February is shaping up to be one of the most culturally charged months of the summer. From exhibitions and live performances to one-off happenings across Auckland, these are the events worth stepping out for, consider your cultural calendar sorted.
Sunrise Yoga
Where: Queens Wharf
When: Wednesday, 11 February, Wednesday, 18 February, Wednesday, 25 February, Wednesday, 4 March
Sunrise Yoga invites early risers to begin the day with intention, movement and uninterrupted harbour views. Held on Queens Wharf, these free sessions take place on Wednesdays 11, 18 and 25 February, and 4 March, from 7:00 am – 8:15am, as the sun rises over Te Waitematā. Open to all levels — from first-timers to seasoned yogis — simply bring a mat and ease into the morning. Tickets are free but essential, and with this being a popular fixture, early booking is strongly advised.
Lorde
Where: Spark Arena
When: 11th February 2026
It’s safe to say that whenever New Zealand’s prodigal daughter does anything — release an album, drop a new single, announce tour dates — we Kiwis are first in the door to support. Unsurprising, then, that fans were on the edge of their seats waiting for the announcement that Lorde was bringing her Ultrasound World Tour to the country. Kicking off at Spark Arena on 11th February, expect some of her most iconic tunes alongside songs from her recently released fourth studio album, Virgin.
Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty in a Sparkling Show
Where: SkyCity Theatre
When: 7th February 2026
Sleeping Beauty in a Sparkling Show arrives at SkyCity Theatre for a single, spellbinding evening on 7 February 2025, with performances at 4:00pm and 6:00pm. This luminous reimagining of the beloved classic sees dancers glide across the stage in illuminated costumes, creating a shimmering interplay of movement, colour and light. Part ballet, part visual spectacle, it transforms a familiar fairytale into something altogether more immersive and contemporary — a theatrical experience designed to enchant audiences of all ages.
Fugitives by Brenda Nightingale
Where: Sanderson
When: 4th February – 1st March
In Fugitives, Brenda Nightingale’s latest exhibition at Sanderson, the Ōtautahi Christchurch–based painter explores time as something felt rather than fixed. Through layered, reworked gestures and a recurring, half-seen canine form, the works move between abstraction and memory, presence and disappearance. Quiet and deeply considered, the exhibition invites viewers to pause — and notice time as it passes.
Danny Bhoy
Where: SkyCity Theatre
When: 9th — 10th February 2026
A follow-up to his sell-out 2015 show ‘Dear Epson…’ Danny Bhoy is bringing his new show ‘Dear World…’ to the SkyCity Theatre in February. A mixture of stand-up and theatre — a balance Bhoy deftly strikes thanks to his quick humour and stage presence — the show is a humorous commentary on the state of the world right now, centred around letters he has written to companies with complaints around their actions.
Auckland Pride Festival
Where: Auckland
When: 1st – 28th February 2026
February in Tāmaki Makaurau bursts with colour, connection and celebration with Auckland Pride Month, a city-wide tapestry of community, creativity and joy. From free activations at Proud Centres across the region to art, performance and expression that light up streets, galleries and stages, there’s something for every rainbow heart. Highlights include the vibrant Auckland Rainbow Parade down Ponsonby Road on 21st February, and a Pride Festival at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki on 28th February, packed with music, performance and colour. Embrace the spirit and join the celebrations.
Laneway Festival
Where: Western Springs Stadium
When: 5th February 2026
Laneway is always a leading light in Auckland’s cultural calendar, bringing some of the biggest names in music to the city for a late summer day. This year is no different, with a number of big international names featured, including Chappell Roan, The Dare, Pink Pantheress, Role Model, Wet Leg, Mt. Joy and Wolf Alice alongside leading local stars Benee, 9lives and Lontalius.
Auckland Sail GP
Where: Wynyard Point Race Stadium
When: 14th — 15th February 2026
A key event in Auckland’s annual sporting calendar, Sail GP has come a long way since its first race in 2019. Watch the boats live in action in Auckland, either from the race stadium in Wynyard Quarter or on board a vessel in the harbour, for a day that combines sun and sea with the adrenaline hit of high-speed racing. The record-setting stadium at Wynyard Point is set to be even bigger this year, with a 30% increase in capacity.
Auckland Shakespeare in the Park
Where: The PumpHouse Theatre, Auckland
When: 16th January — 14th February 2026
Taking place in the outdoor ampthitheare at The PumpHouse in Takapuna, Auckland’s Shakespeare in the Park has been bringing The Bard’s literary performances to Auckland for thirty years now. This year, two of the auteur’s most famed works, Romeo & Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing, will be brought to the stage by a dynamic local cast. Watching the drama fold out as the sun dips below Lake Pupuke is a true theatrical moment not to be missed.
Celebrate Lunar New Year
From mid-February, Auckland welcomes the Lunar New Year with a city-wide celebration rich in ritual, colour and contemporary flair. Mark the moment with a free lion dance performance at Britomart on 17 February, as Takutai Square comes alive in honour of the Year of the Horse. Feast your way through Lunar New Year Street Food Markets at SkyCity Auckland from 13–21 February, before the festivities culminate at the BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival at Manukau Sports Bowl from 26 February to 1 March — four luminous nights of lanterns, live performances and celebration. Consider this your cue to eat well, linger longer, and welcome the year ahead in unmistakable Auckland style.
Pop to Present
Where: Auckland Art Gallery
When: 8th November 2025 — 15th March 2026
A must-see exhibition for all admirers of art featuring styles that have shaped American art since 1945. From Abstract Expressionism, Minimalism and Photorealism along with Pattern and Decoration artists, Pop to Present features a phenomenal back catalogue of American Art, on loan from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. This unparalleled exhibition will feature 52 compelling works that have shaped American art and culture, offering and 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.
An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi
Where: Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre
When: 21st February 2026
Yotam Ottolenghi fundamentally changed the way we cook and eat around the world. Before Ottolenghi, spice cupboards in the western world were devoid of sumac and za’atar, fridges had never seen pomegrante molasses or harissa before. Then, in 2008, the ground shifted with his first cookbook, Ottolenghi, which started a culinary revolution — these days, if you eat an aubergine salad, a shakshuka, or something groundbreaking with a vegetable, you likely have Ottolenghi to thank. An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi promises to be a delicious affair, combining live demonstrations, storytelling and conversations with the audience as Ottolenghi cooks some of his key dishes while sharing key tidbits from his storied career.
Prima Facie
Where: ASB Waterfront Theatre
When: 27th February 2026
Returning for one night only, Suzie Miller’s Olivier and Tony award-winning one-woman performance Prima Facie will come to the ABS Waterfront Theatre on 27th February. Cassandra Woodhouse is dazzling in the role of Tessa Ensler, an impressive criminal defense lawyer who comes face to face with the other side of her work after being sexually assaulted by a coworker. Interrogating patriarchal power and class dynamics, Prima Facie is a bold, powerful show.
