What’s On In Auckland This Month And This Year 2026
Alice Rich
Contributor & Former Editor | Urban List NZ
Almost sentient art, the magic of tarot, pilates club nights and a half-naked man in a bathtub with a duck. The days might be getting colder, but the calendar's only heating up. And so you can get straight down to living the good life, I've whipped up an Urban List-approved edit of events and activities that'll keep you from hibernating.
Here's what's on in Auckland this month, as well as what's just around the corner. Ready to stack your weekend? That's right this way.
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Jump to:
- What's On In Auckland In June 2026
- What's On In Auckland In July 2026
- What's On In Auckland In August 2026
- What's On In Auckland Later In 2026
What's On In Auckland In June 2026
Forever Tomorrow: Chinese Art Now
Auckland Art Gallery
Image credit: XU ZHEN®, “Hello”, 2018–19, 2019 (installation view), MadeIn Gallery, Shanghai
Dive down a rabbit hole of Chinese contemporary art in this mixed media exhibition, combining photography, digital works and a seemingly sentient giant sculpture. Tracing the fascinating evolution of art in China and presenting works that comment on rapid change and societal shifts, Forever Tomorrow: Chinese Art Now, is unlike anything you’ve experienced before.
The Details
When: 2 May-23 August 2026
Where: Auckland Art Gallery, Wellesley Street East, Corner Kitchener, Auckland Central
Cost: $22.50-32.50
Find out more here.
Light The Way
Online
Image credit: St John | supplied
Vital ambulance service Hato Hone St John is calling for public support for their Light the Way annual appeal. This year, raised funds will be used to build, repair and upgrade ambulance stations in Whāngarei, Auckland, Morrinsville, Cambridge, Palmerston North, Nelson, North Canterbury, Ōamaru, Invercargill, and Alexandra so that staff have everything they need to do their job to their utmost ability. If this kaupapa resonates, you can donate here.
The Details
When: Throughout June
Where: Online
Find out more here.
Winter/Matariki 2026 Season At Basement
Basement Theatre
Image credit: Basement Theatre | website
If your ideal winter night out is an art-soaked one in cosy surrounds, make a beeline for Basement Theatre. The Winter/Matariki 2026 Season is packed with 22 shows from award-winning and emerging artists spanning wild parties and ‘artistic deepcuts’ to poetry evenings and political clowning, likely with cocktails to match (which you’ll be able to take a peep at over here on the Basement Space Bar IG).
The Details
When: 2 June-29 August
Where: Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Avenue, Auckland CBD
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.
Dimples Flagship Reopening
Newmarket
In May 2025 local baby brand Dimples’s flagship was forced to close after an arson attack caused about $200k in damage. Now, just over a year later, the store is set to celebrate a triumphant return from 10am on Saturday 6 June with free matcha and coffee for visitors, spot prizes worth over $50k (if you spend $50+) and gift bags valued at over $200 for the first 200 customers through the doors. Come through for beautifully crafted babywear and curated nursery pieces.
The Details
When: 6 June
Where: 25 Kent Street, Newmarket
Cost: Free entry
Find out more here.
Banff Mountain Film Festival 2026
SkyCity Theatre
Image credit: Becky Baets, Not a Running Story | Lukas Nemeth
Banff Mountain Film Festival is the largest, and one of the most prestigious, mountain festivals in the world and every year it’s packed with enough jaw-dropping moments to set even the most adrenaline junkie of hearts a-flutter. This year the Ruapehu and Tasman programmes will be screening in Tāmaki Makaurau so get ready for everything from glacier-crossing and ultra running to a generational scavenger hunt halfway across the world.
The Details
When: 10-28 June 2026
Where: SkyCity Theatre, Crn Hobson & Wellesley Street West, Auckland CBD
Cost: $29.29-$36.50+
Find out more here.
NZSO's Romeo & Juliet
Auckland Town Hall
Dance of the Knights (a.k.a. the piece of music that likely pops to mind when you think of Romeo and Juliet) has got to be one of the most iconic scores of all time. And for one night only, the Auckland Town Hall will be awash with this and other pivotal pieces from Shakespeare’s famed tragedy as the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra take the stage.
