Today Auckland Pride launches its first look at its Programme of events for the 2026 Auckland Pride Festival. Auckland Pride Festival 2026 is set to transform Tāmaki Makaurau this February with a series of events and activations that champion and gather together Takatāpui and Rainbow communities. Announced today, the festival showcases a diverse line-up of art, creativity, celebration and more - with tickets now on sale.

Featuring more than 190 events, the first launch of programming includes major staple, Big Gay Out, as well as the return of Auckland Council Proud Centres which offer free fun events in all corners of Tamaki Makaurau all month, along with much much more. Tickets for events throughout February - and beyond - are listed on the Auckland Pride website with information on how to purchase/register for any one of these incredible celebrations.

“This year's festival theme Ngā Uri E! is a call, rallying communities in the wake of all that oppress Takatāpui, MVPFAFF+ and Rainbow Communities, to join in working together as a united front. It is a reminder that as we commemorate the 40th anniversary of homosexual law reform, we recognise that we are the inheritors of more than a festival. We are the descendants of a movement, of histories of protest, of resilience, of artistry. The movements of our time are strengthened when we act in relation to one another.” says Auckland Pride Director Hāmiora Bailey.

Bailey continues; “As we look to the year ahead, we begin with the call: Ngā Uri E! To you, the descendants of a movement, hikina te mānuka – take up the challenge. This festival invites participation across generations: to create, to perform, to organise and to stand together. Pride is not only a celebration; it is a continuum of solidarity, of advocacy, of justice.”

Opening the Festival on Sunday 1 February, Te Tīmatanga transforms into a collective movement led by Coco Solid, bringing together emerging Takatāpui creatives through Wharekura Raumati summer wānanga for a powerful opening event. From Gadigal Country, London and Hamburg, ANITO presents a queer Filipino future-folkloric epic exploring ancestry, spirit worlds, and transformation, blending puppetry, performance and sound. Created and performed by Justin Talplacido Shoulder with support from Victoria Hunt, the work is complemented by Pride Connects workshops, fostering cross-cultural exchange between Indigenous and diasporic artists.

In a first-time collaboration, Auckland Pride and Splore Festival present PrideXSplore, a one-day experience celebrating Splore’s iconic queer Saturday lineup. Tickets include festival entry, transport, and a Pride host crew, with every purchase helping co-fund spots for Rainbow whānau who might not otherwise attend. Returning for the second year, Vector Lights sees artist Mars Cookilluminate the Auckland Harbour Bridge with a bespoke light show (13–21 February) honouring 40 years of Homosexual Law Reform, culminating in a sunrise silent disco on 20 February. Auckland Pride also welcomes the return of the Praise The Lord Playwright Residency, in partnership with Auckland Theatre Company, Samesame But Different and the Robert Lord Writers Cottage Trust, championing bold new queer writing. With expressions of interest now closed, the selected resident will be announced through a staged reading of their work at Basement Theatre on 7 February 2026, presented as part of the Same Same But Different Praise The Lord Playwright Residency event.

Auckland Pride closes in the Karangahape Gaybourhood, with “Out of the Gutter” Street Party, a sunset showcase and market for all ages, featuring a lineup that celebrates community artistry and excellence then, now and into the future. Evoking HERO and conjuring Coming Out Days of years gone by, expect glamour, grit, legacy, and a queer extravaganza where generations meet, because Pride isn’t only about where we’ve been, it’s also about where we’re heading.

Auckland Pride remains dedicated to empowering, celebrating, and serving the Takatāpui and Rainbow Communities of Tāmaki Makaurau. As we progress toward our closing event and the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of homosexual law reform, Auckland Pride invites Takatāpui and Rainbow communities, along with all supporters and allies, to join in this month of celebration, togetherness, reflection and heralding a future of inclusivity and pride. For more details, ticket information and updates, please visit www.aucklandpride.org.nz.

More than a festival, Pride is a movement.