The Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta returns to the Waitematā this Monday, 26 January, marking 186 years since Aucklanders first gathered on the water to celebrate the city’s birthday.
First held in 1840 on the day the province of Auckland was founded, the regatta is New Zealand’s oldest sporting event and one of the longest-running maritime celebrations in the world. Over nearly two centuries, it has evolved alongside the city, growing from early rowing, paddling and sailing contests into a harbour-wide spectacle that reflects Auckland’s identity as the City of Sails.
The event brings together an extraordinary mix of vessels and disciplines – from sailing dinghies and keelboats to classic yachts, tugboats, launches, waka ama, dragon boats and radio-controlled yachts. Its enduring appeal lies not just in competition, but in its visibility, unfolding in full view of the city’s waterfront, drawing thousands of spectators to promenades, beaches and headlands for a free, family-friendly day out.
The 2026 edition continues that tradition while also introducing new features to increase participation and enhance the spectator experience. A new After Party at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will give competitors a place to land and round out the day after racing, with live entertainment from the Royal New Zealand Navy Band. While a new Sail Past from Westhaven to North Head invites boats of all kinds to take part, whether racing or not, filling the harbour with activity and reinforcing the regatta’s role as a collective celebration of Auckland’s maritime culture.
With racing taking place across the region throughout the day, the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta offers competitors the unique chance to compete for historic trophies and be part of a tradition that stretches back generations. For spectators, it provides an easy and free way to watch the city’s maritime history in action, and enjoy one of Auckland’s most spectacular and much-loved events.
2026 Regatta Highlights
Dragon boat racing reaches record scale
The regatta’s dragon boat racing programme is set for its biggest year yet, with more than 40 local teams joined for the first time by four visiting crews from China, bringing total participation to over 500 paddlers. This marks a significant increase on recent years and is expected to lift both the standard of competition and the on-water spectacle. Racing runs throughout the day in the Viaduct Harbour, offering close-quarters action and some of the Regatta’s best viewing for spectators.
New Sail Past with Warbirds flyover
A new Sail Past departing Westhaven at 12.00pm bound for North Head will see boats of all kinds process down the harbour, creating a focal point for Anniversary Day celebrations. Coinciding with the Sail Past, three NZ Warbirds Harvards will conduct a flyover of the harbour, adding a rare and memorable moment that links Auckland’s maritime and aviation heritage. The combined spectacle is expected to be one of the visual highlights of the day for both spectators and those on the water.
Tugboat racing marks 20 years
The iconic tugboat race marks 20 years as part of the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta, having first been introduced in 2007. Since then it has become one of the day’s biggest crowd favourites, but the race also holds special meaning within the maritime industry itself. Many working tugboat operators use the event as a staff day out – a chance for crews to step away from their daily operations and enjoy charging down the harbour in front of thousands of spectators. Featuring large, powerful working vessels racing in the central harbour, the tugboat race brings noise, speed and theatre and remains a unique and defining feature of the event.
Youth sailing in focus at Kohimarama
The Optimist and Starling Auckland Championships, hosted by Kohimarama Yacht Club, will once again incorporate the Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta on Monday, bringing some of the largest fleets of the day onto the water. With hundreds of young sailors expected, the event highlights the regatta’s role in fostering the next generation of sailing talent. Many past competitors in these classes have gone on to national and international success, underlining the regatta’s place in New Zealand’s sailing pathway.
Full details, including race schedules and where to watch, are available at www.regatta.org.nz.
Photography credit: Suellen Hurling / Live Sail Die
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