FAQs

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Will there be food and drinks?

Yes. Morning tea, lunch and light snacks are provided across the day, plus the Sunset afterparty to close things out.

Are student tickets available?

Yes, we have a limited number of discounted student tickets available for Sunrise Aotearoa 2026. Email sunrise@blackbird.vc from your official student email address, and we'll sort you out.

What awaits me at Sunrise?

Sunrise isn’t a business conference. It’s not exactly a tech event, either. It’s a cultural celebration. One where you’ll be exposed to big ideas, meet new people, and learn something new. At Sunrise, we promise:



  • You will be inspired: by stories of triumph and failure. By visions of futures just out of reach. By exceptional creativity and ambition.

  • You will meet new people: be it your future co-founder, next boss, teammate, collaborator, or fellow Traveller.

  • You will learn new things: fresh tools, frameworks, and mindsets to level up your journey.


Join us. Be part of it. Shape the future.

When will tickets to Sunrise Aotearoa 2026 be available?

Tickets are on sale now. Hit the ticket button on this page to secure your seat.

When and where is Sunrise Aotearoa 2026 happening?

Sunrise Aotearoa is on Thursday 29 October 2026 at ASB Waterfront Theatre, Auckland.
- Registration Opens: 8.00am
- Sunrise Event Times: 9.00am - 8.00pm

Where should I stay in Auckland?

We’ve scored some discounted rates at hotels for our Travellers heading to Auckland for Sunrise.


Hotel Britomart
- Offer: 15% off the Fully Flexible rate (valid for bookings between Wednesday 28 - Friday 30 October 2026).
- Head to their website here and use the promo code "THBBBV28102026" 


The Convent, Auckland 
- Offer: 10% off their best available rate.
- Guests simply need to mention they are attending the Sunrise Aotearoa Conference when making their booking, and we'll apply the discount.


QT Auckland
- Offer: 20% off their best available rate.
- When booking via the QT website, select QT Auckland. In the ‘Corporate ID’ field enter your booking code: SRISENZ26


Abstract
- Offer: 20% off the Fully Flexible Rate (valid for bookings between Wednesday 28 - Friday 30 October 2026).
- Head to their website here and use the promo code “SUNRISE”.

When will the full program be announced?

We have a number of new speakers and program drops in the lead-up to Sunrise Aotearoa 2026 via Sunrise emails, and Blackbird LinkedIn, Instagram and X. The full program and schedule will be released in early October.

Can I sponsor Sunrise?

Each Sunrise, we work with a small group of partners who are as committed as we are in creating an extraordinary event. We're deliberately pretty picky about who we work with, but if you work with a company that wants to champion startups and the people building them, then flick us an email at sunrise@blackbird.vc and we can chat there.