As the weather warms up, Auckland city comes alive with festivals. Whether you are looking to indulge in some fresh Bluff oysters, or to dance in the open air to your favourite musicians, the summer months bring culture and vibrancy to the city centre. We have rounded up the summer festivals that we are most excited for.
Auckland Buskers Festival
Giving street performance centre stage on Auckland Anniversary weekend, the Auckland International Buskers Festival brings together a variety of the world’s best street theatre. Comedy and wonder come together at the Viaduct Harbour for a day of amazement and laughter.
St Jerome's Laneway, Albert Park
The annual St Jerome’s Laneway Festival is once again taking-over the lush outdoor spaces of Albert Park. We’re looking forward to pop-extraordinaire Charli XCX and reclusive hip-hop wordsmith Earl Sweatshirt, as well as the 1975 and Irish indie rockers Fontaines D.C.. Flooded with great food options and refreshing drinks of both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic variety, Laneway Festival promises to be a standout summer festival.
Oyster Festival | Princes Wharf, 147 Quay Street
Choose a venue and get down to Princes Wharf’s Oyster Festival for freshly shucked oysters and other delicious bivalves. This annual oyster extravaganza pairs your favourite seafood with a fantastic selection of drinks and entertainment. Offering all-you-can-eat deals and masterclasses, the Oyster Festival is the best way to make the most of the Bluff oyster season.
Seeport Festival | Captain Cook Wharf, Quay Street
Go behind the red fence this Auckland Anniversary weekend to take part in the family friendly Seeport Festival. One of Auckland’s largest free events, this three day festival celebrates the city’s rich maritime heritage. From helicopter rides to music and entertainment on and off the water, Seeport Festival will have all ages spoilt for choice. Be sure not to miss Sunday night’s Sunset Symphony and Fireworks.
Beacon Festival | Queens Wharf
For all electronic music lovers out there, Friendly Potential’s Beacon Festival should not be missed. The inaugural open-air festival at Auckland’s iconic Queen’s Wharf is a world-class celebration of electronic music in a uniquely Auckland setting, allowing you to groove by the seaside to quality international and local acts.
Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival | Captain Cook Wharf
The story of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and the waka that sailed here will take centre stage in January 2020 when the region celebrates its Māori heritage through the Tāmaki Herenga Waka Festival. For the first time since its inaugural year in 2016, the festival will feature both land and water performances that will go on into the night, as well as storytelling that captures the region’s rich waka history which shaped the Tāmaki Makaurau we know and love today.
Auckland Arts Festival
The Auckland Arts Festival is a three-week long festival exhibiting the best of Auckland and the rest of the world. With a broad focus on ‘arts’, the Auckland Arts Festival showcases an engrossing selection of dance, music, film, art and theatre. Check out the ode to Beethoven, reflecting on the composer 250 years after his birth, or the Snow White Ballet where high fashion meets the iconic fairy tale.