There's no skipping past Pride's opening event. The glamorous dress-up affair is not only a one-of-a-kind party where you can rub shoulders with some heroes of the community, it's also a diverse variety showcase which previews the upcoming talent from the festival programme.
You'll get sneak previews of Luis Meirelles, Paul Ross, Night of the Queer and more. That, and there's a star-studded list of rainbow community heroes and icons on board to make guest appearances.
This year's gala is being hosted by MP Louisa Wall - "Aotearoa New Zealand's marriage equality champion" - and MP/former TV personality Tamati Coffey.
FAFSWAG are taking over the Basement Theatre for one night only. The LGBTQ Pacific Arts Collective made headlines thanks to a Vice documentary which lifted the lid on New Zealand's underground vogue scene.
Now, FAFSWAG artist Akashi Fisi'inaua, aka Queen Kapussi, brings Xhrome Xhrysalis, a one-off interdisciplinary project which will see artists occupy the entire building for a full-scale digital gathering of local and international indigenous artists of colour.
The event combines fashion, music, DJs, installation, activation and live performances with names like Pacific Sister, Rosanna Raymond, Coco Solid, Brown Boy Magik and more.
The New Zealand Opera are getting involved in Pride for the first time ever, lending an original NZO production to the festival, composed by Claire Scholes.
Live Drag! - An Opera in the Making is inspired by the life of Peter Taylor (owner of iconic Ponsonby Rd bar Surrender Dorothy) and his struggle with leishmania.
The story follows Maxi Flair, Ophelia Bottom and Heidi Hole at Auckland's favourite drag cabaret bar, but Heidi is struggling to come to terms with the failing eyesight that is forcing a premature end to her stage career and threatening the show and the trio's whole future.
The show will be the culmination of a series of workshop sessions and will include a post-show discussion with the creative team.
Gays in Space (Feb 7-16, Loft, Q Theatre)
Gays in Space! Photo / Supplied
Sometimes you just need a good laugh and that's where Gays in Space comes in. If the name didn't completely give it away, the description will: "Three hapless homosexuals have been selected for humanity's next great mission…probing Uranus. What these cosmonauts lack in competence, they more than make up for with camp-factor!"
There'll be singing, dancing and even a SexBot in this camp-as-hell comedy-musical. It stars Chris Parker (Hudson & Halls Live!), Blaise Clotworthy (Pleasuredome The Musical) and social media favourite Thomas Sainsbury, who also co-wrote the production with Jason Smith.
Courtney Act (Postponed till April 6-7, Rangatira, Q Theatre)
We know Courtney has been postponed until April but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still check her out.
If you've ever seen RuPaul's Drag Race then Courtney Act needs no introduction. If you haven't, then what you really need to know is she's one of the world's biggest drag acts and she's bringing her new show Under the Covers to Auckland.
It's not what it sounds like - the show sees Courtney perform covers of all your favourite hits.
The star released her debut EP in 2016, featuring collaborations with Sam Sparro and the Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears and she's spent the last few years touring in the wake of her runner-up placing on Drag Race. Her last Auckland show was a sell-out hit so you won't want to miss out on this.
