Photo credit: Nik Brinkman Photography
Opera from a balcony, punk down an alleyway and washing machines playing unreleased tracks. Just another Saturday on K’ Road? Not quite.
Cross Street Music Festival is going bigger than ever on Saturday 28 November, with a fresh wave of artists announced and a huge programme of activities taking over Karangahape Road and its surrounding streets for one glorious day of music, art, parties and unexpected gems.
Now in its eighth year, the independent Tāmaki Makaurau festival is spreading its wings well beyond Cross Street, joining forces with local businesses, venues and creatives to turn the entire neighbourhood into one giant playground.
Cross Street Music Festival 2026 is proudly supported by Auckland Live and Auckland Council Events.
And the latest line-up drop brings even more to the festival.
Girls Factory, Ramon Te Wake, Takatapunani, Goodspace, GROOPCHAT, TAYLAH, Sanguine, Parksdale, Goblin Girls, Mr Big Stuff, basmami, DJ Brenda and Jasper Cali will join an already stacked line-up featuring Sola Rosa, MELODOWNZ, DARTZ, Borderline, Lilbubblegum, Where’s Jai, Spell, BBYFACEKILLA, Mokomokai, Roy Irwin, Magic Factory and plenty more.
From underground hip hop and electronic beats to indie pop, punk, rock, drag, comedy and everything in between, Cross Street is bringing together some of Aotearoa's most exciting independent, established and emerging talent. The kind of line-up where you arrive knowing a handful of names and leave with about 20 new favourites.
From midday, free, whānau-friendly events will spring to life across K’ Road, Mercury Lane and Cross Street, with shops, bars, churches, alleyways and other unlikely spaces joining in the festival.
Renowned Tāmaki Makaurau artist Tanja Jade McMillan, aka Misery, has created this year’s festival artwork, which will come to life as a giant paint-by-numbers on Cross Street, inviting everyone to add their own splash of colour throughout the day.
There's plenty to do for our tamariki, with a packed programme of free activities including zine-making with Auckland Zine at Iron Bank, interactive art, puppets and free skate lessons on Cross Street, giving the whole whānau plenty to get stuck into.
Local Jack Bourke and singers from NZ Opera School will be performing from the balcony of St Kevins Arcade. Head down a back alley off Mercury Lane, where Crook, UAUA and Blub will be making a glorious racket.
Meanwhile, at the Lim Chhour food court, washing machines are being put to better use than just doing your laundry. Fresh Laundry, a site-specific art installation, will transform them into jukeboxes playing unreleased C-side tracks from Cross Street artists.
Head to Northern Line on Beresford Square for Jubt Avery’s record market and 12 hours of vinyl from Manuel Bundy, Bevan Keys, 48 Sonic, Isaac Tucker, DJ Jazz Cigarette, Shivers, AJ Honeysuckle and Both Ears Burning. Plus, Flying Nun will be squeezing bands into their record shop for intimate in-store gigs.
Over at The Rockshop, have a go yourself with drum, DJ and sampling workshops, while Nikau Corner is bringing the heat with Fiesta Latina. Coco's Cantina, Carmen's and Otto are teaming up for a proper street party, with DJ Junior Mach, Soul Bossa Trio, Roaming Snax and Aluxer Latin Dance bringing the music, moves and Latin flavour.
Relax, peruse a crafters' market, and discover the sounds of Epizo Bangoura, Alice Sea, Na'amah Cheiban and The O'Connors at the Auckland Old Folks Association, or work up a sweat raving deep into the night to the sounds of Antix, Tom Cosm, Nourish, Mark J, and Sanoi at The Button Factory.
Pitt Street Methodist Church is bringing Bach to the festival. Partnering with 95bFM , DJ sets will find their way across the area, with live interviews on the street throughout the day.
Small Rave warms up the Rave Cave with a tamariki set from 12–3pm. Then later into the night the cave welcomes Boyracer, AndWahn, Mbila, Jasper Cali and LEFT HAND LOZ. Keep your eyes peeled for Ratbag Theatre’s cheeky Sentient Bananas roaming the streets.
Popping off at St Kevins Arcade, there'll be Junktion’s garage sale, pop-up performances by DJ’s Caroline Casta, Mr Big Stuff and Porcelain and drag stop patrol on the Rainbow Crossing.
Don't miss the free line-up on the Mercury Lane Stage, featuring local drag queen cabaret, comedy from Goblin Girls, local mega band Magic Factory as well as a host of local all-star talent.
After the festival, keep the party going at Cross Street Music Festival’s official afterparty, Neck of the Woods will feature performances by MELODOWNZ, BBYFACEKILLA, SNAKELEGS and more. Tickets are available via the festival website.
Or head to Hothouse Disco inside St Kevin’s Arcade from 10pm, with Murry Sweetpants, The Loneliest Hunk, Love Language and Jasper Cali bringing disco, funk, deep house and techno to the dancefloor.
There’s late-night rock at BallyCraic, comedy and DJs at Redbar, a hardware-only electronic night at Button Factory, jungle at Whammy and techno at Double Whammy.
“Cross Street Music Festival has always been about more than just the bands. This year, we’re spreading the aroha across K’ Road, inviting local businesses, venues and artists to make the festival their own. We’ve created a walkable festival full of unexpected discoveries, where people can explore new sides of K’ Road. At its heart, it’s about connection, inclusivity and bringing people together,” says Festival Director Anya Vitali.
Create your own hīkoi! Jump onto the festival’s interactive map, launching this week, and plot your own route through the music, art, performances and unexpected discoveries waiting around every corner of K’ Road.
From 3pm, Cross Street itself becomes the beating heart of the ticketed festival, with a huge line-up of live music taking over the street until 10.30pm.
Independent by nature. Connected by community. He wāhi, he tāngata, he kōrero.
CROSS STREET MUSIC FESTIVAL 2026
Saturday 28 November
FREE PRECINCT PROGRAMME | From 12pm
Huge programme of activities across Karangahape Road, Mercury Lane, Cross Street and surrounding venues, featuring free music, art, installations, performances, markets, workshops and whānau-friendly activities.
TICKETED FESTIVAL | 3pm – 10.30pm
Cross Street Music Festival
Tickets available at crossstmusicfestival.co.nz
Follow Cross Street Music Festival on Instagram and Facebook.
Cross Street Music Festival 2026 is proudly supported by Auckland Live and Auckland Council Events.
