The 25th annual Auckland International Buskers Festival hits Auckland’s Waterfront and CBD in just a few weeks. The four day festival, taking place 24 – 27 January for Auckland Anniversary Weekend, promises a dizzying array of incredible stunts, tricks and talents from magic, acrobatics, Japanese spinning tops, clowning, contortion and more.

The first banana appeared on earth 10,000 years ago. Randy Feltface believes humanity has been in a downward spiral ever since. The only logical solution is a brand-new hour of comedy from a felt-faced comedian with an axe to grind. Randy will tour FIRST BANANAaround New Zealand in July and tickets are on sale now from bohmpresents.com.

Get ready for the ultimate laneway street party, Cross Street Music Festival, returning on 8 March 2025! Expect a full night of incredible music, vibrant energy, and unreal vibes. The first nine acts on the line-up have just been announced, promising another epic year of live performance.

Award-winning comedian, co-host of chart topping Off Menu podcast, judge on Great British Menu, Taskmaster champion, and host of Taskmaster the Podcast, and The Traitors: Uncloaked, Ed Gamble is bringing his latest show Hot Diggity Dog to New Zealand in May.

The New Zealand Comedy Trust is thrilled to award the 2024 Topp Prize to James Nokise, a multi-talented comedian, playwright, columnist, podcaster, theatre maker, and social commentator. Known for his fearless approach and his ability to give a voice to underrepresented communities, James exemplifies the irreverent spirit of the Topp Twins.

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, it’s time to mark your calendars. Auckland Live Summer in the Square is back, bringing you four weeks of FREE performing arts, culture and creativity from Saturday 25 January to Sunday 23 February.

The year is 2030. Humanity is all but wiped out, and there is only one man who can save us from the Soctc**kalypse.

Bohm Presents is thrilled to announce that Iliza returns to New Zealand in April 2025, with her brand-new show The Get Ready Tour!

BirdCare Aotearoa’s nurseries are a hive of activity this holiday season, with hundreds of baby birds in need of urgent care. From native species, cared for under the Department of Conservation’s special permit, to beloved songbirds, the organisation’s hospital is filled with tiny lives depending on expert help to survive and thrive.

As Sophie Roberts embarks on her eleventh and final year as Artistic Director of Silo Theatre, the company is proud to announce a fearless, tender, and life-affirming 2025 season.

Stardome Observatory & Planetarium is thrilled to announce its Raumati (Summer) Programme, offering an out of this world lineup of events, shows, and activities for all ages. Running now until 31 January 2025, the programme invites people to stay connected to the wonders of the night sky, even as the days grow longer.

Notorious drag artist and accidental activist Panti Bliss, affectionately known as the "Queen of Ireland," is bringing her powerhouse presence to Aotearoa during Auckland Pride 2025. Presented by Auckland Live, a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, Panti’s latest show, If These Wigs Could Talk, will take over the Wintergarden, The Civic from Wed 19 – Sun 23 February 2025, for an unmissable evening of laughter, glamour, and life stories from the heart of drag royalty.

Wānaka Festival of Colour, running from 29 March – 6 April 2025 , is thrilled to announce the first three performances in the much anticipated 2025 programme: ANIMAL, An Evening Without Kate Bush and Reimagining Mozart. The full festival line-up will be announced in January.

Figment Productions is thrilled to announce the nationwide tour of In Other Words, starring celebrated actors and real-life couple Jennifer Ward-Lealand and Michael Hurst. This tour follows the productions highly successful Australasian premiere and sold out season at Q Theatre Auckland, which charmed critics and audiences alike. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the unforgettable production in Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Wānaka, Hastings, and Auckland from 22 February 2025. See the full tour schedule below.

With deep regret, the Trustees of Tim Bray Theatre Company announce that the company will close after 33 years following its final season of The Santa Claus Show '24. This difficult decision comes as a result of the ill health of Founder and Artistic Director, Tim Bray QSM, who has been diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell sarcoma. This is a rare soft tissue cancer, more commonly seen in children and young adults but occasionally seen in older adults. While the condition isn’t curable, Tim has recently started a course of chemotherapy to help control the cancer and will require ongoing treatment.