FestivalInformation

Yes, the festival is a free ticketed event. We encourage you to book your tickets early. Tickets also entitle you to free public transport to and from the event on AT buses and trains. 

Simply show your ticket click here to the driver when boarding and remember to hold onto your ticket for the ride home. 

Use Journey Planner or the AT Mobile app to plan your journey, or visit the timetables page for scheduled bus times.

2025 is the first year the BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival is ticketed click here, but don’t worry, it is still a free event. We have introduced ticketing to manage visitor flow, make it easier and free for people to get there and to make it more enjoyable event for everyone across the four days. Ticketholders will be able to travel to and from the festival for free on AT buses and trains.

No, tickets to the BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival are free for everyone. Top tip: make sure you only get your tickets through Universe click here, which is the BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival official ticketing partner. If you’re being asked to pay for tickets, you’re in the wrong place!

We encourage everyone to have a ticket, for those who arrive without a ticket we’ll have a separate and easy entry process for you. 

It’s easy, just click here to enter your details and how many tickets you would like. There is a limit of 10 tickets per login. Tickets can be saved on your device or downloaded and printed. 

Yes! You will get free travel on all Auckland Transport buses and trains by having your BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival ticket with you. Simply present your ticket click here to the driver or train manager. Remember to keep your ticket on you for the return journey home.

Please visit the Ticket Support section on the Universe website:
https://www.universe.com/contact-us/attendees 

If you’d like to volunteer at this year’s festival, register via Rosterfy or email us at [email protected] to register. You’ll need to supply a few details about yourself, so don’t leave it to the last minute!

There are over 500 lanterns on display at this year's festival, including a brand-new snake lantern to mark the Year of the Snake in 2025. You can also see the lanterns for 2024's Year of the Dragon, 2023’s Year of the Rabbit, 2022’s Year of the Tiger, and 2020’s Year of the Rat on display.

Diorella Drive, the road through the Manukau Sports Bowl, is closed to traffic. Access through Sandrine Avenue is restricted to residents and accessibility drop offs. Traffic is managed on Boundary Road.

While the Manukau Sports Bowl is accessible by bike, there are no secure bike racks available at the BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival. Please do not ride your bike through the festival, it gets very busy and will be hard to navigate on a bike.

The festival gets busy, no pets are allowed. Service dogs are welcome.

Yes, this is a family-friendly event. Please note that some of the entertainment takes place on green fields with undulating terrain and kerbs. The BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival is a busy festival. If you’re bringing children, make sure your contact details are on your child in case they get lost.

The BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival is a smoke-free event. That includes vaping.

The BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival is an alcohol-free event.

Limited accessible parking is available on Boundary Road next to the accessible drop-off point from Friday to Sunday. Most of the festival is accessible for wheelchair users via paved laneways. Accessible drop-off points, parking and toilets are indicated on the festival map. Some of the entertainment and activations are on green fields with undulating terrain and kerbs, which may be difficult to manoeuvre over for wheelchair users.

We’d love to see your photos, tag @visitauckland and use #AucklandLanternFestival across all platforms.

Larger bags will be checked on entry.

Bags must remain on you, there is no storage available. If bags or belongings are left unattended they will be taken to lost property.

Some stallholders will have Eftpos available. There are two cash out trailers available on site.

Take a seat in the BNZ Grandstand and enjoy the main stage performances.

Yes, public water stations are indicated on the festival map.

You can report lost children and property at the Information Booth located on the festival map. The BNZ Auckland Lantern Festival is a busy festival. If you’re bringing children, make sure your contact details are on your child in case they get lost.

Hato Hone St John medical teams are on site every day of the festival. If you or someone in your group suffers a medical emergency at the festival, please alert a volunteer or staff member who will call for assistance. The Hato Hone St John tent location is indicated on the festival map.

There is no rain date associated with the festival. Please come prepared with layers and waterproof clothing.

We aim to divert 70% of festival waste from landfill. Eco warriors will be onsite manning the bins to make sure waste goes where it’s meant to. 100% of food serve-ware at the festival is recyclable or compostable.

The fireworks display on 14, 15, and 16  February at around 9.50pm and you’ll get a great view of these amazing displays from anywhere in the Manukau Sports Bowl. We recommend the main stage and food stall areas for the best experience.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited explored a range of potential venue options across Auckland that could accommodate the 100,000+ visitors the festival typically attracts over four days. The Manukau Sports Bowl offers large outdoor spaces, new opportunities to grow the festival, and the chance to reach and engage with new audiences in line with the type of experience we would like festivalgoers to enjoy.

You can contact festival organisers via email at [email protected]

For media inquiries please contact Jacqui Loates-Haver at [email protected].