Show description
Aotea Square is the place to be for the creatives, the curious, the adventurous
Families can enjoy a mix of creative and interactive experiences. You will also find outdoor picnic tables and umbrellas, so whānau can relax, enjoy lunch, and soak up the city’s atmosphere before, after, or in between shows.
Play Activities
Sat 26 Sep - Sun 11 Oct | 11am - 3pm Daily
Have a go at Ngā Taonga Tākaro (traditional Māori games) or circus workshops with Te Kura Maninirau. Make music with The Nukes in a ukulele jam, create puppets, or craft your own POPS! inspired hat with The Open Fort, amongst other exciting activities.
Flower Power
Sat 10 & Sun 11 Oct | 11am - 2pm
Joining the Aotea Square fun are three curious, cheeky and sociable, flowers. They wriggle and shimmy out of their bouquet to meet people, bringing colour, creativity and playful interaction wherever they go. Conceived and directed by Beth Kayes, designed by Elizabeth Whiting MNZM, costumes created by WOW award winners Carolyn Gibson and Joelle March, and performed by Katie Burson, Natasha Kohler, Jake Starrs, George Shead and Beth Kayes, Flower Power was commissioned by Auckland Live for the We The Young Festival 2026.
Dance-O-Mat
Fri 25 Sep - Sun 11 Oct | 9am - 8pm daily
Auckland's iconic outdoor dance floor where you get to show off your moves all day long. Whether you are a seasoned dancer or a little groover, Dance-O-Mat is your chance to dance like no one's watching. Connect your phone, pick your favourite song, push the red button and cut loose to the beat.
In the festival closing weekend (Sat 10 and Sun 11 Oct), between 11am - 3pm, join special guests Projekt Team in a Biggie & Smalls street dance battle and "NZ's Queen of K-Pop" Rina Chae in the ultimate playdate POP Party!
POPS!
Fri 25 Sep - Sun 11 Oct | Open 24/7
Calling Aotea Square home are your new favourite inflatable characters Peep, Pop, Zig, Bloop, Mmph and Ooph, who are POPS! by Vesica. Check out more information here
