BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival 2026 Starts Today

While Saturday (Day 3) tickets for the BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival are in high demand, tickets remain available for other festival days. A limited number of walkup tickets will also be released daily during the festival period.

If you miss out on tickets for your preferred day or session, keep checking the iTicket website regularly, as more tickets may appear through customer re-listings.

What you need to know

• For free tickets: Book at aucklandnz.com/lantern
• Festival ticket holders can travel free on Auckland Transport buses and trains from two hours before gates open until the end of regular services. Show your ticket when boarding and keep it for your return trip.
• Eastern Line disruption: On the festival weekend, trains will not operate between Waitematā and Ōtāhuhu.
  • Eastern Line will run between Ōtāhuhu and Manukau.
  • Passengers from Waitematā should take a Southern Line train, transferring at Ōtāhuhu to continue east.
  • Rail replacement buses will operate between Waitematā and Ōtāhuhu.
  • Plan your journey via the AT Journey Planner or AT Mobile app.

Parking

• There is no public parking at Manukau Sports Bowl.
• Visitors are encouraged to use free public transport and festival shuttle buses operating between Manukau Transport Hub, Westfield Manukau, and Manukau Sports Bowl.
• Westfield Manukau offers limited free parking during festival hours, with access to shuttle buses or a 16minute walk to the venue.
• Paid parking is available at Kia Aroha College (Othello Drive).

Festival Overview

The 2026 BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival features more than 500 illuminated lanterns, large-scale installations, cultural performances, diverse Asian kai, and fireworks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Event Details

• What: BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival 2026
• When: Thursday 26 February – Sunday 1 March 2026, 4:00pm–10:30pm daily
• Where: Manukau Sports Bowl, Te Irirangi Drive, Manukau, Auckland

New for 2026: the debut of a Kiwiana lantern series, starting with a giant moa crafted specially for Tāmaki Makaurau, alongside the new Year of the Horse lantern.

What people can see

• Giant illuminated moa lantern (approx. 3m)
• Year of the Horse lantern (approx. 4m)
• 500+ lanterns across the site
• Cultural dance and music, including Bian Lian (face-changing)
• 70+ food and market stalls
• Fireworks: 27 & 28 February and 1 March (approx. 9:50pm)
• Crowds and whānau-friendly atmosphere

© Scoop Media