Prowl Fest: Tamaki Makaurau’s Queer Dance Festival Brings Street Dance To Centre Stage For Pride 2026

This Pride, Auckland transforms into a queer, camp-cabaret playground. Prowl Productions, Aotearoa’s premiere street dance and Waacking company, presents PROWL FEST, a celebration of femme power, street dance, and unapologetic expression, where every move hits with musical flair and theatrical energy.

Across February 2026, PROWL Fest features free Waacking workshops, a community jam, a tiered-ticket battle night, and special performances of the award-winning show PROWL. The festival continues with legendary after parties, with DJs, and fierce guest performances and appearances from House of Coven-Aucoin, with more to be announced!

Rooted in the kaupapa of removing barriers to participation, PROWL FEST centres takatapui, queer, and underserved communities, offering high-quality dance experiences regardless of cost, background, or dance level. At previous events, participants shared how vital these environments are, with one attendee saying: "Now I know where to find my community." PROWL FEST creates culturally affirming, accessible spaces across Tamaki Makaurau, places to move, share stories, and celebrate gender expression through movement.

Artistic Director Hayley Walters-Tekahika (Ngati Kahungunu, Ngati Maniapoto, Ngapuhi, Ngati Whatua) says, "My career has been shaped by a deep understanding of street dance not only as an art form but as a space for healing, identity, and connection. As a Maori street dance practitioner, I honour the cultural roots of these forms, which stem from Indigenous and oppressed communities globally. Street dance, for me, is resistance, it is storytelling, it is community. PROWL Fest is about making dance affordable and inclusive, while celebrating the vibrant heritage and contemporary power of Waacking."

It’s a reminder that access matters, representation matters, and community spaces shape lives. Across Tamaki Makaurau, PROWL FEST transforms stages and studios into sparkling hubs of proud, bold movement, and fearless self-expression.

2026 FESTIVAL

FREE EVENTS

Open Rehearsal

Wednesday 11 February, 6pm | Te Oro, Glen Innes, Auckland

Step inside the rehearsal room of Prowl and catch the magic before it hits the stage! Watch dancers twirl, waack, and dance with flair, sparkle, and unapologetic street dance joy.

Free Waacking Workshops

Friday 13 February, 5:30pm and 7pm | Te Oro, Glen Innes, Auckland

Free Waacking Workshops + Community Jam

Tuesday 17 February, 6pm, 7:30pm and 9pm | Ellen Melville Centre, Auckland CBD

Open to all, enter the world of Waacking with beginner-friendly workshops led by local icons and national guests. Learn the history, catch the beat, and find your own flavour before letting loose in a community jam. Waack, spin, and swerve to infectious beats - camp-cabaret style!

TICKETED EVENTS

Waacking Battle Night + After Party

Saturday 14 February, 7pm | Raynham Park Studio, Auckland CBD

Packed with fierce throwdowns, extravagant style, and musical flair, this is where camp meets competition with cash prizes and awards up for grabs! Show-stopping guest performances set the stage for a night of bold expression and queer joy. Bring your sass, your sparkle, and your fiercest moves. Battle, slay, and twirl unapologetically in a celebration of movement, community, and self-expression. After Party DJs and performers to be announced!

PROWL — Dance Theatre Performance + After Party

Friday 27 + Saturday 28 February, 8pm | Raynham Park Studio, Auckland CBD

Winner of multiple awards at Auckland Fringe 2024, including Outstanding Movement, NZ Fringe Tour Ready, and Auckland Arts Festival Tuakana. PROWL is a groundbreaking street dance theatre work exploring femininity, identity, and the fluidity of self. Created and performed by the acclaimed Prowl Productions ensemble, the work challenges traditional narratives and uplifts the strength of femme expression.

After Parties + Guest Performances

Closing PROWL Fest with a roar! Enjoy DJs, spontaneous performances, fashion moments, and iconic guest appearances from House of Coven-Aucoin and more. Everyone is invited to celebrate, connect, and dance the night away in a space full of joy and queer energy. DJs and performers to be announced!

"A captivating rhythmic soul discovery, where bodies both female & male, challenge society's norm. PROWL transports its audience to pulsate with their Sisterhood." — Amanduh La

"Prowl is an urgent reminder of the vital need for visibility and pride. Now more than ever, shows like this need to be performed, to be loud and well-attended." — Janina Smolira, Bad Apple Gay

ABOUT PROWL PRODUCTIONS

Prowl Productions is an Aotearoa-based entertainment company blending street dance and theatre to create bold, immersive experiences. Rooted in waacking, movement becomes language and performance becomes world-building. Our dancers lead the growth of this artform in Aotearoa, sharing its energy through performances, workshops, and community jams. Prowl is unapologetically fierce, culturally connected, and proudly represents tangata whenua, BIPOC, takatapui, and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Prowl has featured at major festivals including The Nest Street Style Festival, Pacific Dance Festival, Tempo Dance Festival, Auckland + Wellington Pride, Auckland Cabaret Festival, and New Zealand Fringe. On stage, in the street, or in the studio, Prowl creates experiences that excite, include, and inspire, turning bold ideas into unforgettable, immersive entertainment.

PROWL Fest is supported by: Auckland Pride, Auckland Council, Creative Communities Scheme, Rule Foundation, Raynham Park, Proud Centres (Te Oro, Ellen Melville Centre), and our creative collaborators and community.

See all events here: https://collections.humanitix.com/prowl-fest

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