The heart of Dunedin springs to life again as George Street transforms into a vibrant open-air marketplace bursting with colour, flavour, and creativity.
Back by popular demand, the market will host a dynamic line up of international street performers to entertain the crowds. These world class performers will wow you and have you in hysterics.
What’s new?
A vibrant new development for this year is the launch of the Eats and Beats on Bath Street expansion – a dedicated food, drink, and live music zone that will run until 8:00pm. Within the area Bath Street businesses – The Wayfarer, Amigos, and The Swan, will be dishing out cocktails, drinks, desserts, and a good dose of delicious food to keep you satisfied.
There will be two live music stages and seating to make the atmosphere enjoyable and buzzing. This is perfect space for those who want to relax and soak up some tunes after a long day getting their shopping fix at the market.
Key info
When: 7 February 2026
Times:
George Street Market
10:00am - 5:00pm
Eats and Beats on Bath Street
12:00pm – 8:00pm
Where: George Street, Central Dunedin between the Octagon (the Octagon remains open) and Frederick Street including Bath Street
Entry: Free
Food
With more than 20 local food vendors, the George Street Market is setting the scene for true foodie heaven. From freshly roasted coffee and artisan treats to international street flavours, this is the place to fuel your day of browsing, meeting makers and exploring the expanded market footprint.
This year we’re elevating the experience with Eats and Beats – a dedicated food and drink zone mixed in with vibrant live music to ensure a fun atmosphere. Dunedin’s favourite eateries and food trucks will showcase their best flavours, including signature specials from The Swan, Amigos and The Wayfarer.
Market Stalls
With over 200 stalls, there is plenty on offer to discover creative, contemporary, and original products from across New Zealand. From handcrafted jewellery and art through, beauty and skincare through to plants for garden lovers, the choice is endless.
Entertainers
The atmosphere of the George Street Market wouldn’t be the same without performers!
Visit the Live and Local stage near the Malls, see international street performers at the intersections, or check out the multiple music stages down Bath Street. There’s a tonne of options for you to enjoy entertainment on the day.
Street Performers
Back by popular demand, the international street performers will dazzle and capture your imagination and hearts. This year there will be six international performers that will guarantee to be a hit with the crowds.
Chien Hung Kuo brings a visually captivating blend of circus cube manipulation, fire artistry and crystal ball illusions, rooted in Zen-inspired movement. His act, Moving Zen, transforms the street into a shifting landscape of flame, light and stillness. Every gesture is deliberate, fluid and meditative, celebrating impermanence through fire breathing, fire eating and seamless object manipulation. The result is an entrancing performance that invites audiences of all ages into a moment of focus, quietness and wonder.
Unpredictable, bold and fuelled by sheer improvisational madness, El Kote delivers a show that never repeats itself. Blending acrobatics, juggling, provocation and razor-sharp humour, he turns every space into a playground where anything can become part of the act. His characters — from a mischievous dog to a wild frog and an eccentric chicken — erupt from pure imagination and technical skill. With explosive energy and total command of street-style chaos, El Kote transforms each performance into a one-of-a-kind journey where the audience becomes part of the story.
High-energy ninja acrobatics meet playful comedy in MARBLE’s fast-paced duo show Soy Exciting!. Performers Koni and Kei combine power, precision and impeccable timing as they flip, juggle and interact with the crowd in true Japanese circus style. Their act blends acrobatics, juggling and ninja-inspired physical theatre, building toward a breath-taking finale: knife juggling four metres above the ground. With their unique mix of humour, skill and modern Japanese flair, MARBLE deliver a crowd-pleasing performance that captivates all ages on any stage they step onto.
“Level Up” is a high-energy showcase from Stefan Florescu, combining freestyle football, diabolo, and precision trick-shots into one dynamic performance. With more than 17 years on stages around the world — from village squares to packed stadiums — Stefan brings exceptional technique and genuine connection. His show is built on passion, grit, and the belief that skill can inspire joy anywhere. Having reached the finals of Romania’s Got Talent and performed in over 40 countries, Stefan continues his mission through his project “Show for Everyone”, bringing moments of excitement and hope to communities worldwide.
The Gipsy Marionettist, Italy / Bosnia
The Gipsy Marionettist weaves a poetic and deeply human story through hand-carved marionettes inspired by members of his own family. Each puppet embodies a memory, a mood, and a fragment of history, moving through a symbolic journey from wartime Yugoslavia to Italy. A fiery skeleton, a tender tiger, a mysterious oriental dancer and many more characters come alive in a performance that blends marionette theatre and commedia traditions. With artistic roots spanning Bosnia, Germany, Ukraine, France and Spain, his show reveals both the fragility and the magic of the human soul — string by string.
Fraser Hooper, United Kingdom / New Zealand
Award-winning comedian Fraser Hooper has delighted audiences in over forty countries with his signature non-verbal physical comedy. His show Funny Business delivers pure entertainment: eccentric dances, absurd characters, a stunt duck, a human fish, and the most ridiculous boxing match you’ll ever see. With impeccable timing and warm audience interaction, Fraser creates an atmosphere of shared laughter for festivalgoers of all ages. A master of silent humour, he turns simple moments into unforgettable comic scenes.
Register to be a stallholder
Applications are still open for stallholders who would like to be part of this year’s Market. To register, please use the link below.
This year the Market has grown, with several new areas added, including a dedicated Community Stall zone. While the core focus remains on craft, handmade goods and quality artisan products, community participation is an important part of the event and our city. Eligible groups include community fundraising groups, charities, fundraising stalls (such as sausage sizzles).
Plan Your Visit
The following road closures will in place on Saturday 7th February 2026, 3:00am – 10:00pm.
- George Street between The Octagon and Frederick Street.
- Saint Andrew Street between Filleul Street and Great King Street.
- Hanover Street between Filleul Street and Great King Street.
- Moray Place between Filleul Street and Great king Street
There will no parking on Friday 6th February from 2:00pm till Saturday 7th February 10:00pm:
- London Street between Filleul Street and Frederick Street
- Filleul Street between Frederick Street & Hanover Street
- Moray Place between Filleul Street and Great King Street
Please note: all vehicles parked on these streets in the above times will be towed.
To ensure your visit is as enjoyable as possible, we strongly encourage attendees to use public transport, as the city centre will be extremely busy throughout the day. Free buses will be available thanks to our friends at the Otago Regional Council.
Public Transport
ORBUS public buses will be free for passengers between during the day to support the event and help minimise traffic. Just mention to the driver that you are heading to or from the market – no need to use your Bee Card.
Is there mobility parking available?
Mobility parking is located (between George Street and Filleul Street on St Andrew Street).
Does the market still go ahead if it’s raining?
The market will go ahead regardless of weather. The only time the market would be closed is in extreme weather conditions. If the market is cancelled for any reason, a notice will be published on the DCC Facebook page.
Are there EFTPOS, ATM and credit facilities?
Many vendors accept EFTPOS and credit/debit cards but make sure you bring some cash as well. There are several ATM close to the market where you can get cash out.
Can I bring my dog?
To ensure a safe and comfortable environment for all attendees, we kindly ask that you do not bring dogs to the event. The only exception is for guide dogs, which are welcome.
Rotary Volunteers at the Market
We work closely with the wonderful team from Rotary who can assist with information and any questions you might have on the day. You can find them by watching out for people wearing high-visibility vests.