The Details
When: 12 June 2026
Where: Auckland Town Hall, 301-317 Queen Street, next to Aotea Square
Cost: From $35
Find out more here.
24 Karat Magic
Neck Of The Woods
Bust out your rave shoes, a mecca for electronic music is popping up for one night only at Neck Of The Woods. Stacked with 12 DJs, 24 Karat Magic is promising to be the gold standard of nightlife. Spy the lineup here, round up your crew and snap up those tickets.
The Details
When: 12 June
Where: Neck Of The Woods, 155B Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD
Cost: $10-20
Find out more here.
QuizHaus
16 Tun
Image credit: QuizHaus NZ | supplied
There's a new quizmaster on the block and they go by the delightful name of QuizHaus. This June they're popping up at 16Tun, the bronze-accented heart of craft beer in Wynyard Quarter. So if you think your crew has got what it takes, flick an email to bar@16tun.co.nz and get ready to flex your knowledge (or lack thereof).
The Details
When: 17 June
Where: 16 Tun, 10/26 Jellicoe Street, Wynyard Quarter
Cost: Free
Find out more here.
Tahatū Careers Expo
Auckland Showgrounds
Image credit: Tahatū Careers Expo | supplied
A pathways to a career isn't exactly straightforward anymore. Luckily, a giant careers expo is coming to Auckland Showgrounds. In its 34th year, the Tahatū Careers Expo is an opportunity for students, school leavers, job seekers and career changers to get advice from people working in their industries of interest. Best of all, it’s totally free to get amongst, and is proudly sponsored by the Tertiary Education Commission through Tahatū Career Navigator. Love that.
The Details
When: 16 & 17 June
Where: Auckland Showgrounds, 217 Green Lane West, Epsom, Auckland
Cost: Free
Find out more here.
Auckland Live Cabaret Festival
The Civic
Image credit: Cheeky | Viktor Wallström | Rockfoto
The Civic is set to be dripping with naughtiness with the return of the Auckland Live Cabaret Festival. A saucy mix of free and ticketed events, from blushworthy burlesque, a champagne lounge and a secret piano bar, to gravity-defying circus, tarot reading, comedy, and theatre, explore the depths of one of the city’s most iconic buildings in absolute style.
The Details
When: 24 June-5 July
Where: The Civic, 269-287 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.
Beast & Homies
Q Theatre
Image credit: Q Theatre | website
From the choreographic genius of Corbyn Taulealea-Huch-Paselio comes BEAST, a collective of world-class dancers of Pacific Island descent. Beast & Homies will fill Q Theatre with the hum of Pacific identify, culture and excellence in a high-energy street dance format that’s sure to have you grooving.
The Details
When: 26-27 June 2026
Where: Q Theatre, 305 Queen Street, Auckland CBD
Cost: $15-45
Find out more here.
What's On In Auckland In July 2026
Club Hiraya
Hiraya Studio, 51 New North Road, Eden Terrace
Image credit: Hiraya Studio | Patty Lagera
Once upon a time the dance floors kicked off at 11pm. Now it’s more like 2am, and that’s only for the opener. If you’re a club kid yearning for a party that actually starts the same day you woke up, you’ll want to hit Hiraya’s Club Nights. The Filipino-owned pilates studio in a villa perched on Eden Terrace is launching a series of disco-themed mat pilates classes (and there might even be cheeky post-class shots too). Expect a warm and welcoming atmosphere, beginner-friendly flows, and a cosy lounge to hang out in afterwards. Keep an eye on their socials for more info.
The Details
When: Fridays, from 3 July
Where: Hiraya Studio, 51 New North Road, Eden Terrace
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.
Matariki
Throughout The Motu
The beginning of the Māori new year is signalled by the appearance of a cluster of stars in the night sky called Matariki. It’s a time for reflection and togetherness, preparing and planning for the year ahead. Join the festivities by attending a dawn ceremony or kite day, eating your fill of hāngī, or deepening your cultural understanding. Full programme to be released.
