Dunedin Arts Festival

Dunedin Arts Festival The South Island's premier arts experience! Our next Festival dates are 3 April - 18 April 2027.

Amazing Good Company Arts! Well deserved!Those of you who were lucky enough to see Pōtaka Nautilus & Pepe, and Ad Parnas...
29/05/2026

Amazing Good Company Arts! Well deserved!
Those of you who were lucky enough to see Pōtaka Nautilus & Pepe, and Ad Parnassum Purapurawhetū at the 2025 Festival will be aware of the great work this Dunedin company do, but for those who missed these shows - don't worry, we are already chatting about 2027...

Five new Semi-Finalist nominations for HORSES during May!

"…a living, breathing structure of sensation" Swedish International Film Festival HORSES review excerpt

Our Asia-Pacific Trilogy comes to The Arts Centre Te Matatiki Toi Ora for Matariki in July. TIGER, DRAGON and HORSES are being presented as hybrid live-digital activations with Mark de Clive-Lowe on piano and electronics, with Mahina Kingi-Kaui (taonga pūoro), and Daniel Belton (live keyed film projections). We can't wait to bring these works to Ōtautahi!

Creative New Zealand

A massive congratulations to Virtual Eye - one of our amazing sponsors, who picked up an Emmy yesterday (their 5th!)!Jus...
28/05/2026

A massive congratulations to Virtual Eye - one of our amazing sponsors, who picked up an Emmy yesterday (their 5th!)!
Just shows Dunedin is world-beating!

Emmy number five, and this one was special for a ground-breaking Dunedin business. Virtual Eye (formerly Animation Research) won its fifth Sports...

Nicola Cheeseman is Back and other exciting news. How’s everybody’s winter going? It hasn’t been too bad yet, but are yo...
27/05/2026

Nicola Cheeseman is Back and other exciting news.
How’s everybody’s winter going? It hasn’t been too bad yet, but are you managing to keep warm?
We’re keeping warm by beavering away and putting together an amazing festival for you to experience in 2027!
If you haven’t cleared these dates in your calendar yet, then here they are again so that you can cancel any trips, organise the babysitters, and start deciding your going-to-see-shows wardrobe.

We’re 2-16 April 2027.

I know that seems like a long way away (trust me, it’s not!) but remember that our new off-year Festival TAHI Ōtepoti is in October and there will be plenty of other great world-class shows to see between now and then.
So, click this link to read our latest e-news with details of some cool shows coming up in Dunedin that we know you'd like!
https://mailchi.mp/artsfestivaldunedin/its-2026-already-17994584

Hic Sunt Dracones The Regent Theatre Arts on Tour NZ Trust New Athenaeum Theatre

We lost a true legend today. I (Charlie) had the pleasure of working with Dame Jools and Dame Lynda a few times, and off...
24/05/2026

We lost a true legend today. I (Charlie) had the pleasure of working with Dame Jools and Dame Lynda a few times, and off-stage they were even funnier than on-stage - if you can imagine that being possible.
Vale Jools, you will be missed.
Love to Lynda and the rest of the family.

Dame Jools Topp has died after a battle with breast cancer. As one half of the Topp Twins with her sister Lynda, Jools brought joy to generations...

Hey everyone, here's a "wee" show on this Wednesday that may interest you. BEN WATERS (UK) - Boogie-Woogie Piano KingWhe...
24/05/2026

Hey everyone, here's a "wee" show on this Wednesday that may interest you.

BEN WATERS (UK) - Boogie-Woogie Piano King

Where & when? Moons in the Exchange on Wed night May 27th for tunes and yarns just $20 cash on the door from 6.30 pm show at 7-9 pm

Who is Ben Waters? Well for starters he has played with The Rolling Stones, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and the Mad Lads, Chuck Berry, Jools Holland, Jeff Beck, Cher, Jerry Lee Lewis, Imelda May, Mick Hucknall, Johnny Depp, Paul Weller, plus many more!

