Things to do
Friday 11 September
Explore Outpatients: Quiet Tour. Small, group tours of the new Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building. 9am–12:30pm, New Dunedin Hospital Outpatient Building.
Tribal Heartbeat: The Magic of Festivals III. Launch of the latest collection from photographer Martÿn Buyck. Featuring live performances from Blue Heron and the Kadodo African Drummers. 5:30–7:30pm, Dunedin City Library.
Women's Pelvic Health: A Community Seminar. 5:30–7:30pm, Dunedin Community House.
Double Header: Otago Spirit v Tasman & Otago v Tasman. 7:10pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Happy Hour Solo Sounds with Catgut & Steel. 5pm, No.8 Distillery. Happy hour, food trucks, live music. (Country)
Rhythm and Brews. 7pm, Brew Bar.
Celebrating Dunedin Voices: An American Songbook. Featuring Dunedin Children’s Choir, Dunedin Harmony Chorus, Dunedin Rock Choir, Southern Consort of Voices, Sunny Side Up, Cantores Choir, Southern Youth Choir, Erin Connelly-Whyte, and Terence Dennis. 7pm, Glenroy Auditorium.
Wild Chitokakas, Bluestone, Supertonics. 8pm, Dunedin Musicians Club. (Blues, reggae, rock)
Office Dog Album Release Tour. 8:30pm, The Crown Hotel. (Alternative)
Big Sima & Boomtown: The Price Of Peace EP Release Tour 2026. 9pm, Pearl Diver.
Saturday 12 September
Otago Farmers Market. Fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, eggs, baked goods, milk, cheese, nuts, honey and artisan products + freshly roasted coffee and delicious breakfast and lunch items. 8am–12:30pm, Dunedin Railway Station.
Spiritual Expo September. Featuring local practitioners, businesses, artisans and wellbeing providers. Free entry. 10am–4pm, South Dunedin Community Hall.
John McGlashan College Fete. 50+ stalls and activities. 11am–2pm, John McGlashan College.
Dr Rock x Rocks for Tots – Dino Edition. Dr Rock is back at Tūhura Otago Museum to help identify your fossils, rocks, and minerals. Plus, hands-on activities accessible for 2-6-year-olds. 1-3pm, Tūhura Otago Museum.
2026 ASB NZ Road Mile Championships. Includes the Kids Mile, Social Mile, University Mile and the NZ Mile Championships. 4-6pm, George Street.
Make and Mend Awesome. Give your favourite garments a second life! Final class. 1–2pm, Stitch Kitchen.
Gigs, comedy & shows
Amped Music Project Gig #1. Featuring Emily Esplin. 1pm, Te Whare o Rukutia, 20 Princes Street.
Opera Otago : Celebrating 70 Years. 6pm, Naylor Love Lounge, Edgar Centre.
Radio One 91FM presents: the pink opaque - 'glow' and 'sparkle' singles release. With Pearly, Rheumy, and noelle hill. 6pm, Pearl Diver.
Chamber Music: NZ Trio+. NZTrio He Taonga Wairere add a deeper hue with the addition of viola and double bass to perform Franz Schubert’s Trout Quintet. 7:30pm, Glenroy Auditorium.
Dunedin Youth Jazz Orchestra. Squaring the Circle. 7:30pm, Hanover Hall.
Bronwyn. With Bevan Gardiner. 7:30pm, Inch Bar.
The Whirling Eddys. No.8 Distillery, 8pm.
DEATHRO (Japan). With Dale Kerrigan, Unsanitary Napkin, Cuck. 9pm. Message organisers for location: [email protected] (Metal, punk)
Opacity. 9pm, Pearl Diver. (DJ, electronic)
Sunday 13 September
Emerson’s Dunedin Marathon. 7am–1pm,
Southern Cross All Breeds Cat Show. Entry price: $15 family, $8 adults, $2 child. 10am–3pm, Taieri Bowling Club.
Discover Tennis at the Edgar Centre. Pick up a racquet and have a go! Free. 10am-2pm, Edgar Centre.
The 12th Annual Dame Dorothy Fraser Lecture. Hosted by Ingrid Leary MP, this year’s lecture features acclaimed author and educator Pauline Vaeluaga Smith, in conversation with Hon Carmel Sepuloni. 4:30–6:30pm, St Paul’s Cathedral.
Albatross Wildlife Cruise. See the Northern Royal Albatross chicks learning to fly! 4–5:30pm, Port Chalmers or Portobello departures. (Every Sun until end Sept.)
Dunedin Observatory Open Night. Guided telescope viewing of planets, nebulae, star clusters, and distant galaxies. Every Sunday between April–September. 7–9pm, Dunedin Observatory, 1a City Road.
Gigs, comedy & shows
Amped Music Project Gig #2. Featuring Death and the Maiden. 1:30pm, Pearl Diver.
Big Jazz Apple. 4:30pm, Inch Bar.
And that’s your weekend round-up. Got an event you’d like to feature? Drop me a line here → [email protected]
Thanks for reading,
Emma
Share the Dunedin Dispatch today
Know someone who’d love to find out what’s happening around the city? Share us with your friends and family