The Auckland Wooden Boat Festival returns, call out for owners of wooden boats, big and small
by Zoe Hawkins 30 Sep 07:15 BST
13-15 March 2026
Auckland Wooden Boat Festival - March 2024 © Suellen Hurling / Live Sail Die
The Auckland Wooden Boat Festival comes back to the city’s waterfront in March 2026 and organisers are calling for owners of wooden boats, big and small, from sailing boats to run abouts to work boats, to unite in bringing the event to life.
The date is set for 13-15 March 2026, across four neighbouring Auckland venues: the Viaduct Events Centre, Jellicoe Harbour, the New Zealand Maritime Museum and the Percy Vos Heritage Boat Shed.
Wooden Boat Festival website - Register your boat and/or interest here
A flagship event of Moana Auckland, New Zealand’s Ocean Festival, the free event is created to tell the stories of the city’s maritime heritage.
Nick Hill, CE at Tataki Auckland Unlimited says: “The Auckland Wooden Boat Festival is a celebration of our city’s maritime culture and a proud feature of Moana Auckland. As an Auckland Council Event it reflects our commitment to showcasing the heritage and stories that connect us to the ocean, while providing a world-class experience for locals and visitors alike.”
New Zealand has the largest fleet of classic yachts still actively sailing in the world. At the inaugural Auckland Wooden Boat Festival in 2024, more than 200 boats, models and memorabilia were on display, and more than 11,600 people of all ages enjoyed the event. In 2026, event organisers hope to attract an ever-larger fleet of on-water exhibitors, alongside existing and new wooden boat enthusiasts.
“This is a reason to be in Auckland that weekend,” says Tony Stevenson, Co-Director of the Auckland Wooden Boat Festival and Chair of the Tino Rawa Trust. “We not only expect our local classic boating community, but we look forward to welcoming Aucklanders from across the region, visitors from around New Zealand, and international enthusiasts to learn about our maritime heritage.”
“We are absolutely delighted to be part of Moana Auckland and to have the opportunity to create this event once again for the city.”
The event will include boats and boat tours, seminars, interactive displays, music, food and more.
The Auckland Wooden Boat Festival is delivered in partnership with New Zealand Maritime Museum Hui Te Ananui a Tangaroa, one of the substantive cultural institutions that Tataki Auckland Unlimited owns, operates and maintains for the benefit of Tamaki Makaurau, Auckland.
Key points:
The Auckland Wooden Boat Festival will be back in full force for 2026, as part of Moana Auckland!
- 13-15 March 2026 at the Viaduct Events Centre and Jellicoe Harbour
- In 2024, the inaugural year, you brought over 200 boats, models and memorabilia to the festival, and we hosted 11,600 visitors through the gates
- Once again, the event is presented in close partnership with the New Zealand Maritime Museum and Tino Rawa Trust.
With a huge array of New Zealand’s wooden boat world on show, we promise an event that will surprise and delight – how can it not?