February is that sweet spot where summer is still summer, the evenings are long and the calendar starts filling up with things actually worth leaving the house for. Let’s just hope the rain subsides – because we could all do with a little cheering up!
Whether you’re looking for a reason to get out and explore, or just an excuse to plan your weekends in advance, here’s our top event picks for this February.
Auckland Live Summer in the Square
30 Jan – 22 Feb 2026
Aotea Square
Aotea Square is coming alive this February with a packed programme of free events celebrating the music, movement and cultures of Auckland.
Things kick off with Auckland Latin Fiesta (Fri 30 Jan – Sun 1 Feb), setting the tone for the opening weekend of Auckland Live Summer in the Square. From there, expect wāhine led, genre bending performances (Thu 5 Feb), followed by smooth jazz and blues vibes (Fri 6 – Sat 7 Feb), before the long weekend wraps up with a full scale wrestling spectacular (Sun 8 Feb).
The momentum continues with poetry and spoken word taking centre stage (Thu 12 Feb), an unmissable hip hop night (Fri 13 Feb), and a vibrant celebration of African cultures (Sat 14 Feb). On Sunday 15 Feb, the sounds of Cook Islands log drums and more bring the weekend to a rhythmic close.
Later in the month, Lunar New Year is marked with Asian diasporic sounds (Thu 19 Feb), skateboarders take over the square with jaw dropping tricks (Fri 20 Feb), bold brass bands fill the air with harmony (Sat 21 Feb), and the season wraps up with a playful circus playground finale (Sun 22 Feb).
Gather your friends and whānau and head to Aotea Square for summer weekends filled with music, culture and entertainment, right in the heart of Auckland. And best of all, every event is completely free.
2026 Auckland Spring Festival Fair
6 – 8 Feb 2026
North Harbour Stadium
Celebrate Lunar New Year at the 2026 Auckland Spring Festival Fair, a three day festival bringing Spring Festival traditions to life at North Harbour Stadium. Expect a lively mix of cultural performances, traditional games, retail and food stalls and plenty of family friendly fun throughout the weekend. The celebrations wrap up with a large scale fireworks display following the closing ceremony on Sunday night. Entry and parking is free and everyone is welcome, so gather your friends and whānau and make a weekend of it.
Auckland Spirits Festival
30 Jan – 1 Feb 2026
Queens Wharf
Kiwi and Aussie craft distillers return to The Cloud for the Auckland Spirits Festival 2026, bringing together an impressive showcase of more than 150 premium spirits. Across four ticketed sessions, festival goers can taste, sip and explore a wide range of gin, vodka, whisky, rum, liqueurs and more, while chatting directly with the distillers behind the bottles. There’s also the free Tasting Theatre hosted by the Fever Tree team, food trucks on site with options for most dietary needs and the chance to take your favourite spirits home with you. Add in door prizes and good company, and you’ve got one of the tastiest weekends of summer sorted.
Splore
20 – 22 Feb 2026
Tāpapakanga Regional Park
On the shores of Tāpapakanga Regional Park is the famous three day beachside celebration of music, art and community, and there’s still tickets! Days flow from swims and workshops to dancing beneath the pōhutukawa, while nights light up with glowing stages, bold costumes and a welcoming, anything goes energy. Alongside the music is a rich programme of performance, wellbeing and creative experiences, all shaped by the whenua and held with deep respect for place, culture and sustainability.
BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival
26 Feb – 1 Mar 2026
Manukau Sports Bowl
The BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival returns to Manukau Sports Bowl this February to celebrate the Year of the Horse with four nights of colour, culture and connection. Held daily from 4:00pm to 10:30pm, this free, ticketed and family friendly festival features hundreds of handcrafted lanterns, a huge range of Asian food stalls and live performances celebrating Chinese and Pan Asian culture and the Chinese New Zealand community. The festival closes Chinese New Year with a spectacular fireworks display at 9:50pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, making it one of Auckland’s most loved summer events.
Pride 2026
28 Feb 2026
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
Celebrate Pride at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki with a full day of art, music, performance and self expression. This vibrant festival brings together rainbow artists and communities for a joyful programme centred on creativity, identity and connection. Expect live performances, hands on workshops, pop up moments and plenty of colour throughout the gallery spaces. No bookings are required, simply turn up and be part of the celebration. No booking required!
Kingston Calling 2026
13 Feb 2026
Navigation Homes Stadium
UB40 featuring Ali Campbell returns to New Zealand with Kingston Calling 2026, bringing the band’s iconic reggae catalogue back to the stage. Led by the unmistakable voice behind decades of global hits, the show features classics like Red Red Wine, Kingston Town, Cherry Oh Baby and (I Can’t Help) Falling in Love With You. Backed by a nine piece touring band and fresh from major international stages, this is a high energy night celebrating reggae in all its forms.