As we barrel towards the end of the calendar year, an itinerary packed with cultural events keeps us satiated for the remainder of spring. From exceptional exhibitions and creative collaborations to local theatre, live comedy, and major headliners, here we present our November Culture Guide — the only reference you need to satisfy your creative cravings and unleash your inner thespian.

Lenny Kravitz Blue Electric Light Tour

When & Where: Saturday 15th November, Spark Arena, Auckland

For the first time ever, Lenny Kravitz lands in Aotearoa with his Blue Electric Light Tour — taking to the stage at Auckland’s Spark Arena on November 15th. Fans can expect all of the iconic hits from the Fly Away singer, alongside new favourites, and that signature Kravitz swagger. Don’t miss out on securing tickets to what’s set to be a career-spanning, high-octane show from the rock legend himself.

Life on a Loop

When & Where: Tuesday 11th November — Saturday 15th November, Q Theatre, Auckland

Bringing her one-woman show direct from London, celebrated New Zealand thespian Ellie Smith will take over Auckland’s Q Theatre, presenting her solo show, Life on a Loop, from November 11th until November 15th, produced by Peach Theatre Company. Written by and starring Smith, Life on a Loop is a “tender, funny and deeply human look at life in a rest home, told through the eyes of a devoted carer with a big heart.” Smith’s long-awaited return to the local stage marks a milestone moment for New Zealand theatre. Prepare to laugh, cry and be utterly entertained.

The Nutcracker — The Royal New Zealand Ballet

When & Where: Thursday 30th October — Saturday 20th December, various locations country-wide

The Royal New Zealand Ballet reimagines The Nutcracker for a Kiwi summer, set against the nostalgia of pōhutukawa blooms, barefoot cricket, and ice creams by the bach. Choreographed by Ty King-Wall, this magical production blends Tchaikovsky’s timeless score with uniquely local traditions for a dazzling festive season.

Pop to Present

When & Where: Saturday 8th November until March 2026, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland

A must-see for art historians, Pop to Present features a staggering back catalogue of American pop art, on loan from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Opening with an iconic 1948 drip painting by Jackson Pollock, this unparalleled collaboration will feature 52 compelling works that have shaped American art and culture, dating back to 1945. Guests can expect an up-close and personal view of works by Andy Warhol, Benny Andrews, Rosalyn Drexler, Elaine de Kooning, Willem de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, Roy Lichtenstein, Mark Rothko, Kiki Smith, Clyfford Still, and Cy Twombly, among others. Officially open to view from Saturday, November 8th, Pop to Present will be exhibiting at the Auckland Art Gallery until March 2026.

Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking

When & Where: Tuesday 4th November — Sunday 23rd November, ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland

Auckland Theatre Company’s revolutionary stage adaptation of the landmark Witi Ihimaera classic Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking, will officially open on November 4th, at Auckland’s ASB Waterfront Theatre. Seamlessly weaving te reo Māori and English, the Katie Wolfe-directed play tells the story of Tiri Mahana — a kuia born on the day the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. While intersecting dialects, Woolfe’s all-star cast — masterfully led by Miriama McDowell — confronts race relations, shame, language loss, and sovereignty, while uplifting mana wāhine and celebrating the strength of whakapapa. Expect a no-holds-barred political examination of our history, inviting audiences to “walk alongside Tiri as she faces the turning points that shaped our nation.” Tiri is poised to be one of the most talked-about and poignant theatre events of the year.

Rüfüs du Sol Inhale/Exhale Tour

When & Where: Saturday 30th November, Western Springs Stadium, Auckland

Marking the first stop on their global Inhale/Exhale Tour of 2025, summer festival favourites Rüfüs du Sol will set Auckland’s Western Springs ablaze on November 30th, taking fans back to where it all began. Experience the whole back catalogue of anthems alongside their groundbreaking new album, with all of the atmosphere and energy we’ve come to expect from the electronic trio. The live set will feature a carefully curated mix of new tracks, Music is Better, Lately, and Pressure, alongside iconic crowd favourites like Innerbloom and Underwater.

Pixies

When & Where: Auckland: Sunday 23rd November, Monday 24th November, Auckland Town Hall
Wellington: Wednesday 26th November, Thursday 27th November, St James Theatre

Boasting a metier that includes some of the most influential alt-rock albums of the past three decades, indie music darlings the Pixies will perform four consecutive New Zealand shows, in Auckland and Wellington, this November. Fans can expect pure nostalgia during night one, with albums Bossanova (1990) and Trompe Le Monde (1991) played from start to finish, followed by a career-spanning set that also highlights their new album, The Night The Zombies Came. The critically acclaimed band behind anthems such as Where Is My Mind will first play Auckland’s Town Hall on November 23rd and 24th, followed by Wellington’s St James Theatre on November 26th and 27th.

