Waikato event guide 2026: The big events coming to the region this year

Danielle Zollickhofer

Waikato News Director & Multimedia Journalist·Waikato Herald·

6 Jan, 2026 06:00 PM4 mins to read

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Jim Beam Homegrown is coming to Hamilton in March.

The year has only just started but the Waikato event calendar is already looking full for the months ahead.

There are a ton of big gigs coming and March especially looks like a banger month, with cricket, rugby, motorcycle racing, surfing and triathlon, as well as Balloons over Waikato,
Beach Hop and Homegrown’s return to the region.

Other upcoming highlights include the opening of the Waikato Regional Theatre and Soundsplash Festival this month, NRL All Stars matches, Blindspott and Hamilton Arts Festival in February and Supercars and Waikato Queer Arts Festival in April.

Later in the year, the Black Ferns will play France in Hamilton and the Royal New Zealand Ballet will stage Sleeping Beauty.

Looking at the list so far, January 24 appears to be an especially busy day with five events.