Cabaret Season is back after a three-year hiatus—here are our festival picks

After a three-year hiatus, Auckland Live’s Cabaret Season is finally back—and if the opening acts are anything to go by, it’s every bit as risqué, hilarious, and wildly talented as we remember. Hosted at the iconic Civic, this year’s lineup is a heady mix of sequins, sass, stunts, and a touch of Matariki magic. Whether you’re after vintage glamour, bawdy musical theatre, or drag with cosmic resonance, here are our editor’s picks for the season’s most unmissable nights out.

La Clique
3–14 June
If you see one show this season, make it La Clique. Equal parts sexy, dangerous and jaw-droppingly talented, this Olivier Award-winning spectacle is a global phenomenon for a reason. Think contortionists doing things that defy anatomy, burlesque that will have your jaw on the floor, and comedy that’s just the right amount of unhinged. Set inside The Civic like you’ve never seen it before, La Clique is the beating heart of the festival—and she’s back to celebrate her 20th year.

The Divine Miss Bette
4–5 June
Catherine Alcorn doesn’t just impersonate Bette Midler—she channels her. In this all-singing, all-belting, big-hair energy tribute, the award-winning Aussie star brings The Divine Miss Bette to life with powerhouse vocals and enough one-liners to keep your Aperol spritz fizzing. It’s bold, brassy, and backed by a live band and dancers. Book quickly: this one’s a two-night-only affair and destined to sell out.

The Tīwhas: A Matariki Spectacular
4–6 June
Set your GPS to the stars. The Tīwhas—our favourite mana takatāpui cabaret whānau—return with a sparkly, soulful, and thoroughly fabulous celebration of Matariki. Expect galactic glamour, waiata Māori, nostalgic singalongs, and pop anthems from across the decades. From Dame Jthan to Tina Coco Couture, this is a joy-filled homage to te tau hou Māori that’s big on heart and even bigger on spectacle.

The Velvet Rebels
6–8 June
What do you get when you mix Rat Pack swagger with a little Māori flair? The Velvet Rebels, starring Rutene Spooner and Shea Kokaua, is the jazz-soaked tribute you never knew you needed. Think old-school crooning, local classics like Poi E, and a Coco Concert Band that brings the whole thing home. This is Aotearoa’s answer to Vegas—cheeky, classy, and completely unforgettable.

The Piano Bar
4–15 June
Consider this your seductive late-night playground. The Piano Bar is back—mood lighting, stiff drinks, and a revolving door of cabaret’s most charismatic stars. Whether you’re crooning under the spotlight or sipping quietly from the shadows, this is where the festival comes to flirt after dark. A word of warning: it’s intimate, exclusive, and always at capacity. Get there early.