Mr Bear New Zealand 2026 Matt McVeigh has taken out the title of Mr Australasia Bear 2026, winning the coveted crown at last night’s competition at The Laird in Melbourne. The event, held as part of Southern HiBearnation, is one of the biggest nights on the Australasian bear calendar, bringing together titleholders from across Australia […]
Lisa Fa’alafi and Leah Shelton, the co-creators Dangerous Goods (part of Auckland Live Cabaret Festival), discuss the fire, fury and feminism at the heart of their work. When Dangerous Goods storms into The Civic this July, audiences can expect fire, aerials, burlesque, drag, powerhouse vocals and a very clear warning: this is not cabaret that politely asks to be included. […]
Le Gateau Chocolat returns to Tāmaki Makaurau this July for Auckland Live Cabaret Festival with Musicals Mayhem, but behind the glamour, Oliver Hall discovers an artist reshaping expectations around identity, visibility and hope in troubling times. When Le Gateau Chocolat walks onto a stage, audiences often think they know what they are getting. They see a […]
Whanganui Pride Week is set to bring a vibrant celebration of rainbow identity, creativity and community to the city from 13 June to 20 June. Led by Pride Whanganui, the week-long programme features a mix of free, koha and ticketed events designed to offer something for all ages, from art, books and shared kai to […]
For one night only, the powerful sound of exceptional young vocal artists performing waiata reo Māori with Auckland’s professional orchestra will fill the Auckland Town Hall for Matariki: Waiata Anthems In Concert. This landmark concert on Thursday 9 July brings the Waiata Anthems’ kaupapa together with the Auckland Phil into one of the city’s most iconic live music spaces. This concert places te reo Māori centre stage this Matariki, transforming some of Aotearoa’s […]
Members of the public are being invited to attend a special celebration honouring the life of Dame Jools Topp. The Celebration of Dame Jools Topp will be held at the Auckland Viaduct Events Centre on Friday, 19 June 2026, at 2pm. The event will bring together whānau, friends, fellow artists, fans and members of the […]
YOUR EX meets the queer creative team behind SUGAR When SUGAR played Brisbane, writer Ro Bright says the politics of the show shifted in real time. “Every country we take SUGAR to, the politics around sex work, sugar culture, and the trans community is different,” Bright tells YOUR EX. “We encounter laws that take away our rights […]
Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister Yotsanun Wongsawat joined the Bangkok Pride Festival parade on Sunday, as the country continues its campaign to host WorldPride in 2030. Wongsawat led the Pheu Thai Party’s marching group during the annual parade, which this year was held under the theme “Patch the World with Pride”. “Today I’m joining Pride Month […]