What’s On In Auckland This Week, This Month And This Year 2026
Lachlan Woods-Davidson
Freelance Sub-Editor | Urban List NZ
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 week, 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
Free And Budget-Friendly Events
Summer Tree Trail: Myths and Legends
'Til 11 January | Cornwall Park | Free
This self-led trail through Cornwall Park is the ultimate summertime stroll. 1km of beautiful, big trees and their connections to myths and legends from around the world. And just in time for Pohutukawa szn. Say hi to the lambs! Here's the route.
Food And Drink Events
Veuve Clicquot x Ki Māha & Mudbrick
From 21 December | Ki Māha & Mudbrick, Waiheke | $$/$$$
Image credit: Veuve Clicquot | Supplied
Make your way over the water to Waiheke, where Veuve Clicquot is bringing elevated summer moments to Ki Māha and Mudbrick. Soak in the sunshine and good vibes at Ki Māha’s Sun-Day Sun Club from 3-6pm, every Sunday (from this Sunday) with roaming champagne trolleys, signature seafood towers, and live DJ sets. Then make your way over to the Clicquot Terrace at Mudbrick for golden hour, with views over Tīkapa Moana. Jump on their socials to check out the range of events thanks to this iconic champagne house. - Vicki Young
From North to South: It's Time To Plan Your Bucket-List NZ Dining Itinerary
Or should we say eat-inerary.
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Aotearoa New Zealand is a destination worthy of a special journey, and for the first time, that’s now being globally recognised and awarded with the arrival of the MICHELIN guide.
From locally-sourced produce to award-winning wines—it’s time to put Aotearoa under the spotlight, showcasing the magic that happens when multi-cultural culinary creativity meets incredible produce grown in Aotearoa.
Check out our culinary itinerary for the ultimate feast in Aotearoa here.
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
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 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.
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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