The Details
When: 4-19 July 2026
Where: Aotearoa
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.
Nightflock
Pitt Street Theatre
If you’ve been fortunate enough to discover the whimsy that is NZ composer Claire Cowan’s Blackbird Ensemble, you’ll be ridiculously excited to hear a new era of original music has landed and it’s called Nightflock. Tickets to the group’s debut sold out within six days of the announcement so you definitely don’t want to miss out on their second performance which is promising to be magical, unique and utterly unforgettable.
The Details
When: 18 July
Where: Pitt Street Theatre, 78 Pitt Street, Auckland CBD
Cost: $45
Find out more here.
The Push Presents: Mano Po
Basement Theatre
A ‘mano po’ is a Filipino gesture of respect, given to your elders. When Kiwi-Pinoy comedian James Roque receives a mano po from a teenager, he spirals. A gig for that sinking feeling you get when the club bouncer waves you through without asking for your ID, you can snap up a ticket for The Mano Po World Tour, right here.
The Details
When: 23-24 July 2026
Where: Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Avenue, Auckland CBD
Cost: $20-30+
Find out more here.
New Zealand International Film Festival
Multiple Locations
While you absolutely could hibernate at home with Netflix, seeing a film on the big screen with a box of cinema popcorn just hits different. Cue the NZ International Film Festival in all its glory. The cosy indoor festival, set in stunning venues across the city, is a tonic to the winter blues. Stay tuned for the programme drop.
The Details
When: 29 July-9 September 2026
Where: Multiple
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.
What's On In Auckland In August 2026
Alan Davies: Think Ahead
Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre
Image credit: Alan Davies | Supplied
Here's something Quite Interesting: after a decade away, beloved QI funny man, Alana Davies, is back on Kiwi shores. Touring nationwide with a brand new hour of material, Think Ahead sees him reckon with getting old. Aren't. We. All.
The Details
When: 1 August 2026
Where: Aotea Centre, 50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland CBD
Cost: $81.46
Find out more here.
Winetopia
Viaduct Events Centre
Image credit: Winetopia | Sonna Studios
If a cheeky vino (or three) goes down a treat, you’ll be stoked to hear the much-loved Winetopia is returning for an eighth season with the smashing theme of Taste World-Class (so you know it’s going to be extra epic). The two-day wine celebration will feature 50+ prestigious wineries from all over Aotearoa will showcase their wines serving everything from Albarino to Syrah and plenty of Pinot too. So, round up your lush pals, raise a glass or three, and get ready to taste all of the best drops in the motu.
The Details
When: 7-8 August 2026
Where: Viaduct Events Centre, 161 Halsey Street, Wynyard Quarter
Cost: Early bird tickets from $49-89
Find out more here.
Dita Von Tesse: Nocturnelle
Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre
Image credit: @fiestabanphoto | Supplied
The ever-reigning queen of burlesque, Dita Von Teese, returns to New Zealand’s grand stages and awaits 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.
The Details
When: 23 August 2026
Where: Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre, 50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland CBD
Cost: $101.85-$203.80
Find out more here.
What's On In Auckland Later In 2026
Lily Allen Performs West End Girl
Spark Arena
Her first New Zealand appearance since 2019, Lily Allen is set to perform her massively popular West End Girl album, which has clocked up over 275 million streams since its release in October last year, from start to finish in a listening party that’s sure to go straight to core memory.
The Details
When: 21 October 2026
Where: Spark Arena, 42/80 Mahuhu Crescent, Parnell
Cost: Varies
Find out more here.
5 Seconds of Summer: Everyone's A Star! World Tour
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.
The Details
When: 24 October 2025
Where: Spark Arena, 42/80 Mahuhu Crescent, Parnell
Cost: varies
Find out more here.
Not in Auckland? Check out what's on in Christchurch, Wellington, and Queenstown this year.
Main image credit: Josh Tere | Unsplash
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