Free festival returns on 31 October and 1 November, with hundreds of performers, Indian cuisine, cultural activities and new public transport access.
Aucklanders are being encouraged to plan for the BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival, which will bring two days of Indian culture, music, dance, food and family entertainment to the city centre on 31 October and 1 November.
The free annual celebration will take over Aotea Square, Queen Street, Rutland Street and surrounding venues, offering a diverse programme of traditional and contemporary performances, art exhibitions, workshops and activities for all ages.
This year, festivalgoers will have easier access to the celebrations, with the newly available Te Waihorotiu Station providing train passengers with a two-minute walk to Aotea Square.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Festival Event Manager Arnav Taode encouraged visitors to explore the programme in advance to make the most of the weekend.
“There is so much to experience, so I’d encourage people to look at the programme before they come and make a day of it,” Taode said, highlighting the range of performances, activities and evening attractions on offer.
Multiple stages across the festival precinct will showcase traditional and contemporary Indian and South Asian music and dance, alongside street performances and cultural activities.
The Auckland Town Hall Concert Chamber will host three free, 45-minute concerts introducing audiences to Indian classical music. Visitors can also experience the Ramayan Live Stage Drama, featuring live acting, costumes, characters and storytelling.
An Indian art exhibition at Aotea Centre will complement workshops exploring Indian art, design and creative traditions. Popular attractions, including the Chalk It Up Rangoli Competition, henna artists, festival marketplace and family activities, will also return.
The wider celebrations will extend to Central City Library, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and Auckland War Memorial Museum, where visitors can discover additional exhibitions, workshops and Diwali experiences.
Food will remain a major attraction, with stalls offering a variety of Indian dishes and sweets throughout the weekend.
Festival favourites are expected to include samosas, curry with roti, vada pav — a potato fritter served in a soft bread bun — and momo dumplings.
All food stalls at the 2026 festival will serve vegetarian food prepared without eggs, allowing visitors to sample a wide range of flavours while exploring the celebrations.
For visitors seeking a quieter experience, the free Living Arts Centre at Aotea Centre will be open from noon to 9pm on both days.
The space will feature headphones, calming visuals, culturally focused workshops and talks, providing an opportunity to take a break from the busy festival precinct.
Five free, 45-minute wellbeing sessions will also run each day at Aotea Centre. Led by Reha Kumar, the sessions will feature yoga, meditation and breathwork, alongside introductions to the history of these ancient Indian practices.
Diwali-themed lighting and projections will appear across central Auckland in the lead-up to the festival.
From 24 October, Auckland Town Hall will be illuminated with colourful Diwali artworks, while Te Waihorotiu Station will host a projection-mapping experience combining sound, imagery and storytelling.
The Auckland Harbour Bridge will also feature fuchsia and orange lighting through Vector Lights from 26 October to 1 November, with other city landmarks and public spaces joining the celebrations.
The festival will reach its finale on Sunday, 1 November, with fireworks scheduled for approximately 8.50pm, followed by an audiovisual projection show on Auckland Town Hall.
Organisers are urging visitors to plan their journeys ahead of time, with limited parking and city-centre road closures expected during the festival.
Standard bus services will operate into the city centre, while trains will provide direct access to Te Waihorotiu Station. Both the South City and East West train lines stop at the station, with additional capacity planned through six-carriage trains over the weekend.
Travel plans will also be affected by the Auckland Marathon on Sunday, 1 November, which will bring road closures and parking restrictions across parts of the North Shore, waterfront and city centre. Some restrictions will begin on Saturday.
The Auckland Harbour Bridge will remain open in both directions during the marathon, although two southbound lanes will be closed and motorists should expect delays.
Visitors are advised to check Auckland Transport’s dedicated festival travel information for Saturday and Sunday, alongside the AT Journey Planner or mobile app, for the latest bus, train and ferry updates.
The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival will run from noon to 9pm on Saturday, 31 October, and noon to 9.10pm on Sunday, 1 November, across Aotea Square, Queen Street, Rutland Street and surrounding venues.
Entry is free. The full programme and visitor information are available at the BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival website.