Festival News - Centre Court Sounds returns for 2026 - 20 November 2025

Presented by Nick Randell and Harry Gorringe

Auckland’s most unique summer music experience is back! Following the city’s staple annual ASB Classic, Centre Court Sounds returns to the Manuka Doctor Arena on February 21st 2026 - transforming the space into an intimate live music venue for one unforgettable night.

Positioned in the heart of late summer - that sweet spot where the weather is warm and the pace of life hasn’t fully accelerated - Centre Court Sounds is designed for guests seeking a final escape before autumn arrives, blending premium live music with a relaxed, sun-soaked atmosphere.

“We’re thrilled to showcase an iconic yet underutilised Auckland venue in a completely new way directly after the tennis. Centre Court Sounds delivers a uniquely intimate music experience. One you can’t replicate in a traditional arena or outdoor festival.” - Nick Randell, Centre Court Sounds Promoter

General Admission and Premium General Admission tickets will go on sale at 9am on Thursday 20th November (NZDT) from centrecourtsounds.flicket.co.nz . Extremely limited Earlybird tickets start at just $49 +fees.

Today’s announcement includes the news of iconic kiwi pair SACHI, Sydney-based electronic duo Bag Raiders and five-piece alt-rock group NO CIGAR joining the 2026 lineup.

The Manuka Dr Arena will undergo a full transformation, with lush greenery, resort-style landscaping, turf underfoot, and intimate design elements reshaping the iconic venue into a boutique summer festival setting. Leading brands will activate across the venue with curated food, bars, tasting experiences, and premium lounges - elevating Centre Court Sounds into one of the country’s standout hospitality-led music events.

The centre-court layout places fans just metres from the stage, delivering unbeatable sightlines and proximity across suites, premium seating, VIP lounges, on-court GA areas, and dedicated hospitality zones. With its central position and non-residential surroundings, Manuka Dr Arena is uniquely positioned for a high-energy summer event - with no noise restrictions and effortless transport options.

Following updates required for ATP regulations during the ASB Classic - including the demolition of the original Robinson Stand - the arena’s redevelopment has created an entirely new opportunity for Centre Court Sounds. For this year’s event, the temporary Robinson stand will be fully repurposed into a bespoke, purpose-built stage, complete with backstage and sidestage lounge spaces reminiscent of the premium tennis environment fans know and love. This redevelopment allows Centre Court Sounds to expand to a 3000-person capacity, with a configuration tailored specifically for live music.

SACHI’s intention is to create dance music whose emotion is as convincing as its ability to make you move. Dominating festivals not only in New Zealand but around the world, Will Thomas and Nick Chrisp of SACHI became the first New Zealand act to play at Belgium’s Tomorrowland Festival - one of the most prestigious electronic music festivals in the world. One of the duo’s earliest champions was renowned producer Diplo. The boys found him on the streets of Auckland, New Zealand and slipped a USB through the window of his SUV. Their efforts paid off when he soon responded and offered a coveted co-sign by playing early tracks No More and Hold On on his Diplo & Friends BBC Radio 1 Show. In the aftermath, SACHI exploded as a homegrown phenomenon, achieving two chart-topping platinum-certified singles, as well as an official remix of Lorde’s hit single Green Light alongside Montell2099. Since then, they’ve amassed more than 50 million streams across their projects, toured worldwide in front of sold-out crowds, performed their electric live show at countless festivals - and are looking forward to generating their electric energy onto the Centre Court Sounds stage come February.

Bag Raiders are icons of the Australian dance scene - their sound spanning alternative dance, electronica, synth-pop, indietronica and house - and drawing inspiration from acts like Earth, Wind & Fire, The Brothers Johnson, 808 State, and Orbital. After dropping a trio of cult underground cuts, duo Jack Glass and Chris Stracey signed to Modular Records and released their game-changing, self-titled debut album in 2010, earning nominations from ARIA, triple j and APRA. The LP featured hit singles Way Back Home, Sunlight, Snake Charmer, and the now-legendary Shooting Stars - one of the biggest Australian dance tracks of all time. Shooting Stars has become a global phenomenon, racking up over 4 billion streams and being sampled by Troye Sivan on his Grammy-nominated single Got Me Started. The duo followed this success with acclaimed EPs (Waterfalls, Checkmate, Friend Inside), and second LP Horizons. In 2022, they launched their label Broken Head Records. Following their recent work such as club-driven singles Love Me Back and Right Here / Saliba plus a 2025 performance at Australian Open-associated festival AO Live, Bag Raiders are locked in for a relentless release schedule of club weapons and festival appearances.

Known for their groovy, dreamy, and emotionally rich sound, NO CIGAR is the project of five kiwi lads with a passion for storytelling. Consisting of Willy Ferrier on lead vocals, Josh Morrice and Arthur Gillies on guitar and backing vocals, Sam Benson on bass and keyboard and Ned Gow on drums, the band formed in 2019. Their sound combines alternative rock, folk, and indie influences, with groove-based rhythms and a touch of psychedelic undertones. Their early work includes single Tickets to Space and 2020 EP Radical Road, followed by their debut album, Bienvenida. From here came the steady release of the five-piece’s second and third albums, The Great Escape and Concubine - which saw their rapid growth continue through headline touring dates across New Zealand, Europe, and Australia. NO CIGAR has quickly built a loyal following for their energetic live performances, immersive sonic journeys, and intimate connection with fans. Their streaming numbers have grown significantly, with millions of streams and radio play on major NZ stations like ZM, Radio Hauraki, and The Edge. In 2025, following their sellout UK tour in May, they released their album Under the Surface and announced headline tours in New Zealand and Australia. They then went onto smash their largest NZ and Australian tour - and with a summer full of performances including their appearance at Centre Court Sounds, this year has been their biggest yet.

2026’s Centre Court Sounds will see an atmosphere full of new and improved offerings off the back of a successful first year in operation. Attendees can expect a larger GA footprint on centre court, a reimagined premium hospitality layout, VIP Booths and VIP Lounge experiences inspired by the ASB Classic and a completely new way to experience a live concert inside one of Auckland’s most iconic venues.

Tour Dates:

CENTRE COURT SOUNDS 2026
SACHI // BAG RAIDERS // NO CIGAR
Saturday, February 21st 2026 Manuka Doctor Arena

Ticket Sales:

General Admission + Premium General Admission tickets on sale: 9am, Thursday 20th November

Extremely limited Earlybird tickets start at just $49 +fees.

For more information, visit: https://centrecourtsounds.flicket.co.nz/

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