The 51st ASB Polyfest kicks off in Auckland, celebrating its 50th anniversary with 10,000 students from 73 schools showcasing Pacific and global cultures across two venues.

The 51st ASB Polyfest begins tomorrow at Auckland’s Manukau Sports Bowl and Due Drop Events Centre, marking its 50th anniversary with a two-week expansion across two venues. Over 10,000 secondary students from 73 schools perform in 260+ groups representing Pacific and diverse cultures, including Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tonga, and Chinese, Fijian, Indian, Korean, and Sri Lankan heritages. The festival opens with a 7 a.m. flag-raising ceremony led by cultural elders. Organizers expect over 80,000 attendees and urge ticket purchases online via iTICKET. The event highlights cultural pride, youth leadership, and community healing, supported by ASB and new sponsors, with programming aligned to reduce scheduling conflicts with Te Matatini.