Yes, the festival is a free ticketed event. We encourage you to book your tickets early. Tickets also entitle you to free public transport to and from the event on AT buses and trains from two hours before the event until the end of regular daily services.

Simply show your ticket to the driver when boarding and remember to hold onto your ticket for the ride home.

Use the AT Journey Planner or the AT Mobile app to plan your journey, or visit the timetables page for scheduled bus times.

We have introduced ticketing to manage visitor flow, make it easier and free for people to get there, and to make it a more enjoyable event for everyone across the four days.

Ticket holders will be able to travel to and from the festival for free on AT buses and trains from two hours before the event until the end of regular daily services.

It’s easy – just click here to enter your details and how many tickets you would like. Tickets can be saved on your device or downloaded and printed.

No, tickets to the BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival are free for everyone.

Top tip: make sure you only get your tickets through iTicket, which is the festival's official ticketing partner. If you’re being asked to pay for tickets, you’re in the wrong place.

Yes. You get free travel on all Auckland Transport buses and trains by showing your BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival ticket. This is valid from two hours before the event until the end of regular daily services. Simply present your ticket to the driver or train manager. Remember to keep your ticket on you for the return journey home.

Please visit the Customer Support section on the iTicket website: https://www.iticket.co.nz/contact

You will not be able to enter the event without a ticket. If you have lost your ticket or have missed out on one and would like to attend, please come to the festival and the staff at the entry gates can assist.

There are three releases of tickets starting on the 20 January, with more being released each week. If you miss out on a ticket be sure to add yourself to the waitlist in case more become available.

No, tickets are valid only for the date selected at booking. If your plans change, please book tickets for the correct day. If you missed out on tickets and would still like to attend, come to the festival and our staff at the entry gates can assist.

No. Re-entry is not permitted on the same ticket. If you leave the festival and wish to return, you will need a new ticket to enter. If you have missed out on new tickets, please come to the festival and our staff at the entry gates can assist.

There are over 500 lanterns on display at this year's festival, including a brand-new horse lantern to mark the Year of the Horse in 2026. You can also see the lanterns for  2025's Year of the Snake, 2024's Year of the Dragon, 2023’s Year of the Rabbit, 2022’s Year of the Tiger, and 2020’s Year of the Rat on display.

Manukau Sports Bowl is closed to traffic. Access through Sandrine Avenue is restricted to residents and accessibility drop offs. Traffic is managed on Boundary Road. For more information, please view our traffic management map.

Limited accessible parking is available on Boundary Road next to the accessible drop-off point from Friday to Sunday. Most of the festival is accessible for wheelchair users via paved laneways. Accessible drop-off points, parking and toilets are indicated on the festival map. Some of the entertainment and activations are on green fields with undulating terrain and kerbs, which may be difficult to manoeuvre over for wheelchair users.

While the Manukau Sports Bowl is accessible by bike, we do not have secure bike racks at the venue. Please do not ride your bike through the festival, as it can be crowded and difficult to navigate.

We are providing designated bike parking areas at Gates A. Please check the festival map for the exact location. Please ensure you bring a lock to securely fasten your bike in the designated area.

For safety reasons, pets should be left at home. Service animals are welcome.

Yes, this is a family-friendly event. Please note that some of the entertainment takes place on green fields with undulating terrain and kerbs. The festival is a busy event. If you’re bringing children, make sure your contact details are on your child in case they get lost.

The BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival is a smoke-free event. That includes vaping.

The BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival is an alcohol-free event.

We’d love to see your photos, tag @visitauckland and use #AucklandLanternFestival across all platforms.

Bags may be checked on arrival as you enter the festival.

Bags must remain on you, there is no storage available. If bags or belongings are left unattended they will be taken to the Information/Lost Persons booth which you can locate on the festival map.

Some stallholders will have EFTPOS available. There are two cash-out trailers available on site.

If you’d like to volunteer at this year’s festival, register via Rosterfy or email us at [email protected]. You’ll need to supply a few details about yourself, so don’t leave it to the last minute!

Public water stations are indicated on the festival map.

You can report lost persons and property at the Information/Lost Persons booth located on the festival map. The BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival is a busy festival. If you’re bringing children, make sure your contact details are on your child in case they get lost.

Hato Hone St John medical teams are on site every day of the festival. If you or someone in your group suffers a medical emergency at the festival, please alert a volunteer or staff member who will call for assistance. The Hato Hone St John tent location is indicated on the festival map.

The festival will go ahead rain or shine. Please come prepared with layers and waterproof clothing.

We aim to divert 70 per cent of festival waste from landfill. Eco warriors will be onsite manning the bins to make sure waste goes where it’s meant to. 100 per cent of food serve-ware at the festival is recyclable or compostable.

The fireworks display on 27, 28  February and 1 March at around 9:50pm and you’ll get a great view of these amazing displays from anywhere in the Manukau Sports Bowl. We recommend the main stage and food stall areas for the best experience.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited explored a range of potential venue options across Auckland that could accommodate the 100,000+ visitors the festival typically attracts over four days. The Manukau Sports Bowl offers large outdoor spaces, new opportunities to grow the festival, and the chance to reach and engage with new audiences in line with the type of experience we would like festivalgoers to enjoy.

You can contact festival organisers via email at [email protected]

For media enquiries please contact Kimberly Hinds - [email protected] 027 205 6593