Spotlight: Auckland Live Summer In The Square 2025

Auckland Live Summer in the Square is back for 2025— activating Aotea Square with an entirely FREE, all-ages and whānau-friendly diversity of live music events, performances, multi-cultural showcases plus lots more during February.

The musical programme for Summer in the Square includes Somethin’ Else, a weekend of local jazz luminaries and DJ talents on 15th and 16th February. Special guests on the Saturday include interstellar all-stars The Circling Sun, multi-instrumentalist maestro Joe Kaptein, and Japan-based Aotearoa electronic jazz great Mark de Clive-Lowe, while Sunday's lineup features NZ jazz icon Nathan Haines, pianist / composer Jonathan Crayford's Electric Trio, and multi-genre mastermind Christoph El Truento (Avantdale Bowling Club), with even more acts on both evenings.

Music In Parks After Work Special will grace the central city with an early evening performance by Anna Coddington on Thursday 20th February, whose latest album Te Whakamiha (Loop Recordings) and standout anthem sung in te reo Māori and English 'Kātuarehe' earned her the prestigious 2024 APRA Silver Scroll Award.

Even the tiniest music buffs amongst us will love Whānau Day on 23rd February, a summer fun Sunday featuring the 95bFM Kids Show Live, NZ Children’s Music Award-winning family band "using comedy and songs to help kids with sight words" Spellodies! (including members of Silver Scroll winners LIPS), the kaleidoscope of sound and colour that is Carnivorous Plant Society, Co Theatre Physical's bird-tastic physical theatre work Wild Feelings, and an all-ages Viva Dance line-dance session to cap it all off.

That's not the limit to musical activities at Summer In The Square 2025, which also features DJs Banty and Marcello plus Warren Duncan and his band as part of AfroFest this coming Saturday, dance battles and karaoke at Lunar New Year in Aotea Square this Sunday, and DJs Manuel Bundy, Submariner and Christoph El Truento spinning bumping tunes at Sky Pirates All Stars in the Square — also including "a live art installation by local talent and G.O.A.T artist Elliot Francis Stewart," and custom-built basketball court.

On top of all these inclusive events, there are Chubby Women sculptures on display around the square up until 16th February, created by Chinese visual artist Xu Hongfei. All suited for soaking up summer rays — scope out the rundown below and head along HERE for daily timetables and full official details...

Auckland Live Summer in the Square
Aotea Square, Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland
All events free and all-ages
Official info and timetables HERE

AfroFest
Saturday 8th February, 11am to 6pm
Experience a FREE, whānau-friendly celebration of music, dance, food and fashion from across the African diaspora in Aotearoa.

Lunar New Year in Aotea Square
Sunday 9th February, 11am to 6pm - featuring Club Ruby, Daniel & Ashley, Blossom Art Troupe Folk Ensemble, DJ Tententen
Immerse yourself in a vibrant fusion of colours, sounds, tastes and beats from across the pan-Asian communities of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Tuck into delicious bites, exploring the plethora of Asian cuisine across the city centre.

Somethin’ Else
Saturday 15th February, 1pm to 11pm - featuring Mark de Clive-Lowe, The Circling Sun, Joe Kaptein, Hudge, Rose Alice, Cian
Sunday 16th February, 12pm to 8pm - featuring Christoph El Truento, Jonathan Crayford Electric Trio, Nathan Haines' Soft Chaos, Nathan Graves, Gene Rivers, Miss Dom
An exciting weekend of Jazz with Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland's burgeoning, world-leading Jazz scene and it’s waiting to be experienced.

Music In Parks After Work Special with Anna Coddington
Thursday 20th February, 4pm to 7pm
Coddington’s songwriting ability, both in English and te reo Māori, has seen her nominated for numerous awards including winning the coveted Silver Scrolls Award for 2024. She’ll be joined by special guests for a session of warm and inspiring summer music.

Sky Pirates All Stars in the Square
Saturday 22nd February, 9am to 11pm
Sky Pirates All Stars are bringing live art, music and basketball action to Aotea Square.

Whānau Day
Sunday 23rd February, 9am to 2pm - featuring 95bFM Kids Show Live, Carnivorous Plant Society, Wild Feelings, Viva Dance 
Round out your Auckland Live Summer in the Square festivities with a fun day of relaxed experiences for our littlest arts enthusiasts and their whānau.

Playing at Somethin’ Else on Saturday 15th February, watch The Circling Sun performing 'Kohan' from their 2023 album Spirits...

Performing as part of Somethin’ Else on 16th February, listen to 'Belo Dia' from Nathan Haines' new album Notes...

Boogie down with Anna Coddington's Silver Scroll Award winning waiata 'Kātuarehe'...

I'd also like a turn with the cool alien comb please in Spellodies' video for 'AFTER'...

Press release:

Your favourite summer hangout is back and taking over Aotea Square this February. Get ready for an action-packed month of summer vibes and a plethora of FREE live performing arts experiences.

Sashay into the first weekend of Auckland Live Summer in the Square with the return of the ever-popular Auckland Latin Fiesta (Fri 31 Jan – Sun 2 Feb), celebrate the vibrant and diverse culture of the African diaspora as it comes to life at AfroFest (Sat 8 Feb), are you down for a game of Majong? Karaoke? Well, you don't want to miss Lunar New Year in Aotea Square (Sun 9 Feb), then mellow down with some groovy beats with our first ever summer jazz weekend at Somethin’ Else (Sat 15 – Sun 16 Feb), and then enjoy an enchanting pop-up performance by 2024 Silver Scroll Award winner Anna Coddington as part of Music in Parks (Thu 20 Feb).

For the final weekend, Sky Pirates All Stars are bringing us their unique 5v5 basketball action (including a MASSIVE custom-built court in Aotea Square!), dance battles, urban beats and more (Sat 22 Feb), and then we’re bringing all the fun to Whānau Day with theatre performances, a line-dancing workshop and a live recording of the 95bFM Kids Show (Sun 23 Feb).

While you’re here, check out the globally acclaimed, empowering sculpture series Chubby Women which embraces all body types by Xu Hongfei (Fri 25 Jan – Sun 16 Feb).

So, what are you waiting for? Gather your friends and whānau for the ultimate summer vibe right here in the centre of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. And the best part, it’s all FREE!