A bold celebration of burlesque, circus, music and comedy, the Auckland Live Cabaret Festival returns to The Civic from 24 June to 5 July 2026, transforming one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s most iconic venues into a glittering playground of late-night spectacle and genre-defying performance.
This year’s festival invites audiences to step into a world within a world, where imagination takes over, and anything feels possible.
Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson says the festival brings a distinctive sense of glamour and energy to the city.
“The Auckland Live Cabaret Festival brings a real sense of sparkle and personality to our city,” she says. “It celebrates bold creativity and invites people to experience the magic of live performance in one of our most iconic venues. It’s events like this that build pride in Tāmaki Makaurau and showcase the richness of our arts and culture.”
Leading the 2026 programme are two major international acts making their Aotearoa premieres.
First up is Cheeky Cabaret, which takes over The Civic stage from 24 to 28 June in an explosion of circus, comedy and contemporary burlesque. Created by the team behind global hits La Clique, La Soirée and Club Swizzle, the show promises a rotating cast of daring performers in a high-energy spectacle that is bold, outrageous and impossible to predict.
Then, from 1 to 5 July, DANGEROUS GOODS by Polytoxic storms in with a world-class lineup of circus, aerials, drag, burlesque and powerhouse vocals. After premiering to rave reviews in 2024, this high-voltage production arrives in Auckland as cabaret for a brave new world, led by a cast of diverse and formidable femmes ready to challenge expectations and blow minds.
The Wintergarden once again becomes the beating heart of the festival, hosting a rich mix of local and international artists who thrive in the space between tradition and reinvention.
Returning to the festival a decade after his debut, Le Gateau Chocolat brings Musicals Mayhem, a high-glamour and joyfully chaotic romp through the musical theatre canon. Meanwhile, Aotearoa drag royalty Kita Mean and Anita Wigl’it lead Caluzzi Cabaret’s 30th Birthday, a glittering tribute to one of New Zealand’s most beloved cabaret institutions.
The programme also spotlights a vibrant lineup of musical acts, from award-winning names to rising new voices. Breakout artist Nikau Grace premieres Ko Au, Ko Koe, a powerful live show celebrating women, identity and the courage to take up space. Delaney Davidson brings his haunting new work Baby Heavyweight to life in a spellbinding performance as he launches his nationwide tour for the new album.
Audiences can also lean into nostalgia and storytelling with Karaoke Heaven, Amanda Grace Leo’s Mandopop-infused cabaret, or sink into the sounds of the 1960s with Simply Brill, a joyful tribute to songwriters and icons including Carole King, Burt Bacharach and Neil Sedaka.
Elsewhere in the programme, boundary-pushing performance takes centre stage. Sugar, starring Tomáš Kantor, offers a chaotic, hilarious and razor-sharp exploration of power, queerness and transactional relationships, while The Velvet Lounge promises a lush and cathartic burlesque experience led by the devastatingly glamorous Michelle Kasey and Kiki Kisses.
Opening the festival in style is All That Glitters: The Gala Night, a dazzling showcase bringing together a hand-picked lineup of artists for one unforgettable evening of music, drag, comedy and spectacle. Scratch Night also returns, offering emerging creatives the chance to test fresh ideas, unfinished songs and bold new acts in front of a live audience.
Beyond the stage, The Civic itself becomes part of the experience. Festival-goers can expect tarot and palm readings, pop-up late-night performances, a Champagne Lounge, specially curated cabaret-inspired platters and drinks, and the ever-popular Piano Bar, where artists and audiences collide in an after-hours celebration of cabaret culture.
Auckland Live director Daniel Clarke says the festival offers something uniquely immersive.
“Stepping into The Civic during cabaret season is like entering another world – full of warmth, energy and the unexpected,” he says. “This festival brings artists and audiences together in a way that feels electric and deeply human, with moments that are joyful, provocative and completely unforgettable. It’s a celebration of creativity without limits, right here in Tāmaki Makaurau.”
He adds that the 2026 season includes five world premieres and four Aotearoa premieres, including two works commissioned by Auckland Live: Karaoke Heaven and Ko Au, Ko Koe.
From extravagant spectacle to intimate storytelling, the 2026 Auckland Live Cabaret Festival celebrates artists who refuse to stay inside the lines. Whether you are drawn to late-night mischief, dazzling musicality or fearless performance, this year’s programme promises something unforgettable for every kind of cabaret lover.
Step inside. Take your seat. And get ready to be part of the magic.
