this Saturday for a smorgasbord of fine, fine acts including headliners Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory,  Conna Mockasin, Georgia Knight and many, many more. All ages areas and an R18 mosh ready for wee self to go boogie in.

RÜFÜS DU SOL

29 November | The Outer Fields, Western Springs | $$$

Image credit: RÜFÜS DU SOL | Instagram

The most mind-bending, dimension-transcending electro experience known to humankind—RÜFÜS DU SOL—will light up the expansive Outer Fields of Western Springs this weekend. The Australian purveyors of electronic music-meets-legendary-lights-extravaganza-times-unholy-soundscapes are just too good not to go see, listen, embrace.

Loyle Carner: 'hopefully !'

30 November | Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall | $$

Image credit: Loyle Carner | Facebook

One of the true dons of the game in a beautiful venue for under $100. I don't think there's too much more to say than thank you, Loyle Carner, for gracing our shores with your sultry, smooth musical genius.

Outdoor Activities

Auckland FC Home Games + Derby

30 November & 6 December | Go Media Stadium | $-$$

Image credit: Auckland FC | Supplied

The next two weekends herald home games for the city's favourite football club. Auckland FC will be taking on the Newcastle Jets this Sunday, at a whanau-friendly 3pm. Then next Saturday, December 6, it’s the big one, the clash of the cities, the wise old man versus the up and comer, the upstart versus the status quo—it's the return of the Wellington Phoenix for derby day. Perfect chance to have an outing with the crew, get the little ones down there early to enjoy the inflatable slide, face painting, mini football and for the Newcastle Jets game, to meet Father Christmas and his elves. Oh, and of course, the already beloved tailgate—BYO sossies and jump on one of the many free BBQs before firing up for the game itself.

Ongoing Events

Pop to Present: American Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

'Til 15 March | Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki | $

A landmark presentation of 52 compelling works from the world-renowned Virginia Museum of Fine Arts opens at Auckland Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki this weekend. Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, Rosalyn Drexler and many more make for a major cultural event for Aotearoa New Zealand, including high-quality examples of art born from a variety of styles, movements and mediums. Tickets required.

Ending Soon

The Maison Ruinart Suite by JW Marriott

'Til 30 November | JW Marriott | $$$

Image Credit: Ava Wardecki | Supplied

A full sh’bang caviar service (bathrobe and slipper-clad) is yours to tuck into—bottle of bubbles, blinis, whippy creme fresh, shaved egg, et. al.—in Auckland's most indulgent staycation: The Maison Ruinart Suite at JW Marriott.

Except it doesn't stop there. Your Ruinart bottle is wheeled into your plush suite, accompanied by pillowy oysters and a few little treats. Bumps, sips, and oyster slurps later, the suite is yours to swan around in, basking in your post-omega feast glow. Breakfast is a hoot too: included in your stay, there’s a huge buffet to tuck into the following morning. Thank goodness there’s a leisurely 1pm check-out to settle that full belly with.

The room’s a treat too: it’s kitted out with bold springtime florals, and a few little treats that we won’t give away. You’ll need to book yourself in—before the end of November—to snag this slice of indulgence. Hop to it. 

Coming Soon

Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest

Entries Open December, Grand Final 11 July 2026

New Zealand's premier classical singing competition is entering a new era with a fitting rebrand: from 2026, it'll be known as the Kiri Te Kanawa Song Quest. The Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation has taken on principal naming rights for the 69-year-old competition, which has launched the careers of some of Aotearoa's brightest operatic stars, including Dame Kiri herself. It's a full-circle moment. Entries open December 2025, with the Grand Final Gala set for 11 July 2026.

Lewis Capaldi

2 December | Spark Arena | $$$ 

The loveable Scot who's won the world a few times over, Lewis Capaldi, returns to the antipodes with his seismic ballads. A certified pack-the-tissues type of show.

A Christmas Carol

3–7 December | The Civic | $$-$$$ 

Bah humbug, it's nigh Christmas Carol season! And accordingly, Auckland Live is bringing Shake & Stir Theatre Co.'s award-winning adaptation of Dickens' classic to The Civic for a strictly limited run that's basically become Australia's festive tradition (127,000 people can't be wrong). Follow miserable ol' Scrooge through his famous, ghostly tribulations and expect live music, lavish costumes, innovative video design—genuine snow—and enough festive joy to melt even the coldest heart – perfect for the whole whanau or anyone who has a few cobwebs behind their ribcage that need dusting out. What's more, Auckland Live is partnering with Auckland City Mission, so your ticket helps spread actual Christmas cheer beyond the theatre—taking a lesson from the cantankerous man himself.

