Joji Live: Dates, Tickets & Venue (Auckland)

One night on Mahuhu Crescent

Joji plays Spark Arena on Thursday, November 19, 2026. Tommy Richman opens the night. It is one of the Auckland stops on the tour, and it puts one of the internet’s most unusual career arcs into the city’s biggest indoor room.

Spark Arena opened in 2007 as Vector Arena. It holds roughly 12,000 people at its largest, and it is where most arena tours land when they come through Auckland. The building sits on reclaimed land in Quay Park, between the downtown rail lines and the Parnell slopes.

From Filthy Frank to Glimpse of Us

The man on stage is George Miller, a Japanese-Australian artist. A generation of fans first knew him from his chaotic Filthy Frank and Pink Guy YouTube characters. He left that behind for slow, bruised R&B and lo-fi pop as Joji, and the change worked.

The songs people come for usually include:

• “Slow Dancing in the Dark”, from Ballads 1 (2018)
• “Sanctuary” and “Run”, from Nectar (2020)
• “Glimpse of Us”, the 2022 piano ballad from Smithereens that became his biggest hit

The setlist for this night isn’t in our facts, so treat that list as his catalogue, not a promise. Expect a crowd that knows every word of the quiet songs. An arena singing a piano ballad back at the stage is a big part of a Joji show.

Tommy Richman broke through in 2024 with “Million Dollar Baby”, a falsetto-heavy track that took over short-form video that year. His set is the first part of the evening.

Reaching Spark Arena without a car

The arena is easy to reach on public transport. Driving is harder.

• Train: Waitematā Station (Britomart) is the central rail hub. From there it’s a flat walk of about ten minutes east along Quay Street or Beach Road to the arena.
• Ferry: The Downtown Ferry Terminal is beside Britomart. Fans from Devonport, Waiheke or the North Shore ferry routes usually come in by boat and walk from the terminal.
• Bus: Plenty of routes end at or pass through Britomart and lower Queen Street.
• Car: There is very little parking close to the arena. After a sold-out arena show, traffic on The Strand and Beach Road crawls.

Auckland Transport’s AT HOP card and contactless bank cards both work on trains, buses and most ferries. That saves a queue at the ticket machine on the way home.

Inside the arena

Spark Arena is a single bowl. Tiered seating wraps around a floor that is usually standing room for concerts. Floor tickets put you close to the stage. Seats in the lower tiers give the clearer view of the production, which matters at a show built on lighting and mood.

The concourse rings the bowl and holds the bars, food counters and merch stands. Spark Arena’s website sets out its entry rules for every show, including what bags are allowed and its accessibility services.

How the night usually runs at Spark Arena

Some habits make a Spark Arena night easier.

• Doors and queues: Fans who want a spot near the barrier on the floor tend to queue along Mahuhu Crescent well before doors. People with seats usually come in later.
• Bags: Arena security checks bags at the entrance. Most regulars bring a small bag or none, so they get through faster.
• Merch: The merch lines are longest just after doors open and in the gap between the two sets. Some fans buy after the encore instead, while the arena empties.
• Paying: New Zealand runs on cards and tap-to-pay. Tipping isn’t expected at the bars.
• ID: To buy alcohol you need photo ID such as a passport or an NZ driver licence. Bar staff check it strictly.
• Leaving: Most of the crowd walks back toward Britomart together. The trains at the end of the night are full, and plenty of people stop in the city first.

Mid-November is late spring in Auckland. Evenings are mild and showers come through often. Fans in the outdoor queue usually bring a light rain layer they can carry once inside.

Before and after, near Britomart

This is one of the city’s best areas to eat around a gig.

The Britomart precinct, a few blocks of restored heritage buildings around Takutai Square, is the closest cluster of restaurants and bars to the arena. Commercial Bay, beside the ferry terminal, has a food hall and more places to eat.

West along the waterfront, the Viaduct Harbour bars stay busy late. Fans who are staying the night usually book a room in the CBD, since the walk back from Spark Arena takes minutes, not a taxi ride.

Spark Arena’s events page carries the listing and ticket link for Joji Live. The arena also publishes door times and its entry rules there.