Auckland hosts more festivals than any other city in New Zealand, from cultural celebrations that draw over 100,000 people to international music festivals. This guide covers the events that come back every year, in calendar order, so you can plan ahead.
Dates change every year, so check each organiser's website before you book tickets or transport.
Summer: January to March
Laneway Festival (February)
The Auckland leg of the touring indie music festival takes over Western Springs for a day. In 2027 Auckland is the final stop of the tour. The event is 18+.
BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival (February or March)
New Zealand's largest cultural festival marks the end of Lunar New Year celebrations with more than 500 handmade lanterns, performances and food stalls over four evenings at the Manukau Sports Bowl. Entry is free but you need a ticket.
Auckland Pride Festival (February)
A month of events, parties and performances across the city, with Karangahape Road at its heart.
Pasifika Festival (March)
One of the largest Pacific Island festivals in the world fills Western Springs Lakeside Park with island villages, food, music and dance over a weekend in March. It is free and alcohol-free.
Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival (March)
Theatre, dance, music and free outdoor events across the central city, with a hub in Aotea Square.
Autumn and winter: April to August
Auckland Easter Show (Easter)
A long-running Easter tradition at the Auckland Showgrounds in Epsom, with carnival rides, farm animals and entertainment.
NZ International Comedy Festival (May)
Three weeks of comedy at the Civic, Q Theatre, the Classic Comedy Club and other city venues.
Auckland Writers Festival (May)
Authors and thinkers from around the world in conversation, with a strong schools programme.
Matariki Festival (June or July)
Celebrations of the Māori New Year across the region, timed around the Matariki public holiday.
NZ International Film Festival (late July and August)
The national film festival opens in Auckland, screening at the Civic, Rialto Newmarket, the Lido and other cinemas.
Spring and summer: September to December
BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival (late October or early November)
The city's Festival of Lights fills Aotea Square and Queen Street with food stalls, dance and a fireworks finale. It draws more than 65,000 people each year and entry is free.
Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park (December)
A free Christmas concert with fireworks at the Auckland Domain in mid December.
AUM and New Year's Eve
AUM runs over New Year, and the city's free New Year's Eve celebrations end with fireworks from the Sky Tower.
Getting a group to Auckland festivals
Most big Auckland festivals have road closures, limited parking and a designated bus or coach drop-off zone. A private minibus or coach keeps your group together and gets everyone home at a set time, without anyone needing to drive.
- Western Springs and the Auckland Domain both have limited parking on event days, so group drop-offs are the easiest option.
- Confirm the official coach drop-off point on the festival's transport page.
- Agree a pick-up time and a meeting spot before your group goes in.
- Book transport as soon as you have tickets, especially for long weekends.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest festival in Auckland?
The BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival is New Zealand's largest cultural festival, attracting more than 110,000 visitors. Pasifika and Diwali also draw very large crowds.
Which Auckland festivals are free?
The Lantern Festival (ticketed but free), Pasifika, Diwali and Christmas in the Park are all free to attend.
Bus hire for Auckland festivals
Bus Hire NZ arranges minibuses and coaches for groups of all sizes, from 11-seat minibuses to 53-seat coaches, with professional drivers who know the venues, the drop-off points and the event traffic plans.
Tell us your event, date and group size through our quick quote form and our Auckland bus hire page, and we will come back with options.