The cultural calendar for May is the year’s busiest yet, with everything from musical performances to captivating theatre, world-class comedy, festivals, ballet, opera, exhibitions and more. Here, we round up the many events you don’t want to miss.
Aotearoa Art Fair Sculpture Trail
When & Where: From now until Wednesday 14th May, Viaduct Harbour
Explore the Aotearoa Art Fair Sculpture Trail at Viaduct Harbour from now until May 14th. This free open-air exhibition features large-scale works by leading contemporary artists, including Lisa Reihana’s 15-metre floating sculpture, “Te Wheke-a-Muturangi,” inspired by Māori cosmology. Experience art seamlessly integrated into Auckland’s waterfront landscape.
Auckland Writer’s Festival
When & Where: Tuesday 13th — Sunday 18th May, various locations Auckland-wide
Auckland Writer’s Festival is returning this May, with a number of major literary voices taking to the stage to discuss the nuances of their work, alongside an impressive list of local talent that is just as worthy of your attention. Secure your tickets early to get up close and personal with some of the world’s greatest writers.
Public Record at Silo 6 & Hau
When & Where: Wednesday 30th April — Sunday 4th May, Silo Park
Discover Public Record at Silo 6 from April 30th to May 4th — a free, interactive arts and crafts exhibition featuring local and international artists across ceramics, textiles, and weaving. And don’t miss Hau on May 2nd — a groundbreaking live, immersive show blending sound, fashion, and movement, including music by renowned composer Eve de Castro-Robinson, directed by Eve and Yuka O’Shannessy from Public Record.
New Zealand International Comedy Festival
When & Where: Friday 2nd — Sunday 25th May, various locations country-wide
With a lineup of more than 150 local and international comedians, the New Zealand Comedy Festival is back this May, filled to the brim with laughter. Comedy heavyweights like Guy Williams and Felicity Ward are set to grace the stage, ready to deliver unforgettable performances alongside a slew of local talent.
Naomi Faifai at The Frame
When & Where: From Friday 2nd May, Frame Gallery
Don’t miss Inner Workings by Naomi Faifai — a vibrant solo show exploring identity, place, and self-acceptance through mixed media works rich in colour and personal symbolism. On at The Frame Workshop and Gallery from May 2nd, with an opening night and artist talk on the 1st of May.
Aotearoa Art Fair
When & Where: Thursday 1st — Sunday 4th May, Viaduct Events Centre
One of the most significant cultural events of the year, the Aotearoa Art Fair returns to Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre this May. Offering collectors and art lovers the chance to view and purchase contemporary art from leading galleries showcasing the work of emerging and established artists across Australasia, the fair will feature hundreds of works on display — from painting to sculpture, print to ceramics — ensuring there’s something for everyone.
May Art Fair
When & Where: Friday 2nd — Sunday 4th May, 3 East Street, Auckland
May is a dynamic new gallery-led art fair, hosting a small number of contemporary galleries from Aotearoa and abroad at the beginning of May. Presenting emerging artists from Aotearoa and the Pacific, the fair is an alternative exploration of art and creativity in Aotearoa.
RNZB’s The Firebird & My Brilliant Career
When & Where: Wednesday 30th April — Sunday 1st June, various locations country-wide
The Royal New Zealand Ballet presents The Firebird and My Brilliant Career, a compelling double bill of storytelling and movement. Loughlan Prior’s visually stunning The Firebird returns, while Cathy Marston’s My Brilliant Career, inspired by Miles Franklin’s novel, makes its New Zealand debut. This powerful season tours nationwide, promising an unforgettable ballet experience.
Darkfield
When & Where: Wednesday 7th May — Sunday 8th June, Aotea Square
Step into the unknown as Darkfield brings its acclaimed immersive experiences to Aotearoa for the first time. Launching on the 7th of May at Aotea Square, two unique encounters, Séance and Flight, plunge audiences into pitch-black worlds using 360-degree sound and spine-tingling storytelling. Presented by Auckland Live and Realscape Productions, these thrilling 20-minute journeys blur the boundaries between reality, fear, and imagination.
La bohème
When & Where: Thursday 29th May — Sunday 6th July, various locations country-wide
Puccini’s La bohème returns in a breathtaking NZ Opera season, capturing love, loss, and resilience in bohemian Paris. With soaring melodies and an achingly human story, this timeless masterpiece promises grandeur, heartbreak, and unforgettable beauty.
Resene Architecture and Design Film Festival
When & Where: Thursday 1st May — Wednesday 25th June, various locations country-wide
The 14th Resene Architecture & Design Film Festival brings a curated selection of global and local documentaries to 14 cinemas across New Zealand, celebrating design innovation, creativity, and architectural storytelling through the lens of creative cinema.
Darklight: A Descent into Colour
When & Where: Friday 2nd — Sunday 4th May, 9/11 Durham Lane, Auckland
Enter into the sublime with DarkLight — a groundbreaking immersive light exhibition by Angus Muir Design. Journey through darkness as light shifts, fractures, and transforms across three awe-inspiring stages. Housed in Auckland’s historic BRAD’s building, this sensory experience invites you to see light — and yourself — in an entirely new way.
Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express
When & Where: Now until Saturday 10th May, ASB Waterfront Theatre
Step aboard the luxurious Orient Express for a thrilling night of intrigue and suspense. Cameron Rhodes stars as Poirot in Ken Ludwig’s clever stage adaptation of Agatha Christie’s classic whodunnit — where every passenger is a suspect.
The Play That Goes Wrong
When & Where: Wednesday 14th May — Sunday 1st June, ASB Waterfront Theatre
Celebrating its 10th Anniversary Tour, The Play That Goes Wrong returns to Auckland this May. A riotous mix of Monty Python and Sherlock Holmes, this Olivier and Tony Award-winning hit delivers total mayhem, collapsing sets, and laugh-out-loud chaos. The longest-running comedy in London, where everything goes hilariously wrong.
Sanderson — Aotearoa Art Fair 2025
When & Where: Thursday 1st — Sunday 4th May, Viaduct Events Centre
Sanderson will showcase a dynamic group of four women artists at the Aotearoa Art Fair 2025, including Kāryn Taylor, Katherine Throne, Mickey Smith, and Molly Timmins (Ngāpuhi). Featured works will span illuminated light boxes, floral paintings, large-scale photography, and vivid abstracts, alongside small sculptures by revered sculptor Ray Haydon.
