Award winning Wellington-based author and illustrator Ruth Paul brings her much loved picture book characters to the stage in HELP! A Monster Ate My Story. This joyful new theatre adventure for children and families stomps through the April school holidays at Circa Theatre, Wellington from Tuesday 7 to Sunday 19 April.
Read MoreNZTrio He Taonga Wairere is thrilled to announce its 2026 programme Dreamscape, a richly layered season exploring the lyrical warmth and emotional depth of Robert Schumann’s piano trios interwoven with musical gems from Aotearoa.
Read MoreThe New Zealand Comedy Trust is stoked to announce the latest line-up drop for the 2026 Best Foods Comedy Gala: Felicity Ward (Aus), Guy Williams, Ivan Aristeguieta (Aus & Venezuela), Angella Dravid, Hoani Hotene and Jessie Nixon (UK). The biggest night in Aotearoa comedy, hosted by Dai Henwood ONZM, heads to Auckland on 1 May, Wellington on 2 May and makes a long-awaited return to Christchurch on 3 May.
Read MoreThe Karangahape Way returns to Karangahape Road on Wednesday 4 February, taking over the strip from 4pm to 10pm as K Road warms up for Laneway Festival and the long weekend ahead.
Read MoreAspiring Conversations has announced Adam McGrath as the new speaker for the FEEL THE FEAR session at the 2026 festival, following Mike Chunn’s withdrawal due to unforeseen circumstances. The festival is pleased to welcome another outstanding musician and storyteller to the session.
Read MoreBach Musica NZ, New Zealand’s leading combined choir and orchestra, is pleased to announce its 2026 programme, with four concerts across the year at the Auckland Town Hall. The season marks an important new chapter for Bach Musica NZ, welcoming a line-up of distinguished guest conductors to the stage following the retirement of longstanding Music and Artistic Director, Rita Paczian, at the end of 2025.
For the first performance of 2026 on Sunday 19 April at the Auckland Town Hall, Bach Musica NZ welcomes guest conductor Jono Palmer to open the season with a programme that bridges eras and traditions.
Arguably the greatest play of the 20th century, Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridgereturns to Tāmaki Makaurau after fifteen years – this searing modern tragedy storms Q Theatre from 9 April – 3 May.
Read MoreAcclaimed theatre company Nightsong is set to wriggle back onto the stage with their hit family show, The Worm. This thrilling tale, packed with oddball characters, live music and plenty of heart and humour, inches its way into Kerikeri and Whangārei 18 – 22 February and to three Auckland venues for the April school holidays and beyond.
Read MoreThe New Zealand Comedy Trust is thrilled to announce the first local and international comedy stars heading to the 2026 Best Foods Comedy Gala: Hayley Sproull, Ray O’Leary and Elouise Eftos (Aus). The biggest night in the comedy calendar, hosted by Dai Henwood ONZM, heads to Auckland on 1 May, Wellington on 2 May and for the first time since 2017, Christchurch on 3 May.
Read MoreAfter a sold-out 2025 season, the fastest-selling production in Auckland Theatre Company’s history, Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is returning by overwhelming popular demand. Audiences now have a second chance to climb aboard the world’s most infamous train when the hit production returns for a strictly limited season to the ASB Waterfront Theatre from 7 – 22 February 2026.
Tickets are on sale now for this killer season. All aboard – again!
Touch Compass, Aotearoa’s leading disability-led arts organisation, presents ABILITOPIA + WHITE NOISE, a provocative double bill of contemporary dance-theatre across four performances from 26–28 February at Te Pou Theatre.
Read MoreThe New Zealand Comedy Trust is delighted to announce the 2026 Best Foods Comedy Gala is heading to Christchurch for the first time since 2017. Hosted by none other than comedy legend Dai Henwood ONZM, a hand-picked line-up of both international and local comedy heavyweights and rising stars head to the Christchurch Town Hall on Sunday 3 May.
Read MoreWerewolf, the immersive horror-comedy by Wellington performance renegades Binge Culture, went off at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe and is returning to Aotearoa for a nationwide outbreak in 2026. PANNZ is proud to support this national tour, which includes the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts (25 Feb – 1 Mar, Wellington), Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival (5 – 8 Mar), ONEONESIX (11 – 12 Mar, Whangārei) and Turner Centre (13 Mar, Kerikeri).
Read MoreWeekend Laughs brings some of Aotearoa’s biggest comedy names and best up-and-coming talent to the heart of Petone, taking over Abandoned Taproom for three weekends of laughter from 20 February – 7 March.
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