Whānau Day | Auckland Arts Festival 2026

A Festival family favourite and the perfect way for tamariki and their parents to fall in love with the
arts in the heart of Tāmaki Makaurau, Whānau Day is back for another year in Aotea Te Papa Tū Wātea.

Enjoy performances from Teung Tek Lion Dancers, the Giant Bubble Show, National Youth Theatre with selections from The Little Mermaid, Anuanua Dance Troupe (Cook Island dance and drums) and Elit-is a K-pop dance crew.

Get your face painted at Rainbow Rascals, enjoy sensory play with Messy rainbows, have a go at our art station, take part in a Parkour (Flow Academy of Motion) or Circus (Circability) workshop, enjoy a bit of quiet time in the Chill Zone and have a boogie in The Spiegeltent at the Silent Disco.

It’s a pint-sized festival within the Festival for young ones, all of it FREE, friendly and fun.