BNZAuckland Diwali Festival

The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival has grown to become New Zealand's premier Indian cultural festival. It's a free, family-friendly event held every year.

Date Te rā me te wā

19 - 20 October 2024
Price Utu hoko

Free Entry
Location Te wāhi

Aotea Square

Festival Information

Words by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
Last updated 08 May 2025

The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival, known as 'The Festival of Lights', draws over 100,000 attendees.

Since its inception in 2002, the festival has been a vibrant showcase, featuring traditional and contemporary music, dance, and stalls offering Indian delicacies and crafts.

Join us celebrating Diwali in Auckland with:
3 Stages / Performance Zones
Food Stalls
Arts & Craft Retail Stalls
Free Yoga Workshops
Fireworks on Sunday Night
+ MORE

A free, family-friendly event by BNZ & Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.

Location Te wāhi

Aotea Square

Plan your route

Getting there Te huarahi ki reira

Aotea Square is located in the Auckland city centre, a 15-minute walk from Britomart station and the Downtown Ferry Terminal. For all transport options, please check our Festival Information page.

Local tip He tīwhiri mō te rohe

Diwali is also the largest vegetarian festival in New Zealand with an array of food vendors offering mouth-watering Indian dishes including Pakora, Pav Bhaji, and Kulfi.

Social Pae pāpori

💃PERFORMANCES ACROSS THREE STAGES

Come along and enjoy two days of amazing dance and musical performances across a range of styles on three different stages, with captivating shows from midday to 9pm, showcasing incredible music and the vibrant culture of Auckland's diverse Indian communities.

🍴 Flavourful Food Stalls

Set your sights on an irresistible array of mouth-watering vegetarian food stalls that will bring Queen Street alive with the tantalising aromas of freshly prepared dishes, each stall offers a small taste of Indian cuisine.

🎨💍 Craft & Retail Zone

Don't miss the chance to take home a piece of Diwali from our retail zone on Lorne Street. Browse through an exciting array of handmade crafts, unique jewelry, traditional clothing, henna, and artisanal goods.

🧘 Free Yoga Workshops

Learn the history behind the ancient Indian practice, be guided through yoga flows, meditation and breath work. Renowned yoga expert, Reha Kumar, will be offering free practical and theory-based yoga workshops throughout the weekend in Aotea Centre. No yoga experience is necessary.

View Yoga Timetable

📚 Explore the Library

Take a break at Central City Library! Rest your feet, refill your bottle, and recharge your phone at lockable charging stations. Enjoy the curated book display, short documentaries, a special Diwali Storytime and Nokshi Katha embroidery workshop.

View Library Activities

🎤 Learn Something New

Head inside Aotea Centre to hear inspiring forums on stories and accomplishments, and a culinary journey with expert chefs. Connect, learn, and enjoy these knowledge sharing sessions.

View Forum Timetable

🖼️ CHALK IT UP with FreshChoice

Showcase your creativity at the FreshChoice Chalk It Up! Rangoli Competition in Aotea Square, starting at midday on Saturday, 19 October!

Open to all skill levels, draw vibrant Rangoli designs and win FreshChoice vouchers—no experience needed!

Learn More About Competition

✨ GET FESTIVE WITH BNZ

Get in the festival mode and catch a complimentary rickshaw up Queen Street from the Britomart transport hub. Just look for the BNZ Rickshaw pick-up point and hop on for a free ride straight to the heart of the festivities.

For those looking to capture the moment, the BNZ photo booth in Aotea Square offers an immersive experience; visit the BNZ marquee lounge and take a photo with friends & family to remember the day.

BNZ has collaborated with Indian muralist Neethi to create stunning artwork that will be showcased throughout the festival.