Matariki Festival 2026 programme now live with more than 100 events across Tāmaki Makaurau
Matariki tuia ngā whetū, tuia ngā tāngata
Matariki weaver of the stars, weaver of the people
Aucklanders and visitors can now start planning their Matariki celebrations with the Matariki Festival 2026 programme officially live.
The programme brings together more than 100 free and low-cost events, activities and experiences across Tāmaki Makaurau from 4 to 19 July.
Matariki Festival 2026 is proudly presented by Ngāti Tamaoho, in collaboration with Auckland Council Events. This is the third and final year of Ngāti Tamaoho as iwi manaaki.
The festival programme includes more than 100 community events, exhibitions, workshops, performances and activities across the region, anchored by three pou events, developed with guidance from Ngāti Tamaoho and shaped by the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar.
These three pou events guide the festival journey, while the regional events fill in around them, offering communities across Tāmaki Makaurau many ways to reflect, connect and celebrate throughout the two weeks.
The first pou event, Matariki ki te Maunga, opens the festival on 4 July with a dawn karakia led by Ngāti Tamaoho to mark the rising of Matariki and welcome the Māori New Year.
The second pou event, Te Hui Ahurei o Matariki, will unfold over 10 and 11 July across the historic Nathan Homestead and Ngā Hau e Whā Marae o Pukekohe. This two-day celebration of the Matariki public holiday will bring whānau and communities together through kai, performances, markets, kapa haka and the much-loved Whakarewa Manu – Kite Day, where vibrant kites will fill the sky above Ngā Hau e Whā Marae o Pukekohe.
The third pou event, Te Korakora ki Waihorotiu, closes the festival on 18 July at Shed 10 on Auckland’s Queens Wharf with a celebration of culture, connection, and performance. All three pou events are free to attend.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Director of Māori Outcomes, Helen Te Hira, says Matariki is a time to return to what matters; to connect, reflect, and care for one another.
“Under the manaaki of Ngāti Tamaoho, Matariki Festival 2026 brings people together across Tāmaki Makaurau. Through the range of events across the region, we hope everyone can find a way to engage with Matariki that feels meaningful to them and their whānau, whether through community events, performances, or shared experiences.”
Auckland Live's Matariki ki te Manawa programme will bring additional opportunities to celebrate Matariki in the city centre.
To explore the full programme and start planning your Matariki celebrations, visit matarikifestival.org.nz
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