BNZAuckland Diwali Festival

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

  • Date Te rā me te wā

    31 Oct - 01 Nov, 2026

    View all times

  • Price Utu hoko

    Free Entry

  • Location Te wāhi

    Aotea Square
  • Words by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited
  • Last updated 09 Sep 2026

Namaste!

The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival, the city’s iconic Festival of Lights, attracts over 65,000 people each year. Since its inception in 2002, it has been a vibrant celebration of culture featuring traditional and contemporary music, dance, crafts, mouthwatering Indian delicacies, an epic public fireworks display and so much more!

BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival is a free Auckland Council Event delivered by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, a council-controlled organisation.

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 Waitemata (Britomart) Train 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

Experience the magic that brings Diwali to life

  • Festival Marketplace

    Festival Marketplace

    Discover handmade crafts, clothing and your next memorable gift.

  • Street Performances

    Street Performances

    Feel the excitement up close as live performances light up the city streets.

     

  • Art Installations

    Art Installations

    Explore immersive works by talented artists inspired by colour, light and culture.

  • Festival Fireworks

    Festival Fireworks

    The highlight of the night, watch the sky sparkle with a spectacular firework display.

  • Authentic Flavours

    Authentic Flavours

    Discover rich tastes and traditional dishes from India and beyond.

  • Creative Workshops

    Creative Workshops

    Get hands-on with interactive cultural and creative experiences.

  • Cultural Celebrations

    Cultural Celebrations

    Enjoy the music, dance and traditions that bring Diwali to life.

  • Family Fun

    Family Fun

    Enjoy playful moments made for all ages to share together.

  • Living Arts Lounge

    Living Arts Lounge

    Relax, connect and enjoy creativity in a vibrant shared space.

  • Photo Moments

    Photo Moments

    Capture colourful memories at themed photo spots.

  • Projection Shows

    Projection Shows

    See Auckland Town Hall transformed through light and storytelling.

  • Yoga & Wellness

    Yoga & Wellness

    Reconnect and recharge through mindful movement and wellbeing.


Apply to Host A Workshop



As part of the festival programme, we are seeking expressions of interest from artists, cultural practitioners, educators and facilitators to deliver cultural arts, crafts and knowledge-sharing workshops in the lead up to the festival weekend. 

 

These workshops will take place at a range of partner venues across Auckland’s city centre during October 2026 (not the festival weekend) and are designed to engage communities ahead of the main festival celebrations. 

 

We welcome proposals that offer meaningful, culturally grounded and interactive experiences that celebrate the richness and diversity of Asian cultures and communities. 


Application Deadlines:

Opens: Friday, 31 July 2026 

Closes: Wednesday, 16 September 2026 

Click here to apply
 REGISTER YOUR INTEREST 

 Volunteer at BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival 2026! 

 How to sign up 

  • •  Sign up on the Rosterfy Diwali volunteer portal.
  • •  You will need to create an account to sign up to volunteer.
  • •  Volunteers must be 16 years or older.
  • •  A current Ministry of Justice check for 2026/27 is required. You can start the free process by clicking here.

 What to expect 

  • •  Festival dates: Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November 2026 at Aotea Square and Queen Street.
  • •  Volunteer shifts are between 12pm and 9pm each day, with specific slots available throughout the day and evening.
  • •  Volunteers receive a festival T-shirt, meal voucher, water, snacks and access to a dedicated chillout area for breaks.

Watch a Recap of BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival 2025



Dates and Times
  • Sat 31 Oct 12pm - 9pm
  • Sun 01 Nov 12pm - 9pm

Our Partners

Presented By

Interested in becoming a partner for 2026? Email your interest to [email protected]


The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival is an Auckland Council Event delivered by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, the region's council-controlled cultural and events agency. The Diwali Advisory Group, representative of Auckland’s Indian communities, supports and advises on the future development and growth of the festival.