The Farmers Santa Parade in Auckland is on Sunday 29 November 2026, starting at 1pm on Mayoral Drive and finishing at Britomart Place. Pre-parade entertainment begins at 12pm, Santa’s Party in Aotea Square runs from 2.30pm to 5pm, and the whole event is free. If the weather is bad, the back-up date is Sunday 6 December.
2026 is the parade’s 93rd year, and it brings a brand-new Grinch float and a special appearance by Paddington Bear to Queen Street. Here is everything you need for the day, from the route and road closures to what happens if it rains.
When is the Santa Parade in Auckland in 2026?
The 2026 Farmers Santa Parade is on Sunday 29 November in the Auckland CBD. The parade itself runs from 1pm to 2.30pm, with pre-parade entertainment from 12pm and Santa’s Party in Aotea Square afterwards. If it has to be postponed, the new date is Sunday 6 December 2026.
| Santa Parade 2026 | Time |
|---|---|
| Parade route closes to traffic | 10am |
| Pre-parade entertainment | 12pm to 1pm |
| Parade | 1pm to 2.30pm |
| Santa’s Party, Aotea Square | 2.30pm to 5pm |
| Postponement date | Sunday 6 December 2026 |
What time does the Auckland Santa Parade start and finish?
The parade starts at 1pm and is scheduled to end at 2.30pm. The route is 1.6km long, and organisers say it takes about an hour for the parade to pass any given point.
The pre-parade show from 12pm has Christmas choirs, bands and characters working the crowd, and a pre-parade collection raises money for this year’s charity partner, the literacy programme Duffy Books in Homes.
Santa Parade Auckland route and the best places to watch
The route begins at the corner of Mayoral Drive and Cook Street, runs down Mayoral Drive into Queen Street, turns along Customs Street East and finishes at Britomart Place. The official parade information names Mayoral Drive, between Cook and Queen Streets, and Customs Street East as good viewing spots with room for a picnic blanket.
- Start: Mayoral Drive at Cook Street
- Middle: down Mayoral Drive, then along Queen Street (the corner of Queen and Victoria Streets is the event’s listed address)
- Finish: Customs Street East to Britomart Place
A safety line is painted along the route, and police ask spectators to stay behind it. Organisers say the parade draws hundreds of thousands of spectators, and they recommend arriving early for a good spot.
What is new in the 2026 parade?
Two characters are the talking points of 2026. The parade’s official site says a brand-new Grinch float will carry an oversized Mt Crumpit with the Grinch on top, and Paddington Bear rides his own float before a Paddington stage show at Santa’s Party.
Around those, the parade has about 4,000 participants and more than 200 items, from floats and marching groups to familiar characters, and Santa himself as the star of the show.
Santa Parade Auckland road closures
The parade route closes at 10am on Sunday 29 November, and organisers say inner-city roads will be closed from 10am to 5pm. They advise getting into the city before 10am, and point to Auckland Transport’s events page for travel details.
Closures can start earlier on some streets. For the 2025 parade, Auckland Transport said there would be multiple road closures in the city centre from 7am, with bus detours and stop closures on the day, so check the 2026 notice before you drive.
Getting there and parking
Public transport is the organisers’ recommended way in, by bus, train or ferry to the city centre. Organisers say people can walk on to Santa’s Party or the transport hub after the parade. The official parade information does not give parking advice, and with inner-city roads closed from 10am, driving in late is the hardest option.
Last year Auckland Transport expected up to 150,000 people in the city centre and added extra ferries, extra double-decker buses on the Northern Express routes and six-carriage trains. Organisers note that flags at height and balloons are not allowed on trains.
Is the Auckland Santa Parade cancelled if it rains?
Not automatically. If the weather forces a change, organisers will announce a postponement by 9am on Sunday 29 November on the parade website and its Facebook page, and the parade would move to Sunday 6 December 2026.
Does the Santa Parade cost anything?
No. The Farmers Santa Parade is a free family event, and there are no tickets to buy for watching from the footpath. Santa’s Party in Aotea Square has free entertainment, plus amusement rides and food stalls. As of late October 2026, the official parade information makes no mention of a live stream or TV broadcast.
A short history of the Santa Parade
Department stores built the Santa parade tradition across New Zealand. According to NZHistory, Farmers held its first grand parade in Auckland in 1934, and in 1937 it had Santa parachute into the Auckland Domain. The Second World War halted the parades, Farmers had restarted its Auckland parade by 1948, and between 1989 and 1991 charitable trusts took over the long-running Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch parades.
Today the event is owned by the Auckland Children’s Christmas Parade Trust, with Farmers as naming rights partner and Crackerjack Events delivering it.
Santa Parade dates in past years
The last three parades have all been held on a Sunday in late November, so the date moves each year.
| Year | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday 29 November | 93rd year, Grinch float and Paddington Bear |
| 2025 | Sunday 30 November | Auckland Transport expected up to 150,000 people in the city |
| 2024 | Sunday 24 November | Tens of thousands lined the CBD, party in Aotea Square until 5pm |
Frequently asked questions
What time is the Santa Parade in Auckland?
The parade runs from 1pm to 2.30pm on Sunday 29 November 2026, after pre-parade entertainment from 12pm.
Is the Auckland Santa Parade on Queen Street?
Yes. The route runs from Mayoral Drive into Queen Street, then along Customs Street East to Britomart Place.
Is the Auckland Santa Parade still on today?
On parade day, organisers announce any postponement by 9am on the official website and Facebook page, so check there in the morning.
Where does the Santa Parade finish?
It finishes at Britomart Place, at the end of Customs Street East. Santa’s Party then runs in Aotea Square until 5pm.
How long is the Santa Parade route?
The route is 1.6km, and the parade takes about an hour to pass any single point.
