The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival 2026 took place on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November, from 12pm to 9pm on both days, in Aotea Square, Queen Street and Rutland Street in central Auckland, with free entry and fireworks on the Sunday night. Diwali itself falls on Sunday 8 November 2026, and dates for the 2027 festival have not been announced yet.
First held in 2002, the festival is organised by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, and organisers say it attracts more than 65,000 people each year. The full performance schedule is now out, and the fireworks are on the Sunday night. Here are the dates, stage times, location, food and everything confirmed for 2026.
Auckland Diwali Festival 2026 at a glance
| Event | BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival |
| Dates | Saturday 31 October – Sunday 1 November 2026 |
| Times | 12pm – 9pm each day |
| Where | Aotea Square, Queen Street and Rutland Street, Auckland CBD |
| Entry | Free (some ticketed performances) |
| Fireworks | Sunday 1 November, 8.48pm on the Aotea Stage |
| Stages | Aotea Stage, Queen Street Stage and the Street Zone, with about 250 performances |
| Organiser | Auckland Council event delivered by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, presented by BNZ |
| First held | 2002 |
| Crowd | More than 65,000 people a year (organisers’ figure) |
Dates and times
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday 31 October 2026 | 12pm – 9pm |
| Sunday 1 November 2026 | 12pm – 9pm |
The festival is held in the week before Diwali itself. In 2026, Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) falls on Sunday 8 November in New Zealand.
Where it is and how to get there
The festival fills Aotea Square and the surrounding stretch of Queen Street and Rutland Street, with the Auckland Live listing giving the address as 291–297 Queen Street. The closest train station is Te Waihorotiu, about a three-minute walk from Aotea Square on the South–City and East–West lines. The Downtown Ferry Terminal is about 15 minutes away on foot, and buses generally run their final services between 11pm and midnight. The square is busy again on Sunday 29 November, when Santa’s Party follows the Farmers Santa Parade.
If you are driving, Auckland Transport’s carparks at The Civic and on Victoria Street are the closest, and organisers warn that road closures will cause diversions. Accessible drop-off and parking is on Wakefield Street, and The Civic carpark has 20 mobility parks. The site is wheelchair accessible, mostly on paved paths, and pushchairs are welcome.
What’s on
Across both days there are traditional and contemporary Indian performances on multiple stages, plus:
- A festival marketplace
- Street performances and art installations
- Creative workshops and family activities
- Yoga and wellness sessions
- Projection shows
- The Living Arts Lounge
- Some ticketed performances alongside the free programme
The festival is family-friendly and open to all ages, with accessible seating available.
Auckland Diwali Festival 2026 line-up and stage times
The official performance schedule lists about 250 performances across three stages over the two days. No act is billed as a headliner. The evening DJ sets on the Queen Street Stage are the closest thing to one.
| Stage | Saturday 31 October | Sunday 1 November |
|---|---|---|
| Aotea Stage | 12.15pm to 8.45pm | 12pm to 8.59pm, fireworks 8.48pm |
| Queen Street Stage | 1pm to 9pm | 12.31pm to 8.41pm |
| Street Zone | 1pm to 6.51pm | 1pm to 6pm |
- DJ sets, Queen Street Stage: DJ Vishal + Anil DjNeil, DJ Geezville + DJ Sunny and DJ Raaz + DJ Charles play back to back from 5.40pm on Saturday and from 5.31pm on Sunday.
- Bands, Sunday afternoon: The Seventh Note Band (3.21pm), Chowringhee (3.46pm), Sukh Dhanju Music (4.16pm), Anika Muley (4.31pm) and Bandish Bandits (4.46pm) on the Queen Street Stage.
- Competitions: Saturday’s dance competition winners are announced at 3.44pm and the Senior Superstars winners at 7.35pm on Sunday, both on the Aotea Stage.
- Bollywood Battle: Sunday at 3.03pm in the Street Zone.
Food at the festival
Auckland Unlimited bills the event as the largest vegetarian festival in New Zealand. Food stalls serve Indian favourites such as pakora, pav bhaji and kulfi. The whole festival is vegetarian, alcohol-free and smoke-free.
Fireworks
The organisers describe the fireworks display as the highlight of the festival. In 2026 it was scheduled for 8.48pm on Sunday 1 November on the Aotea Stage, with the festival wrapping up at 8.59pm. Auckland Unlimited’s event page gave the start as approximately 8.50pm, and the schedule listed no fireworks on the Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Auckland Diwali Festival 2026?
The 2026 festival was held on Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November, 12pm to 9pm each day. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet.
Is the Auckland Diwali Festival free?
Yes, entry is free. A small number of performances are ticketed.
Where is the Auckland Diwali Festival held?
In Aotea Square, Queen Street and Rutland Street in central Auckland.
What time are the Diwali fireworks in Auckland 2026?
On Sunday 1 November 2026 at about 8.48pm, near the end of the festival. There are no fireworks on the Saturday night.
Can you drink alcohol at the festival?
No. The festival is alcohol-free, smoke-free and fully vegetarian.
When did the Auckland Diwali Festival start?
It was first held in 2002.
