Auckland’s city centre is being transformed into a glowing celebration of te ao Māori, storytelling and shared history through Matariki ki te Manawa.
The free winter festival runs from 15 June to 21 July 2026, bringing illuminated art, live performance, digital storytelling and augmented reality experiences into the streets, squares and waterfront of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Festival spokesperson Ataahua Papa says Matariki ki te Manawa invites whānau, visitors and city workers to explore the city in a new way, following trails of light, sound and story across key locations including Queen Street, Aotea Square, the waterfront and Karangahape Road.
The programme is designed as an open and inclusive experience, allowing people to move through the festival at their own pace while engaging with artworks grounded in tikanga, mātauranga Māori and the stories of Tāmaki Makaurau.
Organisers say the location of the festival is central to its kaupapa. Each site carries layers of history, connection and memory, with the artworks helping bring those stories to life in the modern cityscape.
Alongside large-scale light installations, the festival includes performance, interactive experiences and digital works that use augmented reality to connect audiences with Māori narratives in fresh and accessible ways.
Papa says the aim is for people to leave with a deeper understanding of Matariki, not only as a time of celebration, but as a season of remembrance, reflection, renewal and connection.
Matariki ki te Manawa also offers a chance for Aucklanders to reconnect with the city centre during winter, turning public spaces into places of gathering, learning and wonder.
With events spread across more than a month, organisers are encouraging people to check the programme, plan a night out with whānau, and experience the city through the lens of Matariki.
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