Restaurant Month 2026 Has Officially Arrived
Auckland's biggest celebration of food is back, and this year it's bigger than ever.
Now in its 16th year, Auckland Restaurant Month runs from 1 to 31 August 2026, bringing together more than 100 city centre restaurants, exclusive set menus, one-off chef collaborations and a packed calendar of cultural dining experiences.
Whether you're after a long-awaited return to a neighbourhood favourite or an excuse to finally try somewhere new, this is the month the city centre does dining differently. Best Restaurants is an official Restaurant Month partner, so we're giving you the full rundown of what's on, what's new, and how to get your seat at the table before it fills up.
Restaurant Month 2026 in the heart of Auckland city has arrived - now it's time to book your seat at the table.
What's Coming Up in Auckland Restaurant Month
This year's line-up features collaborations from some of the city's most respected names, including Al Brown of Depot, Ben Bayly of Ahi and Josh Emett of Gilt and Onslow. Across the month, expect 22 ticketed events that go well beyond a standard set menu - think visiting chefs, masterclasses and rare one-night-only collaborations you won't find on the regular menu. Keep an eye on the full events calendar as details are added throughout the month - spots at the most popular events tend to go quickly.
Keep an eye on the full events calendar throughout the month, including bespoke dining experiences and industry collaborations. Tickets are selling fast, don't miss out!
Beyond the Set Menu: New Ways to Eat
Restaurant Month has always been about the menus, but 2026 introduces a few new ways to experience Auckland's dining scene:
How We Eat: Curated by Chow Luck Club, takes diners inside the rituals and shared moments behind how different cultures gather around food. Expect Filipino boodle feasts, Korean street food paired with soju, Ethiopian coffee ceremonies, imperial Chinese banquets and Latin American shared-table celebrations - each one designed to go beyond the plate and into the story behind it.
Next on the Pass: A new collaboration with Auckland University of Technology (AUT), this event pairs emerging culinary students with some of the city's leading chefs. It's a chance to see fresh talent create real dishes for real Restaurant Month menus, with mentorship from the people shaping Auckland's food scene today.
Bars & Bites: A curated collection of snack-and-sip experiences for anyone who wants to stay a little longer over a drink and a shared plate.
The Menus
At the heart of it all are the menus Restaurant Month is best known for - exclusive, chef-designed set menus priced at $30, $45 or $55+, created specifically for the occasion and available at more than 100 participating restaurants across the city centre. You can browse the full menu lineup here, covering everything from neighbourhood favourites to some of Auckland's most awarded dining rooms.
Don't Fill Up On Regrets - Book Now
With 100+ restaurants, 22 events and only 31 days to fit them all in, August books out fast - particularly around the big-name chef collaborations and How We Eat experiences. Start planning your month of dining now. Browse the full Restaurant Month program, check the event calendar, and lock in a table or a few before the best spots are gone.
Auckland Restaurant Month 2026 has arrived - now it's time to book your seat at the table.