10 Shows You Need to Catch During We The Young 2026
Published: Wednesday 9 September 2026
The countdown is on until We The Young takes over Aotea Square, Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Centre these School Holidays, with more than 25 performances, events and experiences. There’s a lot to discover.
Not sure where to start? Here are 10 shows to put on your school-holiday list.
1. Mario the Maker Magician
Fri 25 – Sun 27 Sep | 📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre
For ages 5+
All the way from New York and making appearances at Edinburgh Fringe, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and Sesame Street, Mario the Maker Magician weaves vaudeville and magic, cardboard and DIY robots in this hilarious and inventive show. Expect clever creations, big surprises and plenty of wow moments.
2. Suzy Cato's Animal Antics
Fri 2 Oct | 📍 Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Aotea Centre
For ages 3+
Join beloved children’s entertainer Suzy Cato and her friends from the Parrot in the Pocket band for an unforgettable hour of music, laughter and playful adventure. Sing, dance and play along!
3. Kitchen Chaos
Tue 29 Sep - Sun 4 Oct |📍 Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre
For ages 3-8 years
Things don’t always go to plan in the kitchen. Spray and Wipe are messy magicians, and they’ve been invited to a surprise party, but unexpectedly magic is let loose in the kitchen and everything is turned topsy-turvy. Circus, slapstick and mayhem combine in this very special adventure.
4. Wonderverse
Thu 1 – Tue 6 Oct | 📍 Hunua Rooms, Aotea Centre
For ages 4-10 years
Guided by a few colourful hosts, grab your friends and travel through three different environments powered by light and sound, each one opening the imagination to our place in the vastness of the universe.
5. Bundle Baby
Wed 30 Sep - Sun 4 Oct | 📍 Waitākere Rooms, Aotea Centre
For ages 1-3 years
We The Young isn’t just for big kids. Bundle Baby offers a gentle, relaxing experience created especially for our very young audiences. Set in the familiar world of the laundry basket, two performers transform objects and games to spark curiosity, laughter and wonder.
6. The Girl Whose Twin Was A Bird
Sat 3 – Sun 4 Oct | 📍 Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall
For ages 7+
Step into an enchanting world of puppetry and storytelling in this beautiful and delicious theatrical experience. Petra and her twin sister Jena have dreamed of running their own noodle stall together since they were kids. But their plans begin to change when Jena starts to grow feathers…
8. Motuhake
Thu 8 – Sat 10 Oct | 📍Herald Theatre, Aotea Centre
For: Ages 5+
When a young boy discovers some marionettes in his grandfather’s attic, they magically spring to life! Armed with an enchanting umbrella and a set of mighty moves, his newfound friends lead him on a transformative journey to overcome his fear and conquer his dreams. Buckle up for a playful journey filled with imagination, discovery and adventure.
9. Kua Rewa Te Aihikirīmi
Sat 26 – Sun 27 Sep | 📍 Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall
For: Ages 5+
A vibrant te reo Māori Circus Theatre experience for tamariki, Kua Rewa Te Aihikirīmi is a double scoop of un sprinkled with aerial acrobatics, juggling, adventure and plenty of laughs.
10. Sunday Sessions
Sun 27 Sep – Sun 11 Oct |📍 FREE Concert Chamber, Auckland Town Hall
FREE Music jams for little early risers and their grownups each Sunday! Hear some of the best children’s music bands in the business featuring the likes of Spellodies, The 95bFM Kids Show Live, The Stink Bug Band. Join wrigglers, jigglers and star-jumpers for a joyful start to your Sunday morning.
Plus, don’t forget you can learn some new circus moves, plays some traditional Māori games, jam on a ukulele, let loose on the Dance-O-Mat and so much more for FREE during Out There in the Square.
Your festival, your way
The best thing about We The Young? There’s no single way to experience it.
See a show. Make something. Dance. Explore. Take a break. Then do it all again.
With loads of FREE activities alongside ticketed performances, you can build a festival day that works for your family and discover something unexpected along the way.
We The Young runs from 25 September to 11 October across Aotea Square, Auckland Town Hall and Aotea Centre.
Check out the full line up here
