October is shaping up to be one of Auckland’s busiest cultural months, with major international artists, landmark exhibitions, live theatre, sporting fixtures and city-wide celebrations filling the calendar. From long-awaited concerts and significant art arrivals to food festivals and events worth planning a weekend around, these are the dates to have on your radar this month.
Olivia Dean — The Art of Loving
Following an extraordinary run of sold-out shows, Olivia Dean brings The Art of Loving to Auckland this October, taking over the newly reopened Western Springs Bowl for what will also mark the venue’s grand opening. Official ticket allocations are now sold out, but those still hoping to get there can keep an eye on legitimate third-party resale platforms. As always, make sure any resale site and ticket are verified before purchasing.
Date: Saturday 17th October
Where: Western Springs Bowl
Halloween at Bravo at Cracker Bay
Halloween is heading to the waterfront this year, with Bravo at Cracker Bay transforming for a full day of family-friendly festivities. From midday, little ones can make their way around a Trick or Treat Trail, alongside face painting, themed food and costume spot prizes, while spooky cocktails cater to the grown-ups. From 3 pm, a DJ takes over to carry the celebrations into the evening. Entry is free, although bookings at Bravo at Cracker Bay are recommended for lunch and dinner. Book here.
Date: Saturday, 31st October
Where: Bravo at Cracker Bay, Westhaven
Hilary Duff — Lucky Me Tour
For anyone whose formative years were soundtracked by So Yesterday, Come Clean and Why Not, this is one October date likely to inspire some serious nostalgia. Hilary Duff is returning to Aotearoa with her Lucky Me tour, marking her first full-scale global headline run in almost two decades, with fellow Noughties favourite La Roux joining as special guest. Consider our inner teenager very much ready.
Date: Tuesday, 20th October
Where: Spark Arena
Scott Cai — Soft Barriers
There’s still time to catch Tāmaki Makaurau-based photographer Scott Cai’s latest exhibition, Soft Barriers, at Sanderson. Cai turns his lens towards the suburban edges and commonplace details that typically pass unnoticed, finding unexpected compositions in fences, road markings, plants, buildings and public spaces. The exhibition also extends beyond photography with a small series of ceramic works.
Date: Until Sunday 11th October
Where: Sanderson Contemporary, Newmarket
Halloween at Ayrburn
Ayrburn is getting into the Halloween spirit with an afternoon of trick-or-treating, costumes and family-friendly mischief across the precinct. Kids can follow a mapped trail through the grounds collecting treats along the way, with ghosts, ghouls, witches and wizards adding to the fun, while the restaurants and bars remain open for those wanting to stay on for an early dinner or drink. Book tickets here.
Date: Saturday 31 October, 3.30pm–5pm
Where: Ayrburn, Arrowtown
All Blacks v Australia
Few sporting contests generate quite the same atmosphere as the All Blacks and Wallabies meeting at Eden Park. The trans-Tasman rivalry returns to Auckland this October, bringing another chapter of the Bledisloe Cup to home soil and, inevitably, a packed night in Kingsland.
Date: Saturday 10th October
Where: Eden Park
Picasso: Designed by Paul Smith
One of October’s most significant cultural arrivals sees more than 80 works by Pablo Picasso land at Auckland Art Gallery, presented through the creative lens of legendary British designer Sir Paul Smith. Spanning paintings, sculpture, ceramics, prints and drawings from the Musée national Picasso–Paris, the exhibition moves through defining periods of Picasso’s career within a series of immersive spaces conceived by Smith. It is also the first major solo exhibition of Picasso’s work in Aotearoa in more than 30 years.
Date: From Saturday 10th October
Where: Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Eatropolis
Auckland’s dining scene comes together under one roof with the arrival of Eatropolis, a new one-day food festival taking over Shed 10. Expect a curated lineup of the city’s chefs, restaurants, and food creators, with signature dishes, chef-led experiences, cultural food moments, and interactive activations unfolding across the waterfront venue.
Date: Saturday 10th October
Where: Shed 10, Queens Wharf
Lily Allen performs West End Girl
Following the runaway success of her latest album, Lily Allen is bringing West End Girl to Auckland as part of her biggest headline tour to date. The show will see Allen perform the album in its entirety and in track order, and marks her first New Zealand performance in more than seven years.
Date: Wednesday 21st October
Where: Spark Arena
Noah Kahan — The Great Divide Tour
Following the phenomenal global success of Stick Season, Noah Kahan returns to Auckland for two nights at Spark Arena as part of his Great Divide Tour. The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter has become one of his generation’s biggest folk-pop names, making these back-to-back October shows a particularly anticipated addition to the month’s live music calendar.
Date: Friday 9th & Saturday 10th October
Where: Spark Arena
BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival
Aotea Square and Queen Street will once again come alive for the BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival, bringing two days of music, dance, food, craft and celebration to the heart of the city. One of Auckland’s largest annual cultural events, the free festival culminates in its much-loved fireworks display and offers plenty to explore across the weekend.
Date: Saturday 31st October & Sunday 1st November
Where: Aotea Square, Queen Street & surrounds
Cabaret
Berlin, 1929, and the Kit Kat Club is in full swing. Auckland Theatre Company and Auckland Live’s production of the iconic musical Cabaret continues through October, with Nomi Cohen taking on Sally Bowles alongside Matu Ngaropo as the Emcee. The season has already been extended following strong demand, making this a good time to secure tickets sooner rather than later.
Date: Until Sunday, 25 thOctober
Where: ASB Waterfront Theatre
