Auckland Wooden Boat Festival 2026

The 2026 Auckland Wooden Boat Festival took place from 13–15 March at the Viaduct Events Centre, Jellicoe Harbour, New Zealand Maritime Museum, and the historic Percy Vos Boat Yard. Free to attend and part of the wider Moana Auckland Ocean Festival, the event showcased over 200 vessels and maritime displays celebrating Aotearoa’s rich seafaring heritage. Highlights included live boatbuilding demonstrations, waka carving, Pacific navigation, sail making, knot tying, and “have a go” sailing experiences. The 2026 theme focused on kauri timber and its role in New Zealand’s classic boat fleet. Building on the inaugural 2024 festival which drew around 10,000 visitors, the event offered something for all ages and the whole whānau.