Ed Sheeran is just one of many live shows announced for New Zealand in the near future. Photo / supplied
Ed Sheeran is just one of many live shows announced for New Zealand in the near future. Photo / supplied
Struggling to keep up with all the tour announcements at the moment? It's no wonder - they're coming thick and fast. Here's our handy guide to bring you up to speed.
Music
Yesterday saw the announcement of what could be two of 2018's biggest concerts: Ed Sheeran will play two shows in New Zealand next year.
Frontier Touring announced Sheeran will play a show at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium on March 24, before finishing his Australia/New Zealand tour with his first-ever Dunedin show at Forsyth Barr Stadium on March 29.
Ed Sheeran is bringing his ÷ World Tour to New Zealand. Photo / AP
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster on Tuesday May 23.
Sheeran's not the only British pop sensation heading our way: Former One Directioner Harry Styles also announced a New Zealand show last week, which surprised no one when it sold out in seconds.
Styles plays Auckland's Spark Arena on December 2, with no sign of a second show being announced.
Meanwhile, US pop star Bruno Mars last week announced four Auckland shows for next year and set a new box office record when they sold in just an hour.
Bruno Mars sold out his four New Zealand shows in an hour. Photo / supplied
Mars performs at Spark Arena on February 27, 28, and March 2, 3. V.I.P. tickets are still available for a cheeky $580.
Music lovers seeking more of a nostalgia trip will be pleased to learn British singer-songwriter Beth Orton has announced a New Zealand tour. Orton plays Christchurch's Isaac Theatre Royal on June 20, Wellington's Opera House on June 21 and Auckland's Town Hall on June 22.
Tickets for each show will be available from Ticketek and Ticketmaster on Monday May 15, though presales began yesterday.
Hip-hop fans will be treated to a night of top-class talent when Florida rapper J $tash plays one show alongside a selection of local acts at Auckland's Neck of the Woods on July 1.
Early bird tickets for that show are on sale now from www.pastelembassy.com.
Musicals
If theatre is more your thing, you're in luck: Three major international productions have announced shows in New Zealand.
The acclaimed UK production of The Simon and Garfunkel Story is returning to New Zealand for four dates in July. After a sell-out performance at Auckland's ASB Theatre in 2016, the stage production about the iconic music duo returns for shows in Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin and Christchurch from July 22-27.
Tickets are on sale now.
Later in the year sees the arrival of Sister Act, The Musical - a stage production based on the Whoopi Goldberg film. The musical comedy runs from November 25-December 16 at Auckland's ASB Waterfront Theatre, with tickets on sale from Monday.
Sister Act: The Musical is based on the Whoopi Goldberg film of the same name. Photo / supplied
Meanwhile, another film is getting a live rendition of a different kind: Cirque Du Soleil on Tuesday announced New Zealand dates for its new show, Toruk - The First Flight, inspired by James Cameron's Avatar.
The circus extravaganza will tell a story of Pandora set thousands of years before the events of the 2009 film. It runs at Christchurch's Horncastle Arena from September 1-10 before heading to Auckland's Spark Arena from September 15-24 this year.
Cirque du Soleil's Toruk - The First Flight is based on James Cameron's Avatar. Photo / supplied
A Cirque Club members presale is on now, with general tickets available from Monday.
Sport
Sporting fans are also in luck - the Alternative Commentary Collective has announced it will be hitting pubs around the country for the upcoming Lions tour.
The Alternative Commentary Collective is returning for the Lion's tour this year. Photo / supplied
Matt Heath, Jeremy Wells and Mike Lane will be parking up the ACC Caravan for five of the key games from June 10 to July 8. Full details can be found on theaccnz.com.
Get planning, folks; the coming months are bringing something for everyone.
