February is Auckland Pride Festival month, one of the most colourful, inclusive and celebratory times of the year. As a proud Auckland Pride partner, Auckland Council is once again encouraging Aucklanders to come together to support and celebrate rainbow communities across Tāmaki Makaurau.
As part of its Pride Pledge commitment, Auckland Council community spaces are Proud Centres – places that celebrate and champion takatāpui and rainbow communities throughout the year.
During February, 45 Proud Centres are hosting Pride activations, making Pride celebrations accessible to local communities region wide. There will be 130 free Auckland Pride Festival events and activities at Proud Centres, from Albany in the north through to Takaanini in the south; Botany in the east to Te Manawa in the west.
Councillor Julie Fairey, Chair of Auckland Council’s Community Committee, says Auckland Council strives to champion respect and inclusivity.
“We know that giving everyone a sense of belonging and connection, and chances to participate, improves mental and physical hauora. Auckland Council has a responsibility to make our city safe and inclusive for all our residents, and Proud Centres help us to fly a flag of solidarity for our queer community members. All Aucklanders should be able to be themselves in Tāmaki Makaurau and be treated with dignity and respect. I look forward to supporting Pride events across our city this February,” Cr Fairey says.
Visit Auckland Pride to see what’s on at Proud Centre libraries, hubs, arts and community centres and community-partner facilities. Proud Centre programming has something for everyone, including exhibitions and performances, quilting workshops, story times, poetry readings, art and craft and sports events. Auckland Council Libraries’ Love is Love romance reading competition is also returning.
Proud Centres 2026 theme
This year, Auckland Pride Festival has gifted Proud Centres the usage of its theme of Ngā Uri E, which acknowledges ancestors’ journeys and struggles and the whakapapa that binds us and acknowledges that we are all tangata whenua, tauiwi, and manuhiri together.
“Proud Centres are spaces where those relationships are strengthened, celebrated, and carried forward,” says Blaise Clotworthy, Partnership Manager for Auckland Pride Inc.
Blaise adds that 2026 is an important milestone year.
“As we commemorate 40 years of Homosexual Law Reform in Aotearoa, for the first time Auckland Council and Auckland Pride have formally acknowledged their continued partnership that unequivocally recognises the unique social and artistic contributions of rainbow communities throughout Tāmaki Makaurau and their undeniable impact on the social wellbeing and cultural identity of this city,” Blaise says.
Blaise says Auckland Pride remains dedicated to empowering, celebrating, and serving the takatāpui, MVPFAFF+* and rainbow communities of Tāmaki Makaurau.
“We invite takatāpui and rainbow communities, along with all supporters and allies, to join in this month of celebration, togetherness, reflection, inclusivity and pride.”
Visit the Auckland Pride website for the Festival programme.