Events

Join us for a fantastic evening celebrating Chinese New Year with a Dragon & Lion Dance, Magic Show, Chinese Martial Arts, Live Cultural Performances & Food Stalls.

Saturday 28th February 2026
Event from 6pm with food stalls from 4pm
Garden Place
Free Event‍

Brought to you by Waikato Chinese Cultural and Art Centre, Love the Centre and SkyCity Hamilton.

If you would like to enquire about having a food stall at the event, please email info@waikatoweekly.co.nz

After entertaining 700,000 guests across the UK, USA and Europe, The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight is kicking off the first ever tour of New Zealand and coming to Claudelands!

Prepare for a spellbinding 90-minute spectacle that infuses iconic Rock & Metal anthems with a hauntingly beautiful energy.

In ethereal candlelit settings, this band of 13 classical musicians unleash effortlessly enchanting melodies alongside powerful walls of distortion. Witness the unexpected union of Classical music and Metal.

Performing the music of iconic bands including: Metallica, AC/DC, Rage Against The Machine, My Chemical Romance, Linkin' Park, SOAD, Guns N Roses, Evanescence, Aerosmith, The Cranberries & MORE!

“Every rock fan should see and hear this concert!”

“Entertaining from the first song to the last.”

“Perfect blend of classical bravado and hard rock!”

“It is a unique experience: the music, the show, the stage… something incredible”

Disclaimer: The Rock Orchestra and its events are not affiliated with the artists and composers listed. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Our live show may feature strobe lighting effects. If you are sensitive to flashing lights or have a medical condition such as epilepsy, please take necessary precautions.

‍

You’re Invited! 🌈
Join us for the Annual Celebration of our Tamariki – Hamilton Children’s Day
Bring the whole whānau along for two days of fun, connection, and celebration, honouring our tamariki and the joy they bring to our communities.
📅 Saturday 7 March | 10am – 2pm
🎉 Garden Place, Civic Place & Central Library, Hamilton
📅 Sunday 8 March | 12pm – 3pm
💦 BONUS Event at Fairfield Pools
✨ Two weekend events. Completely FREE.
A welcoming, safe space for families to play, laugh, and celebrate together.
Bring a picnic and thanks to Busit for providing FREE Hamilton service bus rides to our events.

Ladies, it’s time to embrace The Change with a night out full of uncontrollable laughter, uplifting celebration and shared sisterhood! The international phenomenon Menopause The Musical is back – touring New Zealand in March and April 2026.

Set in a department store, four women meet by chance while shopping for a black lace bra. Though they couldn’t be more different, they quickly discover a shared bond over memory loss, hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, and much more. What follows is a hilarious, heart-warming musical journey through “The Change” — told with love, laughter and the greatest hits of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

The laughter-filled 90-minute production gets audiences out of their seats dancing and singing along to clever parodies of beloved pop classics. It’s a celebration for every woman who’s ever experienced “The Silent Passage,” and for everyone who knows one!

From the producer of Chicago the Musical and under special license from GFour Productions, winner of over 40 Tony Awards, Menopause The Musical has entertained more than 17 million fans worldwide, been translated into nine languages and performed in more than 500 cities. The show’s enduring appeal lies in its honesty, hilarity and heart — celebrating women everywhere and turning shared experiences into shared joy.

As creator Jeanie Linders said, the show was “inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine.” Decades later, it remains enlightening, enriching, and empowering — transforming audiences and turning strangers into friends.

You, Me, Everybody hit the road in 2026 for a national tour celebrating Midnight, their new album exploring the moment where one day ends and the next begins. Recognised as finalists for Best NZ Folk Artist at the 2021 Aotearoa Music Awards, the group has earned widespread acclaim, including a global audience after their song “Stranger” featured in Netflix’s Sweet Tooth.

Founded by Hamilton brothers Laurence and Sam Frangos-Rhodes, You, Me, Everybody has built a reputation for pushing bluegrass beyond its borders, blending virtuosic musicianship with contemporary folk and modern string-band innovation. Midnight captures the tension and possibility of life’s turning points, brought to life onstage through rich harmonies, bold instrumental interplay, and great storytelling.

“Acoustic, drumless, genius” – Roger Bowie The Midnight Tour sees the band bring their new album to The Meteor as part of a 12-date run across Aotearoa.

www.yme.nz

Running time: 120 mins

It’s gonna be bigger, better and like nothing you've seen before!

Claudelands Oval is about to transform into the ultimate hub of Kiwi music, hosting the largest all - New Zealand music festival… EVER!  Mark your calendars for March 14th, 2026, as we celebrate almost two decades of incredible music, good vibes, and unforgettable experiences. With seven massive stages at your disposal, you won’t want to miss a single moment!

