On the eve of ANZAC Day, something powerful returns to Auckland. Inside the historic walls of Kāhui St David’s, Art of Remembrance 2026 invites you to pause, reflect and come together through music, memory and community.
Now in its eleventh year, the annual event unfolds on Friday 24 April, transforming the former St David’s Memorial Church into a space of shared remembrance. Originally founded as a tribute to those who served in World War One, the venue continues to carry that legacy, not as something static, but as a living, breathing connection between past and present.
This year places a special focus on the Royal New Zealand Engineers, whose ties to St David’s stretch back nearly a century. Their presence is woven throughout the evening, from ceremonial roles to the lighting of the Lamp of Remembrance, a symbolic gesture that carries memory forward into another year.
At its heart, Art of Remembrance is shaped by sound. A moving programme of performances brings together soprano Michelle Thorne-McHugh, the Off Broadway Big Band, taonga pūoro artist Riki Bennett, the University of Auckland Student Choir and whānau of the 28th Māori Battalion. Hymns, storytelling and moments of silence sit alongside one another, creating a shared experience that feels both intimate and expansive.
Paul Baragwanath, Director of Friends of St David’s Trust Kāhui Rangi Pūpū, says: “The relationship between St David’s and the Royal New Zealand Engineers spans nearly a century. This is a place where that history is not only preserved, but actively remembered. Art of Remembrance allows us to honour the RNZE, alongside all veterans, in a way that brings their legacy into the present, through ceremony, music and community.”
That sense of connection extends to those who give their time to the event. Many of the performers return year after year, contributing not for recognition, but for remembrance.
As the evening closes, the space opens further. Guests are invited to stay, share in hospitality and explore a series of contemporary installations, allowing the themes of the night to linger a little longer.
“Kāhui St David’s is a place where remembrance lives on, through art, music and community,” says Paul.
“It is a space for reflection, connection and shared understanding, where the past is honoured and carried forward together.”
Art of Remembrance takes place on Friday 24 April from 6pm to 8pm at Kāhui St David’s. Entry is ‘pay what you can’ through Humanitix.