Art Battle Auckland Grand Final 2026

12 ARTISTS. 3 ROUNDS. 1 CHAMPION... & YOU DECIDE!
The 2025-26 season has seen 100+ Kiwi artists battle it out across communities Auckland wide - and the regional winners come together for the ultimate showdown. Witness three 20 minute rounds of competitive speed-painting and entertainment, as the world’s biggest LIVE painting comp is back at Eden Park - with special guest artists, performers, interactive art zones and more!
YOU hold the power to crown the Art Battle Auckland Champion 2026 - the audience decides the winner!

AT A GLANCE
12 Auckland Regional Finalists
3 Spotlight Artists
3 Interactive Artists
2 Portrait Artists
4 Performers (between painting rounds)
1 Interactive Creation Zone

Whether you come to watch, to vote, to create your own masterpiece, or to bid on the artworks at the silent auction, the Grand Final is a night of immersive creativity not to be missed.

2026 GRAND FINALISTS
Em Wafer, Paul Walsh, Oliver Ridgen, Alexandra Levina, Ken Faber, Agnes Ishak, Shafnaz, Alex Xu, Jo Quon, Rachel Auer, Valentina Abramova, Tazanna Dell

SPOTLIGHT ARTISTS
Kate McLeod - Special guest and internationally acclaimed contemporary abstract artist flying in from Christchurch, NZ.
Logan Moffat - First ever AB Auckland Champion and the youngest winner of Aotearoa’s prestigious Adam Portraiture Award.
Vjekoslav Nemesh - Reigning AB Auckland Champion and nationally and internationally reknown abstract artist and mentor.

Introducing Resene's
INTERACTIVE CREATION STATION

20 minute challenge
Sign up to create your own masterpiece in only 20 minutes. Feel the artists pain and experience a Taste of Art Battle!
Paint your own Pot
Get creative and take it home - All canvases, pots and paints supplied

with INTERACTIVE ARTISTS
Frankie Meadon - contemporary artist, working primarily with fibre and mixed media to create large-scale, tactile works. Frankie will be inviting guests to get involved, by joining her in creating a large scale collaborative artwork on the night.
Rashi Shandilya - Help award winning Auckland based artist Rashi bring a canvas to life - using only YOUR thumb!
Orion Mabelle & Lesley Ly aka The Portraiteers - sit for a 10 minute quick-draw portrait or caricature, and walk away with an artistic expression of you!

SPECIAL GUESTS PERFORMERS (between the painting rounds)
The Sandman - Be mesmerised as The Sandman aka Marcus Winter takes you on a journey of storytelling through the art of sand.
Fathe - Singer/Songwriter performing LIVE (as seen with Fathe & the Sweetos)
Empire Studios - Hip Hop Dance Crew
Erin Fagan - Auckland Composer/Pianist - Eden Park medley

PLUS
NZ Helles Lager - Award Winning Beer Tastings & Specials from the Mad Whale Beer Co.
Resene Art Station + $250 Voucher 1 Lucky Winner + Giveaways + Spot-Prizes

VOTE & BID
The competition itself will be LIVE streamed! Both in-person guests and online viewers must register to vote and bid. To cast your vote and place your bids live, head over to https://artb.art

LIVE STREAM
The LIVE stream will not be active until just before round 1, so feel free to save and share this link https://www.youtube.com/@artbattleint

Accessibility: The venue is fully wheelchair accessible to ensure all guests can enjoy the event comfortably

Art Battle is the planet’s biggest LIVE painting competition across 80+ cities worldwide. 12 artists battle it out over 3 rounds of fast paced creativity. The audience decides the winner on the night. Snag yourself a bargain as ALL the artwork will be for sale at the silent auction at the end of the night : )