One of the world’s most iconic live events is heading to Aotearoa. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will bring its internationally acclaimed production to Auckland’s Eden Park for two nights in February 2026, marking its first-ever appearance in the city.
The full-scale stadium production, titled The Heroes Who Made Us, will be performed on February 19 and 21, 2026. Organisers say it will be one of the Tattoo’s most ambitious international showcases to date.
The show will feature more than 1,000 performers from around the world, including massed pipe bands, military musicians, traditional and contemporary dancers, and cultural performers from the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The performance is part of the Tattoo’s 75th anniversary celebrations.
Audiences can expect a rousing spectacle of stirring anthems, powerful military precision, and dynamic choreography. The show will be led by the Massed Pipes and Drums, featuring musicians from the UK armed forces, and will include over 30 bands and performance groups. Highlights will include the internationally renowned Top Secret Drum Corps and members of the New Zealand Defence Force.
Among the performers is 25-year-old Kayla McQuoid, a registered nurse from New Plymouth with Scottish heritage who has been Highland dancing since the age of four. McQuoid performed 26 shows with the Tattoo in Scotland last year and is thrilled to be part of the upcoming Auckland production.
“It’s not something you see every day in New Zealand,” she said. “It celebrates Scottish culture, but also showcases many others. It brings all these art forms together and highlights the best of the best.”
McQuoid said the finale, where all the performers unite on stage, is a standout moment. “It’s a really awesome cultural show, with everyone performing at the top of their game.”
Founded in 1950, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has become one of the most celebrated live events globally, drawing over 230,000 spectators annually to its performances at Edinburgh Castle. Its televised broadcasts reach audiences of more than 100 million worldwide.
Jason Barrett, CEO of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, described the upcoming Auckland shows as a milestone for the event.
“This is a celebration of the human spirit, of shared identity, and of the heroes who shape our communities,” he said. “We can’t wait to share this unforgettable experience with New Zealand audiences.”
The Tattoo last visited New Zealand in 2015 with a series of performances in Wellington. The 2026 shows will mark its debut in Tāmaki Makaurau.
Ticket Information
Presale tickets will be available through Qantas and Eden Park from 12 p.m. on Monday, May 19. Additional presales through TEG Live and My Ticketek begin at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21. General public sales will open at 12 p.m. on Friday, May 23, via Ticketek.
Related topics: