Auckland’s city centre is set to transform into a canvas of light, sound, and storytelling for the annual Matariki ki te Manawa festival, running from 15 June to 21 July 2026. The event returns with an extensive programme of illuminated artworks, augmented reality experiences, live performances, and storytelling, drawing inspiration from the region's people, places, and cultural narratives.
Presented by Auckland Live as part of the wider Auckland Council Events’ Matariki Festival, the celebration embraces the theme 'Tāmaki herenga waka, herenga tangata', which acknowledges Auckland as a gathering place for all people. The festival aims to bring mana whenua, iwi, and te ao Māori stories to the forefront, creating an inclusive experience for all Aucklanders and visitors to reflect on the meaning of the Māori new year.
Matariki, which marks the rising of the Pleiades star cluster, has become a cornerstone of New Zealand's cultural calendar and a public holiday. It is a time for remembrance, celebrating the present, and looking to the future. The festival programme is designed to connect various parts of the city centre, from the waterfront to the bustling inner-city streets, weaving a connected narrative through its installations.
Stories in light and sound
A highlight of the festival is the return of the award-winning light installation Tūrama to Queen Street. Created by a team including Graham Tipene, Ataahua Papa, and Angus Muir Design, the work traces the story of Waihorotiu, the ancient stream that still flows beneath the city’s busiest street. The installation serves as a powerful reminder of the land’s original typography and history, connecting the city’s modern form to its ancestral past.
The city centre of Tāmaki Makaurau is a vibrant space with so much to share. We have curated inclusive illuminated storytelling experiences grounded in tikanga and mātauranga Māori, to share these stories with all the people and cultures within the city.
Nearby on Elliott Street, an installation named Taurima honours the area’s history as a traditional māra kai, or food garden. Created by Lissy and Rudi Robinson-Cole, Ataahua Papa, and Angus Muir Design, the work takes the form of a pātaka (food storage structure), celebrating the ancestral stories of sustenance and place. Other significant works include Reo Haukura on Lorne Street, which responds to a permanent sculpture outside the Central Library, and Rā in Vulcan Lane, a 2025 commission that brings light and sound to the laneway, designed to energise and spark joy. These events are a welcome boost to an arts and events sector that has faced significant challenges, with many New Zealand music festivals disappearing in recent years. The current Hamilton festival also shows strong community engagement, Hamilton prepares for major Maanawatia a Matariki community celebration.
An invitation to connect
Auckland Live Director Daniel Clarke says Matariki ki te Manawa offers a chance for people to engage with the city’s rich cultural tapestry. "The programme invites people to see Tāmaki Makaurau through a uniquely Māori lens," Clarke says. "Matariki ki te Manawa brings people together in shared public spaces to experience Māori storytelling, celebrate creativity and deepen their connection to the city and one another."
New for 2026 is 'Are Atoms Alive?', a large-scale installation in Aotea Square by Storybox and Oculo. Running from 10 July to 2 August, the seven-minute looped film will be projected across seven screens, taking viewers on a journey from distant galaxies to dividing cells, connecting Earth with the Matariki star realm.
For those keen to explore with smart devices, Arawhetū offers an augmented reality star trail from Aotea Square through to Myers Park. Led by artist Kereama Taepa, a team of 10 artists has created different interpretations of the stars of the Matariki cluster and Puanga, offering a family-friendly experience that merges technology with tradition.
A region-wide celebration
Matariki ki te Manawa is a key part of the region-wide Matariki Festival 2026, which is presented by Ngāti Tamaoho in collaboration with Auckland Council Events. This marks the third and final year of Ngāti Tamaoho as iwi manaaki (host iwi) for the festival.
The broader festival programme includes the national Hautapu ceremony at Takaparawhau, hosted by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and 'Ngā Reo o te Rangi: Voices of the Stars' at Auckland Town Hall. The festival will also see the return of Vector Lights for Matariki on the Auckland Harbour Bridge and will conclude with Te Kora Kora ki Waihorotiu, a free all-ages concert at Shed 10.
Numerous partner organisations, including Auckland Libraries, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, and the New Zealand Maritime Museum, are also hosting events across the city. Guided walking tours, called He Ara Hīkoi, will be offered in both te reo Māori and English, bringing the stories of each installation to life for participants. This packed schedule further cements Auckland's reputation for offering a diverse array of winter events.
Pou Auaha Creative Director Ataahua Papa encourages everyone to explore what the city has to offer during the festival. "There is something for everyone at Matariki ki te Manawa regardless of your reo or Matariki knowledge," Papa says. "Follow the trails, discover the artworks and experience, and let the stories of this rohe guide your journey through the city."
