The Tattoo Down Under
2025 marked the 75th Anniversary of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo - taking place on the stunning Edinburgh Castle Esplanade every August with a global cast - and during the year plans were finalised to extend the international reach of the Tattoo by undertaking a tour to Australia and New Zealand.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has previously travelled down under to delight audiences with performances in Wellington, Syndey and Melbourne in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2016 and most recently in 2019 at the ANZ Stadium in Syndey. While The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Show has been screened at more than 150 cinemas across Australia and New Zealand in recent years, in 2026 people across the countries had the opportunity to once again truly experience the iconic spectacle in person.
Brisbane
Following the 75th Anniversary performance sin Edinburgh during August 2025, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo took The Heroes Who Made Us Show to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on 12 to 15 February 2026. Bringing together over 1,000 performers from across the world, the Show incorporated elements of the 2025 Tattoo theme, spotlighting the heroes who have shaped and supported our iconic performances over the past 75 years.
Promoters Ticketek Entertainment Group (TEG) said that more than 110,000 fans attended across all four nights and a the economic benefit to the Queensland capital to more than $150 million.
Commenting on the success of the performances, Queensland Minister for the Environment and Tourism, Andrew Powell stated: "the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo delivered an unforgettable four‑night season in Brisbane. Across all four performances, the Tattoo captured the city’s imagination and created an atmosphere that was nothing short of electric....The Tattoo’s four‑night season created an energy and excitement that will stay with us long after the final drumbeat.”
Auckland
Following the Brisbane shows, the Tattoo team made their way to Auckland, marking a return to New Zealand for the first time since 2016 and the Tattoo’s first-ever performances in Auckland on 19, 20 and 21 February 2026 — with one of its most ambitious international Stadium productions to date in the iconic Eden Park, home of the famed All Blacks rugby team,
Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand, took the salute on Opening Night as audiences witnessed a breathtaking showcase of cultural heritage, pride and talent on a truly global stage. And in Eden Park, the global spectacle became unmistakably Pacific.
One of the most significant aspects of the production was the visibility of Māori and Pasifika performers on a global stage, with the presence of kapa haka alongside traditional military formations signaling the diversity of Aotearoa’s cultural landscape.