Arts & Attractions
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Auckland Arts Festival Reveals Full 2025 Programme
Following an enthusiastic response to previous announcements A Streetcar Named Desire and SIX The Musical, the 2025 Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival programme has been revealed.
Each March, the Festival celebrates the city through a series of curious, energetic, world leading and groundbreaking arts experiences. The eighteen day festival, running from Thursday 6 – Sunday 23 March 2025, will invite audiences from across the motu to fall in love with Tāmaki Makaurau through the arts.
“The 2025 Festival is all about inviting audiences to be curious, have fun, and fall in love with Tāmaki Makaurau through the arts,” says Bernie Haldane, Kaitohu Toi | Artistic Director of Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival.
“This year’s programme is bursting with vibrant experiences that will not only inspire but also celebrate the heart and soul of our city. Whether you are discovering a new artist, dancing in the last of the summer sun, or joining in the good vibes of Festival Garden, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and we hope you will be left seeing our city in a new light.”
What’s On
With over 30 performances to choose from, the options are endless. But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered with our top picks for 2025.
A Streetcar Named Desire
Blanche DuBois. Stella and Stanley Kowalski. Tennessee Williams.
You may know their names, but you won’t truly know Streetcar until you’ve seen it as a ballet. Scottish Ballet has come up with something special — a vital, achingly intense tribute to the eternally misunderstood Blanche
SMASHED – The Nightcap
A throwback to the secret and salacious cabaret dens of yesteryear, this delicious new cabaret-circus show comes to the Spiegeltent following a headline season at Sydney Festival. Featuring dazzling host Victoria Falconer and an ensemble of the hottest drag stars, burlesque acts, circus performers and musicians.
BELLE
This monumental collision of theatre and aerial features spectacular strength and skill from an all-female cast, captivating design and a gorgeous soundscape that will leave you speechless. From the creative force that is Malia Johnston, Rowan Pierce and Eden Mullholand, in collaboration with Jenny Ritchie, Belle is simply breathtaking.
Maya Piata
With a musical style inspired by her New Orleans Creole heritage, her Ngāti Tūwharetoa whakapapa and her African American and Native American roots, Maya Piata will delight audiences with her unparalleled effervescence and vitality.
Soweto Gospel
Hailing from the birthplace of South Africa’s democratic movement, Soweto Gospel Choir inspires audiences around the world with their powerful blend of African gospel, freedom songs and international classics. This concert introduces rowsing African American civil rights music into the triple Grammy-winning group’s spine-tingling choral experience.
To see the full lineup, visit the Auckland Arts Festival What’s On page.
Auckland Arts Festival Accessibility
Auckland Arts Festival believes everyone should have access to extraordinary arts, and they are committed to improving the accessibility of their festival.
This year, they are offering a wide range of accessible shows, including relaxed performances, audio-described shows, audio-based experiences, NZSL-interpreted events, and very visual performances.
The Festival’s award-winning Access & Inclusion initiative provides low-cost tickets to our Deaf and disabled communities, and the ticket for their companion is provided for free.
For more information, visit the Auckland Arts Festival Accessibility page.
When do tickets go on sale?
Early Bird – Wednesday 13 November @ 10 am – Wednesday 27 November @ 11:59 pm
General Public – Thursday 28 November @ 12 am
*All times are local
Auckland Arts Festival Ticket Tips
How do I purchase Accessible Seating tickets?
Accessible Seating tickets are purchased directly with Auckland Arts Festival via email: [email protected] or via phone/text: 022 123 9759.
SIX the Musical Accessible Seating tickets can be purchased by calling our Customer Service team on the Accessible Bookings line: 09 970 9711.
For more info, visit the Auckland Arts Festival Accessibility Page.
How will I receive tickets?
All tickets purchased through Ticketmaster are now digital, meaning you can easily access your tickets on your phone via the Ticketmaster app or mobile web browser via Ticketmaster.co.nz, add them straight to your phone’s ticket wallet, and share them with your friends and family.
Log into your Ticketmaster account and update your password if needed!
Get in early and ensure all your MyTicketmaster account details are up to date – from your password to your card details and your phone number.
Ticketmaster will regularly ask you to update your password to ensure the security of your account – you don’t want to get stuck having to change your password while the ticket timer is counting down during onsale as you can risk losing the incredible tickets you have secured.
Instead, now that you know you want to purchase tickets, log into your account and update your password today to ensure you are ready to nab those tickets.
Get to know Ticket Transfer so everyone has their own ticket
1. Open the Ticketmaster App
2. Tap on my events and select the event you want to Ticket Transfer
3. Tap ‘Transfer’ below the ticket you want to share (please note: you may have to wait a moment for the ‘Transfer’ button to load)
4. On the ‘Select Tickets To Transfer’ page, confirm the ticket you want to share (please note – you must Transfer each ticket individually)
5. Tap the ‘Transfer To’ button. Tap ‘Manually Enter A Recipient’ & enter your friend’s ‘First Name’, ‘Last Name’, and ‘Email Address or Mobile Number’
6. Tap ‘Transfer Ticket’. The ticket in your account will now say “Sent”. You can cancel or recall the Ticket Transfer at any time.
7. Your friend receives an email, asking them to accept the transferred tickets, and they can either login or create a new Ticketmaster account to accept.
8. The tickets are now ready to go in your friend’s Ticketmaster account and marked as ‘Transferred’ in your account
Find out more about Ticket Transfer – including how to accept and open a transferred ticket here.
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Auckland Arts Festival will be coming to New Zealand in March 2025. Tickets are on sale via Ticketmaster.co.nz
