Get ready for a hot summer in the city with these music, art, sport and culture events. <\/p>\n
Pop to Present<\/p>\n
\n Auckland Art Gallery\u2019s next major exhibition launches this month. From Jackson Pollock\u2019s iconic drip paintings to Andy Warhol\u2019s pop visions, Pop to Present brings a dazzling sweep of post-war
\n American art to Auckland. This landmark exhibition from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts features 52 works by artists including Mark Rothko, Roy Lichtenstein, Helen Frankenthaler and Kiki Smith, exploring abstraction, identity and the power of image-making. With nearly 30 works by women and artists of colour, the show offers a rich and inclusive view of modern America\u2019s creative pulse. A must-see summer cultural event, it\u2019s presented in association with Auckland Arts Festival 2026.\n <\/p>\n
From November 8 until March 15. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki, Wellesley St East. Aucklandartgallery.com <\/p>\n
The Others Way festival <\/p>\n
Connan Mockasin will join the line-up for The Others Way Festival, alongside headliners Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory.<\/p>\n
Karangahape Rd is shutting down for The Others Way Festival,, which is set to take over the whole block between Pitt St and Queen St, with the main stage near the rainbow crossing. The impressive line-up includes Connan Mockasin (returning in full band format), Florist, Toody Cole & Her Band, Karen Nyame KG, Georgia Knight, M\u0101, Jackaltheblackal, Jim Nothing, Pearly and the collaborative duo Caru and Brandn Shiraz. They join headliners Sharon Van Etten and The Attachment Theory, High Dependency Unit, The Phoenix Foundation (playing Pegasus), Saya Gray, W.I.T.C.H. and more. It\u2019s set to be a huge celebration of local and international music, as Karangahape Rd becomes a festival playground for one unforgettable day. <\/p>\n
November 29. Karangahape Rd. Theothersway.co.nz\u202f <\/p>\n
Two Another <\/p>\n
Two Another plays Spark Arena this summer.<\/p>\n
Australian-born, Europe-based duo Two Another bring their smooth blend of electronic, alt-R&B and soul to The Tuning Fork on Saturday, December 6. Known for their lush vocals and groove-heavy production, Eliot and Angus have earned millions of streams and global fans with hits like Just A Phase and Back To Us. Expect an intimate, high-energy live show. <\/p>\n
December 6. The Tuning Fork, 42\/80 Mahuhu Cres, Parnell. Tuningfork.co.nz <\/p>\n
ASB Classic 2026 <\/p>\n
Nothing says summer in Auckland quite like the ASB Classic \u2013 sunshine, world-class tennis and a glass of bubbles courtside. The tournament returns in January 2026 with both the WTA and ATP 250 tours, featuring global stars including Venus Williams, Naomi Osaka, Gael Monfils, New Zealand\u2019s own Lulu Sun, and many more top and rising players soon to be announced. Off the court, expect the vibrant terraces, shaded lounges and top-tier food and drink offerings that make this event as much about style and summer vibes as it is about sport. <\/p>\n
January 5-17, Manuka Doctor Arena, Stanley St, Parnell. Asbclassic.co.nz <\/p>\n
David Byrne Live <\/p>\n
The endlessly inventive David Byrne is a musician, artist, film-maker and former Talking Heads frontman. He returns to Auckland this summer with his new album Who Is The Sky? to play Spark Arena on January 14. Byrne\u2019s visionary live show features a 13-piece ensemble of singers, dancers and musicians, all in constant motion. Expect a mesmerising mix of rhythm, theatre and visual art from one of music\u2019s most original thinkers \u2013 his first New Zealand show since 2018\u2019s acclaimed American Utopia tour. <\/p>\n
January 14 at Spark Arena, 42\/80 Mahuhu Cres, Parnell. Ticketmaster.co.nz <\/p>\n
Laneway <\/p>\n
Chappell Roan is headlining Laneway 2026.<\/p>\n
Lather on some sunscreen and stay hydrated because Laneway Festival returns to Auckland\u2019s Western Springs this Waitangi long weekend with a massive 2026 line-up. Headliner Chapelle Roan joins global indie icons Wet Leg, Wolf Alice, PinkPantheress, Lucy Dacus and Yung Lean & Bladee, as well as local stars Benee, Lontalius, and Mokotron for one unforgettable summer day. Expect sun, style and standout sets across multiple stages in one of Auckland\u2019s favourite park venues.<\/p>\n
February 5, 2026. Western Springs. Lanewayfestival.com <\/p>\n
Sail GP <\/p>\n
SailGP returns to Auckland in February 2026.<\/p>\n
Auckland will once again become the City of SailGP when the global racing series returns to Waitemat\u0101 Harbour on February 14-15. Following last summer\u2019s record-breaking debut, the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix is back on our shores. The purpose-built Wynyard Point Race Stadium will expand its grandstand by 30%, welcoming more than 10,000 fans a day to witness the world\u2019s best sailors go head-to-head at speeds topping 100km\/h. The racing, featuring local talents Blair Tuke and Peter Burling, brings a festival atmosphere to Auckland\u2019s waterfront that signals summer in the city. <\/p>\n
February 14-15. Waitemat\u0101 Harbour. Tickets.sailgp.com <\/p>\n
Waiora Te \u016akaip\u014d <\/p>\n
A new production of Waiora Te \u016akaip\u014d \u2013 The Homeland comes to Auckland’s ASB Waterfront Theatre in March. <\/p>\n
Marking 30 years since its premiere, Waiora Te \u016akaip\u014d \u2013 The Homeland returns as a landmark work of Aotearoa theatre. Written and directed by award-winning playwright Hone Kouka (Ng\u0101ti Porou, Ng\u0101ti Raukawa, Ng\u0101ti Kahungunu), the play follows Hone and his wh\u0101nau as they move from the East Cape to the South Island in 1965, searching for a better life. Poignant, lyrical and moving, Waiora speaks to the heart of what it means to call a place home. Presented by Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts, Auckland Theatre Company, Tawata Productions and Te Ahurei Toi o T\u0101maki Auckland Arts Festival. <\/p>\n
March 6-22, 2026. ASB Waterfront Theatre, 138 Halsey St, Auckland Central. Atc.co.nz <\/p>\n
More on culture<\/p>\n
From local stars to fresh reading lists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Get ready for a hot summer in the city with these music, art, sport and culture events. Pop…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":119997,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[1228,51,3390,2199,24004,2396,156,3685,157,111,139,69,34592,2022,14625,223,24359,1961,61,102],"class_list":{"0":"post-119996","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-art","9":"tag-auckland","10":"tag-best","11":"tag-city","12":"tag-coming","13":"tag-culture","14":"tag-entertainment","15":"tag-events","16":"tag-music","17":"tag-new-zealand","18":"tag-newzealand","19":"tag-nz","20":"tag-ready","21":"tag-sport","22":"tag-summer","23":"tag-the","24":"tag-these","25":"tag-this","26":"tag-to","27":"tag-with"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119996","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=119996"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119996\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119997"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119996"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119996"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119996"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}