Accessibility at the Festival

We believe everyone should have access to extraordinary arts, and are committed to improving the accessibility of the Festival.

Most of our venues have hearing loops, are wheelchair accessible and have accessible toilets and carparks. Each year we work with representatives from Deaf and disabled communities and with the support of Arts Access Aotearoa, to make the Festival more accessible. This includes providing audio description, NZSL interpretation and relaxed performances.

Our award-winning¹ Accessibility initiative provides reduced-cost tickets to members of our Deaf and disabled communities with FREE companion tickets available.

The full lineup for the 2026 Festival, including a wide range of accessible events programmed in consultation with the community, will be announced in October/November.

¹ Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival received the Arts Access Creative New Zealand Arts For All Award in 2018.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Festival through our Accessibility initiative in 2025. 

Your feedback helps us create a more accessible festival for everyone and lets us know how to keep improving the access and inclusion of our events. If you have any suggestions or insights, please take a moment to share your feedback via the survey link below:

The 2025 Festival lineup featured more than 30 Relaxed, Audio Described, Audio-based, NZSL interpreted and Very Visual performances and events. Highlights included:

Kia Kori! Let’s Move! — a free concert in Aotea Square with crowd-pleasing jams such as ‘September’ (Earth, Wind & Fire), ‘Wake Up’ (Aaradhna) and ‘How Bizarre’ (OMC) performed by Betty-Anne, Thomas Stowers, Julia Deans and The Levites. Included NZSL interpretation of the opening mihi and karakia, and the concert itself.

Personal — a one-woman show exploring what it’s like to live in a Deaf family, where using sign language is natural, in a society that sees the disability with voyeuristic curiosity. Artist Jodee Mundy’s story of being CODA (child of Deaf adults) was presented in Australian Sign Language, English and was open captioned. It included Audio Described (+ Touch Tour) and Relaxed performances alongside Deaf and Hard of Hearing accessibility, with an Auckland Deaf Society meet and greet and NZSL interpreted Q&A also featured.

History of House — a celebration of all things house music, performed live and loud in the Auckland Town Hall by DJ Groove Terminator and Soweto Gospel Choir. Alongside other major Festival shows to feature NZSL interpretation, including SMASHED – The Nightcap, SIX the Musical and a mixtape for maladies, History of House proved extremely popular with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, as well as the audience as a whole on the night. 

Whānau Day — a Sunday of free play, movement and culture for families in the central city. The day’s activities included story time with Miriama Kamo for tamariki alongside NZSL interpretated story time by Abbie Twiss.

Are you an individual or organisation interested in becoming a partner with the Festival and its award-winning Accessibility initiative? To find out more about how to support this mahi, contact vanessa.morgan@aaf.co.nz 

We are always striving to do more, and accept donations towards Accessibility. 

There are simple ways to assist with direct, tangible results – read more about the ways your support makes it happen, or make a donation today in just a few clicks:

Main image: History of House with NZSL Interpreter Kelly Hodgins (Platform Interpreting NZ), Great Hall, Auckland Town Hall, 2025. Image by Jinki Cambronero.