rova
Auckland Arts Festival returns to Tāmaki Makaurau for 2026
The Breeze, Mai FM and rova are proud to present Auckland Arts Festival 2026
A massive 18-day celebration of arts, culture, and community featuring world-class performances and free events across Tāmaki Makaurau this March.
Tickets
Experience the magic of Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki this March
The heartbeat of Tāmaki Makaurau is back this March as the Auckland Arts Festival (Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki) takes over the city. This 18-day feast of creativity brings together local legends and international stars to celebrate the incredible artists and communities that make Aotearoa unique. From iconic venues to free outdoor spectacles, the city is about to be buzzing with energy.
At A Glance
Event: Auckland Arts Festival 2026
Dates: 5—23 March
Location: Aotea Square and various venues across Tāmaki Makaurau
Featured Shows: Music Portrait of a Humble Disabled Samoan, La Ronde, Ihi. Wehi. Mana., 27 Club and Ten Thousand Hours
Tickets: Auckland Arts Festival Tickets
The festival is built on a foundation of manaakitanga, honouring te reo and te ao Māori while ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you are discovering the city for the first time or rekindling your love for its hidden gems, you can expect a welcoming atmosphere that feels like catching up with the wider whānau.
Make sure you swing by the rova Sound Stage, the true heartbeat of the festival. It is live, loud, and totally free. We are hosting a revolving lineup of music, performances, and pop-ups across the entire festival. Catch a casual lunchtime gig, a sunset session, or a weekend dance from 5.00pm on weekdays and all day throughout the weekend.
Shows We Are Supporting
La Ronde – Strut & Fret Radiating pure theatrical seduction, La Ronde is a heady mix of gravity-defying aerial work, jaw-dropping pole acts, and choreography dripping with sass. Backed by powerhouse vocals and a soundtrack that fizzes like champagne, it is an intoxicating collision of circus, cabaret, and comedy. No festival experience is complete without a trip to the famous Spiegeltent in Aotea Square.
Music Portrait of a Humble Disabled Samoan An extraordinary story told with unapologetic presence, humour, and raw honesty. Backed by a powerhouse Pacific creative team, this production follows Fonotī Pati Umaga’s journey from Wainuiomata to becoming a musician, and his resilience after a life-changing fall in 2005. It is a genre-defying celebration of hope and the fire music can carry.
Ihi. Wehi. Mana. Celebrate 45 years of dedication from Te Waka Huia, five-time national kapa haka champions. This performance reunites past and present members with esteemed choral leader Karen Grylls (CNZM). It is an uplifting celebration of musical collaboration and cultural connection, weaving together te reo Māori and choral traditions to create a truly unique soundscape.
Ten Thousand Hours From the world-class circus crew Gravity & Other Myths, this global hit is part mind-blowing spectacle and part hilarious hangout. The performers make the impossible look easy, and because the audience gently guides the action, no two shows are ever the same. If you love a night out that leaves you grinning, this is the superhuman squad you need to see.
27 Club Icons reborn — this must-see show will have you praying to the rock gods for more! A blistering rock concert celebrating legends lost too soon like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, and Kurt Cobain. It is a fist-pumping, full-immersion rockumentary.
Secure your spot at one of the city's most vibrant celebrations.