What’s On In Auckland This Month And This Year 2026

Morning raves; vintage wares and drinks under the sun. Our calendars are more stacked than your plate at bottomless lunch. So without further ado...

Here's what's on in Auckland this month, as well as what's just around the corner. And here's all the wicked stuff happening this weekend.

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JUMP TO: 

• Free And Budget-Friendly Events
• Food And Drink Events
• Arts And Culture 
• Gigs
• Outdoor Activities
• Coming Soon

Gigs & Live Music

Junglebird Jazz & Cocktails

Multiple Nights | Caretaker, Auckland CBD | Free For Patrons

Image credit: Caretaker | Instagram

Smooth, flowing, late-night jazz at an underground alleyway cocktail club. It's either the ideal date idea or the perfect chance to live out your neo-noir dreams of sitting in the shadowed corner, sipping on something stiff and sitting back to enjoy one of Caretaker's Junglebird Jazz and Cocktail nights.

Coming Soon

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 grassroots talent to turn your taringas to. Tickets on sale now.

By day a divorcee. A wildly successful 'cliterature' author with a devoted online following. Tūī Matelau's award-winning debut is sharp, shameless, funny and especially relevant if you've been keeping an eye on booktok at all lately.... Part of Auckland Arts Festival 2026; early bird tickets from $33.

Moana Festival

28 February-15 March | Various Locations

Image Credit: Auckland Wooden Boat Festival | Supplied

Auckland’s Ocean Festival, Moana Auckland, is back from 28 February to 15 March 2026, transforming the waterfront into a full-scale celebration of our deep connection to the moana. Kicking things off is Shoreline Social Weekend (28 February–1 March) at the Eastern Viaduct, serving up live music, kai moana tastings, ocean storytelling and hands-on workshops by the water.

From there, things ramp up with the Z Manu World Championships (28 February–14 March) including Auckland qualifiers across 28 Feb–1 March and 7–8 March, before the Grand Final on 14 March. Serious boat lovers can dive into the Auckland Boat Show (5–8 March), followed by the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival (13–15 March) bringing classic craftsmanship to Jellicoe Harbour.

Expect plenty of family-friendly action, waterfront eats and reasons to linger a little longer by the water. Consider this your sign to spend the next three weeks seaside. More details here. 

Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival 2026

5–22 March 2026 | Various Venues | Free/Various Pricing

Image credit: Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival | Supplied

The blue whale of Auckland's Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival 2026 is an eighteen-day, city-wide festival returning in March next year. Powerful storytelling, spectacular performance, and the kind of joyful chaos that makes March in Tāmaki Makaurau something special. Tickets on sale, along with the full programme found here (so you can get onto your planning!)

WET

5-15 March 2026 | Te Pou Theatre | $$

Image credit: Te Pou Theatre | Supplied

By day, a mum, a divorcee. By night, a wildly successful 'cliterature' author with a devoted online following. Tūī Matelau's award-winning debut is sharp, shameless, funny and kinda poignant if you've been keeping an eye on booktok at all lately.... (I'm looking at you, Morning Glory Milking Farm). Part of Auckland Arts Festival 2026; early bird tickets from $33.

LINKIN PARK: From Zero World Tour

11 March | Spark Arena | $$$

Image credit: Linkin Park | Facebook

Remember that mixtape you burnt and scrawled with vivid to give to your high-school crush? I do. And I'm pretty sure it featured a few bangers from these guys. Linkin Park, yes, Linkin Park are coming to NZ in March with their new headliner and I, for one, am fizzed. So here's a PSA to go grab those tix.

Mānuka Phuel SYNTHONY Festival

21 March 2026 | Auckland Domain | $$-$$$

Image credit: SYNTHONY | Supplied

Last year, 40,000 people packed the Domain for NZ's biggest one-day music event. In 2026, they're going bigger. Faithless brings their full live band, Peking Duk flies in from across the ditch, and homegrown heroes Shapeshifter, The Black Seeds, and The Exponents round out a stacked main stage. And they're all backed by the SYNTHONY orchestra doing what they do best, plus over on the Pepsi DJ Stage, it's Nice 'n' Urlich, Flamingo Pier, Scary B. Mean, and more keeping the energy relentless. Over 20,000 tickets already gone; don't sleep on this one.

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.

& Juliet

9-26 April 2026 | The Civic | $$-$$$

Image credit: G&T Productions | Supplied

What if Juliet didn't follow Romeo into the crypt—and chose her own fate instead? The global smash-hit musical finally lands in Aotearoa, flipping Shakespeare's tragedy into a feel-good, glitter-soaked celebration of second chances, stuffed with Max Martin bangers ('Since U Been Gone,' 'Roar,' '...Baby One More Time'). Kristin Paulse leads as Juliet, with Matu Ngaropo picking up the quill as Shakespeare and Awhimai Fraser—the voice of Matangi in Moana 2—as Anne. Tickets on sale now.

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.

Alan Davies: Think Ahead

1 August 2026 | Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre | $$

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.

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 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.

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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