The Oscar®-qualifying Doc Edge Festival marks its 21st year with a bold opening slate — sixteen films that take audiences inside a Gaza conflict zone, into the world of AI companionship, onto the set of a fatal Hollywood shooting, and deep into the criminal underworld of Aotearoa. From competitive dance floors to a bucket list written by a dying man and narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, this year's programme is as wildly varied as it is urgent.

Beloved children’s entertainer Suzy Cato ONZM is bringing the laughs to the NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo for the first time. Sounds Funny with Suzy Cato & Friends is a line-up of comedians, performers and delightfully silly guests doing stand-up and more - just for kids.

These July school holidays, Auckland Live presents Dog Man: The Musical, A CDP Theatre Producers with TheaterworksUSA production, at the Bruce Mason Centre from Tuesday, 14 to Saturday, 18 July. This international touring production brings Dav Pilkey’sglobally bestselling Dog Man books to life in a high-energy show packed with original songs and comic-book inspired design.

NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo is teaming up with Britomartto bring the laughs with Comedy Fest in Takutai Square, a free day of comedy that promises a sneak peek of what’s to come at this year’s NZ Comedy Fest, on Friday 10 April.

Wānaka has just celebrated a powerful weekend of ideas, connection and cultural exchange, as the Aspiring Conversations festival of ideas and kōrero comes to a close, leaving audiences inspired, challenged and energised. 

The NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo welcomes three bold and boundary-pushing international acts this May, with the cult phenomenon Stamptown, New York’s unhinged standup Jack Tucker, and the insanely funny and razor-sharp Lou Wall.

Celebrating 35 years, Massive Theatre Company is Auckland’s oldest theatre company and likely its most unique. Its legacy includes delivering free theatre workshops to over 30,000 people so far, cultivating generations of homegrown artists and telling real life stories on stage. And they’re just getting started.

The New Zealand Comedy Trust is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rae Baker as its new General Director, to lead the organisation on a mission to make sure every New Zealander gets to share a laugh.

Things are about to get reel funny. For the first time, NZ International Comedy Festival with Best Foods Mayo is heading to the movies. On screen is the Mother’s Day world premiere of Morgana O’Reilly’s acclaimed solo show turned film Stories About My Body, an exclusive 4D screening of new Kiwi horror-comedy The Weed Eaters, and a special encore of Lorin Clarke’s documentary Not Only Fred Dagg But Also John Clarke to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Fred Award.

Trusted with raising two future princesses, Marion “Crawfie” Crawford spent 16 years inside the royal household before a memoir sparked a scandal that would exile her from the palace forever.

Melanie Tait’s acclaimed play The Queen’s Nanny makes its New Zealand premiere from 14 – 24 May at The PumpHouse Theatre in Takapuna, presented by Tadpole Productions.

Music Therapy New Zealand will mark Music Therapy Week 2026 from 10 to 15 April, guided by the theme Weaving Connections | Te Poutama Hononga. This year’s theme highlights the power of music therapy to break down barriers, build relationships, and support both individual and collective identity in an increasingly disconnected world.

Jake Lambert is coming to New Zealand with his highly acclaimed show The Sunshine Kid.

As national conversations intensify around consent, rough sex, and the pressures young people face navigating intimacy – highlighted in a recently published New Zealand Parliament Justice Committee report warning that changing sexual norms are blurring the line between consent and assault, Silo Theatre’s upcoming production Playfight arrives with striking urgency.

The searing and award-winning debut play by British writer Julia Grogan makes its New Zealand premiere with Silo Theatre from 14 – 30 May at Silo Hall, 3 East Street in Auckland.

Aspiring Conversations is thrilled to announce that professional skier and adventurer Sam Smoothy will join the Feel The Fear session on Sunday 29 March at Lake Wānaka Centre.

The recipients of the FAME Mid-Career Awards 2026 have been announced at the 2026 PANNZ Arts Market, recognising the outstanding contributions of performing artists and production professionals from across Aotearoa’s performing arts sector. With 55 individuals nominated, this year’s awards highlighted the remarkable talent within the industry.