This November, Auckland’s restaurants, chefs and food lovers will have something new to celebrate – a citywide festival putting the spotlight firmly on Auckland’s dining scene.
If you needed an excuse to eat your way around Auckland this spring, here it is.
Auckland Feast powered by Mastercard is set to make its debut from 12th–22nd November 2026, bringing together restaurants, chefs, producers and hospitality businesses from across the city for 10 days of food, dining and springtime experiences.
Rather than being centred in one location, Auckland Feast will spread across some of the city’s best-known neighbourhoods, from Ponsonby and Parnell to Karangahape Road, the central city and Takapuna.
The idea is simple: celebrate the people and places that make Auckland’s food scene what it is – while giving locals and visitors plenty of reasons to get out and explore it.
A citywide table
The inaugural festival kicks off with a launch party on Thursday, 12th November, followed by 10 days of special menus, events, chef collaborations and alfresco dining.
That could mean discovering a restaurant you’ve been meaning to try, returning to an old favourite with a new spring menu, or simply wandering into a different part of the city and seeing what’s on offer.
And that’s part of the appeal.
Auckland’s food scene isn’t confined to one strip of restaurants or one particular style of dining. Its character comes from the sheer variety of neighbourhoods, chefs, cuisines and hospitality businesses that make up the city.
Auckland Feast is designed to bring all of that together.
Something for food lovers
The full programme is still under wraps, with participating venues, chef collaborations, signature events and individual dining experiences set to be announced over the coming months.
So while we don’t yet know exactly what’s going on the menu, one thing is clear: this isn’t going to be a festival where you simply turn up, eat one thing and go home.
The aim is to encourage people to explore.
For Auckland’s hospitality industry, the festival also provides an opportunity to showcase the breadth of talent across the city and introduce diners to businesses and experiences they may not have discovered otherwise.
The event has been developed by Lemongrass Productions, following growing interest within the hospitality industry for a celebration that reflects the diversity of Auckland’s dining culture.
And if you have a Mastercard…
There are a few extra perks for Mastercard cardholders.
Cardholders will have access to presale tickets and exclusive discounts, as well as the chance to enter daily draws to win vouchers redeemable at participating restaurants.
Presale tickets open on Monday, 28th September at 10am local time, ahead of the general ticket release on 1st October. Presale access is available until tickets sell out.
For Mastercard, the partnership is part of its Priceless programme, which aims to connect people with experiences around the things they love.
“New Zealanders are incredibly passionate about dining and Auckland has so many extraordinary restaurants to be discovered,” says Megan Simons, Country Manager, New Zealand and Pacific Islands, Mastercard.
And she’s probably onto something. Give Aucklanders a new restaurant, a special menu and a reason to get together, and it’s hard to imagine the tables staying empty.
So, consider this your early warning: November could be a very good month to loosen the belt buckle.
With 10 days, multiple neighbourhoods and a whole city of food businesses getting involved, Auckland Feast looks set to turn eating out into a citywide adventure.
