Q Theatre vs The Civic:Which is more popular in New Zealand?
In October 2026, The Civic had more branded searches than Q Theatre among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand. The Civic had about 18,100 branded searches, while Q Theatre had 8,420. The Civic made up 22.7% of all theatres and performing arts venue searches we track, and Q Theatre accounted for 10.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about theatres and performing arts venues, The Civic appeared in all four answers and Q Theatre in two. The Civic was mentioned before Q Theatre in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
The Civic, about 2 searches for every 1 for Q Theatre
Who does AI mention more?
The Civic, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
The Civic, named ahead of Q Theatre in every answer
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Top theatres and performing arts venues in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, The Civic appeared in all four answers. Q Theatre was mentioned in two out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. The Civic was listed before Q Theatre in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
The Civic4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Isaac Theatre Royal4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers- St James Theatre4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
ASB Waterfront Theatre3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Q Theatre2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Circa Theatre2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Auckland Theatre Company2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
Court Theatre1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
Auckland Live1 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
BATS Theatre1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
See every answer about theatres and performing arts venues
4 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which theatre or venue should I book in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best theatre or venue in New Zealand for a night out?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“wellington theatre shows”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“theatres and performing arts venues”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Q Theatre or The Civic more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Q Theatre and The Civic by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten theatres and performing arts venues we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for The Civic, Q Theatre. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | The Civic | ASB Waterfront Theatre | Q Theatre | Isaac Theatre Royal | Court Theatre | St James Theatre | Auckland Live | Circa Theatre | Auckland Theatre Company | BATS Theatre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | 19.3% | 10.6% | 8.9% | 16.4% | 13.1% | 8.6% | 9% | 7.3% | 3.8% | 3.2% |
| Dec 2025 | 22.5% | 8.2% | 8.4% | 12.7% | 18.6% | 5.4% | 10.3% | 8.5% | 3% | 2.5% |
| Jan 2026 | 15.7% | 7% | 5.9% | 13.4% | 29% | 7% | 7.5% | 8.8% | 3.8% | 2% |
| Feb 2026 | 16.8% | 13.8% | 7.8% | 17.4% | 11.3% | 7.5% | 8.4% | 7.8% | 4.1% | 5.1% |
| Mar 2026 | 16.7% | 7.5% | 9.6% | 21.3% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 6.9% | 7.7% | 3.3% | 2.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 19.2% | 10.5% | 11.2% | 13.4% | 10.5% | 10.5% | 8.5% | 8.8% | 4.9% | 2.5% |
| May 2026 | 16% | 7.1% | 20.3% | 13.7% | 11.8% | 10.7% | 6.6% | 5.9% | 4.1% | 3.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 20.8% | 11.4% | 8% | 14.7% | 12.8% | 9.3% | 8.6% | 6.4% | 5.2% | 2.7% |
| Jul 2026 | 22.7% | 4.4% | 13% | 8.8% | 17.7% | 6.7% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 4.6% | 3% |
| Aug 2026 | 21.9% | 12% | 10.2% | 15.2% | 10.4% | 5.3% | 8.9% | 10.1% | 3.6% | 2.4% |
| Sep 2026 | 23.7% | 10.6% | 11% | 11.1% | 11% | 10.6% | 9% | 7.2% | 3.2% | 2.5% |
| Oct 2026 | 22.7% | 15.2% | 10.6% | 10.5% | 10.3% | 10.2% | 8% | 5.7% | 3.7% | 3.1% |
How has branded search for Q Theatre and The Civic changed in New Zealand over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending October 2026: Q Theatre took it in May 2026, The Civic took it in June 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, Q Theatre’s share of searches among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand moved from 8.9% to 10.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.8K to 8.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending October 2026, The Civic’s share of searches among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand moved from 19.3% to 22.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 14.8K to 18.1K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand theatres and performing arts venues in October 2026?
3 changes

In October 2026, ASB Waterfront Theatre overtook Isaac Theatre Royal and 2 others to rank 2nd among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand, with 15.2% of the searches.

In October 2026, The Civic lost share of searches among theatres and performing arts venues in New Zealand, from 23.7% to 22.7%.

Estimated monthly branded searches for Q Theatre in New Zealand rose 23.6% over 12 measured months, from 6.8K to 8.4K in October 2026.
How are Q Theatre’s and The Civic’s branded searches counted?
9 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Q Theatre’s and The Civic’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among theatres and performing arts venues

The Civic vs ASB Waterfront Theatre: compare popularity
The Civic vs Isaac Theatre Royal: compare popularity
The Civic vs Court Theatre: compare popularity
ASB Waterfront Theatre vs Q Theatre: compare popularity
ASB Waterfront Theatre vs Isaac Theatre Royal: compare popularity
ASB Waterfront Theatre vs Court Theatre: compare popularity

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