Louise Bourgeois — In Private View

When & Where: Throughout November until May 2026, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland

Visit the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki to experience Louise Bourgeois: In Private View, a celebration of the life and work of the prolific French-American artist. This free exhibit — on show now until May 2026 — brings together a selection of works sourced from a private collection, available to the public for the very first time. The exhibition spans over six decades of Bourgeois’s highly influential career, from early paint studies to a fabric piece from the final year of her life. Widely known for her sculptures and installations, Bourgeois’s work explored the surreal and the subconscious, often drawing from her own personal experience.

Loyle Carner Hopefully! Tour

When & Where: Saturday 30th November, Auckland Town Hall, Auckland

Hot off a Glastonbury headline, groundbreaking British artist Loyle Carner will perform in New Zealand for the very first time, taking to the stage at Auckland’s Town Hall on November 30th. Carner, whose unique style blends introspective jazz elements with contemporary British rap, has enjoyed a multitude of career highs this year, including a coveted nomination for the Best Rap Act at the 2025 Brit Awards. With a back catalogue that explores the layered complexities of new fatherhood and childhood memory with positivity and an upbeat flow, Carner’s easy-listening new album, Hopefully!, is well worth a spot on your summer playlist.

The Robertson Gift

When & Where: Throughout November until February 2026, The Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland

For the modernists among us, prepare to marvel at a 15-piece donation of iconic works, courtesy of the estate of New York-based philanthropists, Julian and Josie Robertson. Works include Modernist masterpieces by the likes of Braque, Cezanne, Dalí, Derain, Gauguin, Matisse, and Picasso, and will be free to view until February 2026.

Spring at Stardome

When & Where: Various dates throughout November

Immerse yourself in outer space this Spring at Auckland’s Stardome. Among this month’s cultural offerings is an immersive starry-eyed experience set to Pink Floyd’s iconic 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon. On Tuesday nights throughout November, join a presenter-led, 360-degree interactive session exploring Ngā Whetū o Kōanga (The Stars of Spring) to gain an introductory understanding of Māori astronomy and the maramataka (Māori lunar calendar). Little ones will be delighted by the return of Starry Storytime, back by popular demand on November 15th at 10 am. The relaxed parent-and-baby sessions will feature read-alouds of beloved children’s stories, such as Flit the Fantail by Kat Quinn.

Ray Haydon Seventy Five

When & Where: Throughout November, Sanderson Gallery, Auckland

Aptly named to celebrate his seventy-fifth year, mixed-media sculptor Ray Haydon’s Seventy Five will exhibit at Sanderson throughout November. The forthcoming exhibition explores the artist’s expansive metier, spanning over two decades. Haydon’s practice, which utilises negative space through flowing, spiralized lines of bronze, corten steel, wood, and carbon fibre, captures the very essence of movement and the dynamic nature of the three-dimensional. Among the standout pieces on show is Advance — a scaled-up version of an early piece Haydon exhibited with Sanderson in 2005. The stunning work is made of bronze and finished with the patina of Māori greenstone or “Pounamu” and loosely inspired by the work of iconic American sculptor Richard Serra.

The Japanese Film Festival

When & Where: Thursday 6th November — Sunday 9th November, Academy Cinema, Auckland

Auckland’s Academy Cinema will play host to The Japanese Film Festival from November 6th to November 9th. Throughout the anticipated three-day event, six Japanese films will be screened (with English subtitles), spanning diverse genres. Among this year’s standouts is Yudo — an offbeat, Wes Anderson-esque comedy penned by Oscar-winning screenwriter Kundō Koyama (Departures). Set in a provincial bathhouse called Marukin Hot Springs, the film explores the revered Japanese ritual of bathing with unexpected humour and wit. Through sharp dialogue and visually stunning cinematography, the film examines the unusual guests while exploring the tension between business partners and brothers, Shirō (Tōma Ikuta) and Gorō (Gaku Hamada). Piqued as the “perfect entry into the quirks of discipline in Japanese culture,” we highly recommend a watch.

Summer Edition at Föenander Galleries

When & Where: Thursday 20th November — Tuesday 9th December, Foenander Gallery, Auckland

Seek creative respite at Föenander Galleries Summer Edition, opening November 20th through December 9th. The show will feature an impressive cohort of like-minded collaborators, including artists Jess Swney, Andrea Bolima, Nick Herd, Roger Mortimer, Monica Rani Rudhar, and Monique Lacey. From tactile canvases to smaller painterly studies and thought-provoking textiles, relish in the unique opportunity to surround yourself with this calibre of artistry under the same roof.

Black Grace

When & Where: Friday 21st November, Civic Theatre, Auckland

Taking centre stage at Auckland’s Civic Theatre on November 21st, New Zealand’s seminal dance troupe Black Grace will perform a double bill. Audiences will experience If Ever There Was A Time — a world premiere by director Neil Ieremia, ONZM, alongside the late choreographer Paul Taylor’s seminal Esplanade, to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Esplanade is one of modern dance’s most influential works, and November marks the very first time a local dance company has been licensed to perform it. Dynamic, diverse, and profoundly moving — don’t miss the unique opportunity to enjoy Black Grace’s artistry firsthand.