The Nutcracker

'Til 4-13 December | Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre | $$

An eagerly anticipated new production of the world’s most beloved ballet classic, The Nutcracker. It's a Christmas staple that's captivated generations of audiences, and it's just in time for summer. Of course, we do Christmas a bit different down here, so it's quite fitting this production should feature "a uniquely Kiwi touch, transporting audiences to the nostalgia of childhood holidays at the beach in Act I, before being carried in Act II to the snowy Southern Alps, where we encounter a fairytale Kingdom of the Sweets—ome of which may look quite familiar…" Courtesy of RNZB Artistic Director Ty King-Wall and driven by Tchaikovsky. 

FAM — Food. Art. Music.

6 December | Karangahape Road | Free 

Image credit: Karangahape Road | Website

Every first Saturday of the month, the mythical and gorgeous K' Road transforms into a full-sensory extravaganza with FAM—a bold celebration of Aotearoa's finest food, art, and music. From noon till 6pm, this pulsing street party will showcase local talent across multiple disciplines, shifting one of Auckland's most iconic streets into its very top gear.

Manuka Phuel Chasing the Fox

12 December | Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club | $$$

Image credit: Chasing the Fox | Facebook

Our nation's greatest golfer is back with the ultimate golf showdown. This year he's bringing a mate from the international tour to help him fend off New Zealand's finest athletes and media personalities in a six-hole, ambros-styled battle royale at Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club—it's Fox & Friend—versus teams of three from across NZ's upper echelon – and if there's a tie, it all comes down to a sudden-death playoff on the final party hole. The whole thing airs live and free on TVNZ 1 & TVNZ+, and the best bit? Each team plays for prize money going straight to their chosen charity. Some of the more exclusive packages are still available, but fairway side GA has a waitlist.

Matt Rife: Stay Golden World Tour

1 January | Spark Arena | $$

Image credit: @nerdgangceas | Instagram

Global sensation and Instagram-reel-clap-back-clip sensation Matt Rife is gracing us with his talented presence and chiselled jawline at the very start of next year. On New Year's Day of all days, he'll be packing out and amusing Spark Arena for his only Auckland show on the Stay Golden World Tour. Love his stuff? GA is just $99, so make sure you grab a ticket before it's too late.

ASB Classic

5-17 January | Manuka Doctor Arena | $$

Image credit: ASB Classic | Supplied

What is summer for Auckland? Beaches, sailing, roadies, rock pools, fish and chips and world-class tennis—just to name a few. Yep, I can't believe I'm saying this, but in a short while, one of the hottest fixtures in the 09 summer calendar—the ASB Classic—will be back to rock the Manuka Doctor Arena, serving another stellar lineup of global stars including Naomi Osaka, Gael Monfils, hometown hero Lulu Sun AND the very venerable Venus Williams. Yes. Ma'am.

Epic rallies, summertime vibes and bubbling champs, all to be expected. Unforgettable moments, on and off the court, guaranteed.

Arthur Hill: Stella Aus NZ Tour

17 & 19 January | The Tuning Fork | $$-$$$

Image credit: Arthur Hill/Secret Sounds | Supplied

The twenty-twenties are the age of TikTok stars touring to The Tuning Fork. Who woulda thunk it. Well, for one, Arthur Hill, who's gone from internet phenom to bona fide artist touring all the way to the antipodes. You can catch him at the aforementioned Fork in all his melodical glory, come Monday, 19 January—his first Saturday show has already sold out.

OneRepublic: The Sweet Escape Tour

February 4 | Spark Arena | $$$

Image credit: OneRepublic | Facebook

Pop legends and purveyors of banger after banger, OneRepublic will be adding their name to a simply insane lineup of international acts in early 2026. They'll be playing at Spark on February 4, and if you want to see Ryan and the band, you'd better act quick.

Laneway

6 February | Western Springs | $$$

Image credit: Laneway | Chontalle Musson

Heard the news? The big one is back.

St Jerome's Laneway Festival will once again be packing the grass of Western Springs for what some consider the flagship of Aotearoa's gig calendar. The lineup has been dropped to much fizz—Chappell Roan headlining—and look at that, tickets are already selling like hotcakes.

ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Auckland

14 & 15 February | Online | $$$

Image credit: Sail GP | Supplied

With 2025's Grand Prix blowing fans out of the water, I feel it's very prudent that I inform you all that ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Auckland tickets are on sale this week. Keen? Jump onto Sail GP to score a ticket, and hopefully get so close you can feel the salt spray from these boat cowboys. Yeeeehaw.

Jason Aldean

19 February | Spark Arena | $$$

Image credit: Jason Aldean | Facebook

Country juggernaut Jason Aldean is coming to NZ shores in February. Where exactly? Why, the only arena that can handle such stardom.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

19, 20 & 21 February | Eden Park | $$

Image credit: The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo | Supplied

For the first time in its 75-year history, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is marching all the way to Auckland, and lock-step with them will be over 1,100 performers from more than 12 countries. Talk about a show. Fresh from selling out Edinburgh Castle throughout August (230,000 people can vouch for the spectacle), this world-class lineup includes UK Military Bands from the Royal Navy, Army and RAF, the New Zealand Defence Force, Australian Defence Force, His Majesty's Royal Marines, Norway's King's Guard Band and Drill Team, Japan's Air Self-Defense Force, Tonga's Royal Corps of Musicians, and fan-favourite Top Secret Drum Corps. Scottish actor Terence Rae brings the storytelling, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei delivers the welcome, and local bands, including Auckland Police Pipes and Drums, join the mix. Stirring music, military precision, cultural displays, cutting-edge lighting, immersive sound, and stunning visuals all under the stars at Eden Park for three nights of pageantry that blends timeless British Armed Forces tradition with modern performance. It's the Tattoo's most ambitious international stadium production to date.

Splore Festival

20-22 February | Tāpapakanga Regional Park | $$$

Image credit: Splore Festival | Supplied

A true icon of the summer calendar, Splore Festival is back for yet another celebration in the sun. Returning to Tāpapakanga Regional Park on February 20-22, this latest iteration centres around the theme 'being' and includes the likes of Röyksopp, Nightmares on Wax, Parson James, Franca and a host of grass roots talent to turn your taringas to. Tickets onsale now.

Soweto Gospel Choir

29 March | Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre | $$

Image credit: Soweto Gospel Choir | Stefan Meekers Concertphotography

The three-time Grammy®-winning Soweto Gospel Choir is bringing their globally acclaimed show to Christchurch's Town Hall, and if you missed their two sold-out nights earlier this year, now's your second chance to nail down tickets. If you aren't familiar with these incredible performers, they celebrate Nelson Mandela's Freedom Movement and the Civil Rights era with South African liberation songs, gospel classics, and contemporary hits from legends like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and Sam Cooke. Dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music—it's an all-ages affair.

Deftones (& Interpol)

13 May | Spark Arena | $$$

Image credit: Deftones | Facebook

If you like loud guitars and heavy lyrics, then you're probably familiar with both these bands. And if you're familiar with both these bands, then you'll understand how massive this gig is. Deftones are playing at Spark Arena next May, with special guests Interpol and Ecca Vandal on the bill. Not much I can really say other than, hell yeah.

5 Seconds of Summer: Everyone's A Star! World Tour

24 October 2026 | Spark Arena | $$$

Image credit: 5 Seconds of Summer | Facebook

PSA: Aussie pop-rock juggernauts 5SOS are bringing their Everyone's A Star! World Tour to Spark Arena next year. What started as four mates making noise in a Sydney garage has evolved into one of the biggest live acts on the planet, delivering arena-shaking anthems and sing-along moments that hit right in the feels. So here's a heads up—it's an all-ages show and tickets are live.

Dita Von Tesse: Nocturnelle

23 August | Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre | $$$

Image credit: @fiestabanphoto | Supplied

The ever-reigning queen of burlesque, Dita Von Teese, returns to New Zealand’s grand stages and awaiting audiences in August 2026, with her most enchanting show to date. Nocturnelle will see Dita unveil a bewitching new vision: an exquisite blend of old-Hollywood allure, theatrical magic, and the high-art “Stripscapes” she is known for, all inspired by the magicians of the 19th century. Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch. You know the drill.

Not in Auckland? Check out what's on in Christchurch, Wellington, and Queenstown this year.

Main image credit: Auckland Live | Website

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