Darklight: a landmark moment set to play out on Auckland’s waterfront
Following a sold-out debut earlier this year, Darklight: The Edge of Light returns this September with a new chapter that expands beyond its immersive installations and into history.
For the first time, the entire Okahu Bay Wharf will be illuminated, with over 100 metres of light transforming the iconic structure into a glowing beacon visible across the Waitematā and the city skyline.
The wharf will be open to the public, inviting Aucklanders to walk its length and step inside the installation itself. Alongside this, new light treatments beneath Okahu will extend out onto the water, casting a rippling reflection across the harbour. Together, they create a striking convergence of landscape and art, celebrating the enduring significance of one of Auckland’s most historic waterfront landmarks.
“Darklight has always been about creating moments that sit at the threshold of change,” says Angus Muir, founder of Angus Muir Design. “To see Okahu Bay Wharf illuminated in this way is both a celebration of its history and a bold reimagining of its place within the city.”
The Edge of Light brings together a collective of Aotearoa’s leading artists, including Angus Muir, Catherine Ellis, Matt Liggins, Simon Holden, Peter Hobbs, Luke Foley-Martin and Sarah Jayne Kavali. Each contributes their own interpretation of transition and transformation, creating an experience that shifts from stillness into resonance, from light into colour, from intimacy into scale.
Reflecting on the collaborative process, artist Sarah Jayne Kavali says: “Darklight is a sensory symphony, crafted by an ensemble of artists, seamlessly blending sight, sound, taste, and smell into an unforgettable harmony.” On the collaborative nature, Kavali notes “Typically, I tend to manage every detail myself. However, embracing the prowess of others in this setting is both liberating and inspiring, allowing me to explore new possibilities and expand my perspective beyond individual limits.” Kavali’s words capture the spirit of The Edge of Light, where the sum is greater than its parts, and collaboration deepens the emotional power of the work.
With the addition of the wharf installation, this year’s event promises to be an unforgettable highlight on Auckland’s cultural calendar. Sessions are strictly limited, with only four timed entry slots per evening from 6pm to 10pm. Tickets are already in high demand and expected to sell out.
On Friday 5 September, Darklight will close with Resonate, a one-night music experience presented in partnership with Music First. Headlined by world-class producer and DJ Zepherin Saint — alongside local favourites Frank Booker and Love Language — the evening extends Darklight’s sensory journey into sound, transforming the waterfront into a celebration of rhythm, light and community.
Darklight: The Edge of Light continues to push the boundaries of immersive art in Aotearoa, transforming not just spaces but the way audiences experience them. This September, the waterfront becomes a stage where history, creativity and light converge, inviting everyone to witness and be part of something truly extraordinary.
Tuesday 2 – Thursday 4 September, 2025
Sessions at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm
Okahu
18 Tamaki Drive, Okahu Bay, Auckland
Friday 5 Sept evening
Resonate (9pm until 3am)
Okahu
Tickets for both Darklight: The Edge of Light and Resonate are now available at iTicket and Under The Radar.