Ben Waters is one of Britain’s most celebrated boogie-woogie and rock & roll pianists. A lifetime on stage has taken him from small blues clubs to sold-out international venues, sharing stages with legends including Charlie Watts, The Rolling Stones, and many more.
Key shattering Boogie Woogie is how the Guardian newspaper described Ben Waters playing after a concert at London’s iconic Ronnie Scott’s. Renowned for his energetic, entertaining performances, Ben’s virtuosity shines through when showcasing the early Blues, Boogie and Rock ‘n Roll of his musical heroes Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Amos Milburn, Little Richard, Ian Stewart, Dr. John and their like.
Accolades from a brilliant career include:
· “One of the best pianists in the UK - The London Times
· “I have been a boogie fan since the ‘50s and seen pianists all over the world. None come close to Waters - Blueprint Magazine
· “Ben’s solos are full of flare and bravado” – the Birmingham Post
· “Probably the best pianist I’ve played with. - Pete Thomas sax with Fats Domino and Elton John.
· ‘Like a Bouncy Castle For Grown Ups – London Times review of a Ben Waters show.

Ben loves impromptu intimate shows allowing him, as it does, to engage the audience with entertaining anecdotes of his life “on the road” and showcase up close the playing that prompted Jools Holland to nominate him as one of his 10 favourite piano players of all time.

Check him out on Jools Holland here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4gzAwyK8GU

Yellow Eye Ltd

Happy May The Fourth.
04/05/2026

Happy May The Fourth.

Given that it’s May 4th, I suppose I should give this its annual airing.

30/04/2026

Performance-based initiatives by students, staff, and other members of the Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka - University of Otago community can seek support from the Division of Humanities Performing Arts Fund. Deadline for applications is Friday, 15 May.
Find more information here: https://www.otago.ac.nz/humanities/about/performing-arts-fund

Carla was such a force in our industry and a friend - she will be deeply missed.
30/04/2026

Carla was such a force in our industry and a friend - she will be deeply missed.

It’s with heavy hearts that today we share news of the passing of arts rangatira Carla van Zon ONZM (1952-2026).

Much-loved and respected by the arts community in Aotearoa and internationally, Carla worked for the New Zealand Festival for 20+ years including as artistic director 2002-2006. A former dancer, Carla championed the arts and artists all her life and in her roles at the Festival, Creative New Zealand and at Auckland Arts Festival, she shared her passion with audiences. She remained a close friend and mentor to our co-directors Tama Waipara and Dolina Wehipeihana, along with other staff and Board members, and she leaves behind a legacy which stretched across the world.

We will be sharing tributes to Carla on our website, festival.nz

Moe mai rā e te tuhi māreikura 🌿

If you're looking for your next theatre event - or a good laugh... - 'End of Summertime' might be exactly what you need....
23/04/2026

If you're looking for your next theatre event - or a good laugh... - 'End of Summertime' might be exactly what you need.

30 years ago, rugby-mad cow cocky Dickie Hart took New Zealand by storm with his hilarious commentary of the 1995 World Cup in 'C'mon Black'. Now Dickie's back, sharing his guide to living in the big bad city we love to hate - Auckland!

Join the irreverent, irrepressible Dickie Hart - in 'End of Summertime' by the country's favourite playwright Roger Hall, with acclaimed actor Peter Hayden as Dickie.

'End of Summertime' has recently seen full houses in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland. Now it's Dunedin's turn for a laugh.
We need one at the moment, don't ya reckon?

https://events.humanitix.com/end-of-summertime/tickets
$30; $25 (concession & block bookings)

END OF SUMMERTIME by the country's favourite playwright Roger Hall, with actor Peter Hayden playing the irreverent and irrepressible Dickie Hart.

On Saturday night Dunedin was treated to a legend in Paco Pena - whose only New Zealand stops were Auckland and Dunedin....
20/04/2026

On Saturday night Dunedin was treated to a legend in Paco Pena - whose only New Zealand stops were Auckland and Dunedin. Thanks The Regent Theatre for asking us to co-present the show with you, and thanks to everyone that came along. The response you gave to Paco after the show was incredible (and deserved).
At the same time across the Octagon at the Dunedin Town Hall was Rock Tenors - which by all accounts was a fun night with a good crowd too. So, that's approx. 3,000 people all having amazing arts experiences around the Octagon at the same time! Nice one!

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9 Moray Place
Dunedin
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