Auckland Pride launched its first look at its programme of events for the 2026 Auckland Pride Festival.
Auckland Pride Festival 2026 is set to transform the city with a series of events and activations that champion and gather together Takatāpui and Rainbow communities.
Featuring more than 150 events, the first launch of programming includes major staples, Big Gay Out, as well as the return of Auckland Council Proud Centres, which offer free fun events in all corners of Auckland all month, along with much, much more.
Opening the Festival on Sunday, the 1st of February, Te Tīmatanga transforms into a collective movement led by Coco Solid, bringing together emerging Takatāpui creatives through Wharekura Raumati summer wānanga for a powerful opening event.
From Gadigal Country, London and Hamburg, ANITO presents a queer Filipino future-folkloric epic exploring ancestry, spirit worlds, and transformation, blending puppetry, performance and sound.
Created and performed by Justin Talplacido Shoulder with support from Victoria Hunt, the work is complemented by Pride Connects workshops, fostering cross-cultural exchange between Indigenous and diasporic artists.
In a first-time collaboration, Auckland Pride and Splore Festival present PrideXSplore, a one-day experience celebrating Splore’s iconic queer Saturday lineup. Tickets include festival entry, transport, and a Pride host crew, with every purchase helping co-fund spots for Rainbow whānau who might not otherwise attend.
Returning for the second year, Vector Lights sees artist Mars Cook illuminate the Auckland Harbour Bridge with a bespoke light show (13–21 February) honouring 40 years of Homosexual Law Reform, culminating in a sunrise silent disco on the 20th of February.
Auckland Pride also welcomes the return of the Praise The Lord Playwright Residency, supporting bold new queer writing, with resident Joshua Iosefo (Mush) developing their musical NUMB and leading workshops for the 2026 Festival, while submissions are open for the next resident to receive mentorship, a residency, and a staged reading.
Auckland Pride closes in the Karangahape Gaybourhood, with “Out of the Gutter” Street Party, a sunset showcase and market for all ages, featuring a lineup that celebrates community artistry and excellence then, now and into the future.
Evoking HERO and conjuring Coming Out Days of years gone by, expect glamour, grit, legacy, and a queer extravaganza where generations meet, because Pride isn’t only about where we’ve been, it’s also about where we’re heading.
Auckland Pride remains dedicated to empowering, celebrating, and serving the Takatāpui and Rainbow Communities, along with all supporters and allies, to join in this celebration, togetherness, and reflection, and to herald a future of inclusivity and pride.
More than a festival, Pride is a movement. Tickets for events throughout February – and beyond – are listed on the Auckland Pride website.
