For the 22nd year, Auckland Live is thrilled to present the institution that is the Bruce Mason Centre monthly concert series, Morning Melodies for 2023. This hugely popular annual tradition sees a specially curated programme of some of Auckland’s most highly talented artists and brass bands perform toe-tapping music to brighten Monday mornings each month from February to December.

Tāmaki Makarau will delight once more in mind-boggling and audacious performances, as the 23rd annual Auckland International Buskers Festival makes its return with a programme brimming with street artists from across the globe, from 27 - 30 January 2023 during Auckland Anniversary Weekend.

Tāmaki Makaurau is set to host the inaugural Festival of Live Art (F.O.L.A.) - AKL in 2023, a wild, celebratory mash up of subversive, playful, and daring art. Local and international independent artists will come together from 14 – 19 February at Basement Theatre and digitally, to challenge perceptions and push the boundaries of performance and art. Welcome to the artistic underground. The art rats are out to play.

It’s been a long wait for the globe-trotting Scot and his ever-growing fanbase. But, 2023 sees the return of Danny Bhoy to New Zealand for the world premiere of his brand new show Now Is Not A Good Time.

Auckland Theatre Company kicks off their 30th year anniversary celebrations with the NZ premiere of The Heartbreak Choir by award-winning Australian playwright Aidan Fennessy, on from Valentine’s Day 14 February – 4 March at ASB Waterfront Theatre.

Despite the weather, spirits were high today as Auckland got to celebrate Christmas once more as the Farmers Santa Parade made its joyous return.

Te Uru is delighted to announce the winners of the 2022 Portage Ceramic Awards, with Richard Pennbeing named as the Premier Award Winner for his clay collection Artefacts. The second place award goes to Helen Perrett for her work No space in my head.

The New Zealand Comedy Trust are over the moon to announce the return of the 2023 NZ International Comedy Festival in all its glory, from 5 – 28 May. Opening three jam-packed weeks of unmissable comedy is the jewel in the crown of the Festival, the Best Foods Comedy Gala – hosted by the multi-award winning and multi-talented Melanie Bracewell. Next year’s Gala will be a doozy as the much-loved Comedy Festival celebrates their 30th birthday, and international comedians return to the line-up for the first time since 2019.

Auckland Pride is proud to announce the first wave of the 2023 programme is now live, for a full month of celebration and connection from 1 – 26 February. The Festival will include much loved annual gatherings, new key events to mark in the calendar, and a programme brimming with arts experiences throughout Tāmaki Makaurau, all framed within this year’s theme of ‘Elevate’.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Aotea Square as the city’s arts precinct prepares to come alive next month with a range of free, family-friendly festivities to celebrate Auckland Live Christmas in the Square. Auckland Live is a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.

Auckland Pride is thrilled to announce that OREO has come on board as the Festival’s first ever principal partner. As a principal partner, OREO is committing to significant support which will enable Auckland Pride to achieve and enhance its vision to celebrate the uniqueness of Tāmaki Makaurau’s queer communities.

Laughs on Tour presents another crowd pleasing night of laughs with Aotearoa’s favourite comedians! The two hour comedy showcase is taking over Brewtown in Upper Hutt on Sunday 5th of February.

Saturday Laughs is returning to Kerikeri with another smash-hit two hour comedy showcase. On Saturday 4th of February Kerikeri’s Turner Centre will get to enjoy some of the immense comedic talent Aotearoa has to offer.

Later this month wāhine Māori and va’ine Pasifika writers’ collective, Maranga Mai, will launch their new audio drama series. On Saturday the 26th of November the five part series will be released on Kia Mau’s digital platform Moana Nui, featuring fantastical new writing by Tina McNicholas, Sandra Tisam, Sherilee Kahui, Teherenui Koteka and Stevie Greeks. Each writer shares a story that navigates the journey through the complexities and challenges of life, from the perspective of friends, whānau and even furniture.

Protect Your Breath - the first phase of a campaign to reduce youth vaping harm - has launched in Aotearoa today. Aiming to empower rangatahi to make critical decisions about vaping, it is the result of a year-long co-design project and new research that surfaced critical insights to inform the campaign’s design.