‍
Yes, you heard that right, 7 STAGES!

​

Expect an electrifying atmosphere, unstoppable crowd fun, and experiences that will stay with you long after the music stops. This isn’t just any festival; it’s a full-on Kiwi music takeover right in the heart of Aotearoa. With such an outstanding lineup, this will sell out fast! So secure tickets for you, your friends, and your family as soon as possible!

‍

Tickets on sale now!

‍

HYOKETSU PRESENTS:

INTERNATIONAL (UK) HEADLINER TBA

SAT 14 MAR

THE FACTORY HAMILTON



$20 EARLY BIRDS ON SALE NOW



This is set to be the biggest party in town after Homegrown. Plus, our UK headliner DJ will be announced soon. Prices will go up - lock in your $20 ticket now before they’re gone. This is your chance to secure the best possible price

In 2026, Lenny Pearce is bringing his globally renowned Toddler Techno Tour back home!

After touring the world, including 40+ shows in the US, across Asia and The Middle East, and with a UK Extravaganza planned, it's time for the Baby Rave phenom to land back in the major cities of Australia and New Zealand, where it all began!

From January to March in 2026, with a little Surprise in May, the show that has been witnessed and adored by 100,000+ families in 2025 is setting its sights on some of Australia and New Zealand's most famous cities.

Hamilton - pack up the kids, get your dance kits ready, and save the date - it's time to RAVE!

‍

New Zealand music icon Bic Runga announces the release date of her much-anticipated new album, Red Sunset, and an Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia national tour.

Red Sunset will be released on Friday, February 13.

Recorded in Paris during the winter of 2025, the album is now available for pre-order and is Bic’s first collection of all-original material since 2011’s Belle, marking a radiant new chapter for one of Aotearoa’s most beloved artists.

The album’s lead single and title track, "Red Sunset," is out now. A powerful torch song of longing and desire, it evokes the tumultuous emotions of being the one left behind. The song and album are co-produced by Bic Runga and Kody Nielson.

The Red Sunset Tour kicks off at Black Barn in Hawkes Bay on Saturday, March 7, before heading to new venues in Hamilton and Auckland: the BNZ Theatre on Saturday, March 21, and the NZICC Theatre, Auckland on Friday, March 27. Bic will return home to Christchurch to play the Isaac Theatre Royal on Sunday, March 29, followe by a very special show with the NZSO at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington on Thursday, April 2.

Bic Runga will be joined by special guest Silicon.

‍

Join scientist-turned-comedian Ben Miller for a hilarious hour exploring volcanoes, Hawaiian history, and more.

Fresh from international tours, this unique show blends science and comedy for an unforgettable night at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato.

A CONCERT THAT WILL FILL YOUR HEART WITH JOY.

A new concert by 3-time Grammy®-winning SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR; celebrates songs and anthems of Nelson Mandela’s Freedom Movement in South Africa and the Civil Rights Movement of Dr Martin Luther King’s America.

Opening with a rousing program of South African freedom songs, the repertoire moves down through time to the USA, with beautiful renditions of the protest music of the Civil Rights Movement and more contemporary classics, including works by legendary artists Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Cynthia Erivo, Stevie Wonder and the one-and-only Aretha Franklin.

Formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of South African Gospel music, SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR is dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences around the world, receiving critical acclaim and audience adoration for their powerful renditions of African American spirituals, gospel and classics.

‍

Social Improv is an initiative adopted by Conor Maxwell (Project Allsorts Improv, Infinite Monkey Theatre) to provide a safe space to develop confidence, hone improv skills, and join a friendly community of actors.

Covering a range of experiences and performance abilities, Social Improv has something to offer people of high school age and above in all stages of their improv journey; especially those looking to improv-e their high school theatresports game.

When: Every second Sunday night from April to October 2026

Where: The Meteor Theatre

Cost: Free!

Exact dates coming soon!

Tony Award-winning Parade explores the endurance of love and hope against all odds. With a book by acclaimed playwright Alfred Uhry (Driving Miss Daisy) and a rousing, colorful and haunting score by Jason Robert Brown. Parade is a moving examination of the darkest corners of America’s history.

In 1913, Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-raised Jew living in Georgia, is put on trial for the murder of Mary Phagan, a factory worker under his employ. Already guilty in the eyes of everyone around him, a sensationalist publisher and a janitor’s false testimony seal Leo’s fate. His only defenders are a governor with a conscience and his assimilated Southern wife, who finds the strength and love to become his greatest champion.

Daring, innovative and bold, Parade is filled with soaring music and a heart-wrenching story, offering a moral lesson about the dangers of prejudice and ignorance that should not be forgotten.

Running time: 150mins

PG 13