TAHI Ōtepoti 2026

The inaugural TAHI Ōtepoti will run from the 14th to the 18th of October, exclusively in Ōtepoti Dunedin.

Our newest event is a collaboration with TAHI Festival of Solo Performance, and we will be presenting our first programme over four days in October 2026, providing a well-supported performance and income opportunity for predominantly Dunedin artists.

We're grateful for the support of the UNESCO Dunedin City of Literature and DASH Printing.

TAHI – New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance

TAHI – New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance in Pōneke Wellington was founded by Dr Sally Richards, Festival Director and Producer, out of a long-standing vision to create a dedicated platform for solo performance in Aotearoa.

The idea emerged from Sally’s doctoral research in 2011, when she began exploring international festivals dedicated to solo performance and the rich whakapapa of solo storytelling in Aotearoa. The name TAHI – New Zealand Festival of Solo Performance was established in 2018, with the inaugural festival taking place in Wellington in 2019.

TAHI has expanded through performance, workshops, mentoring, emerging artist programmes and creative development opportunities, all grounded in connection, accessibility, resilience, sustainability and a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and te Ao Māori.

TAHI Ōtepoti is an exciting new development in this journey, bringing the TAHI kaupapa to Dunedin for the first time.

The Ōtepoti edition has been developed as a collaboration between the Dunedin Arts Festival team and the TAHI team – specifically Dr Sally Richards and Dunedin-based artist, academic and TAHI trustee Dr Moira Fortin Cornejo.

The project grew from a shared desire between the Festivals to create a local platform for the solo performance work being developed in and around Ōtepoti, while connecting local practitioners with the wider TAHI network.

TAHI Ōtepoti builds on the history and kaupapa of TAHI while creating a distinctly Ōtepoti context: a space for local artists, performers, students, academics and creative practitioners to share their work, develop connections and contribute to the continuing story of solo performance in Aotearoa.

Shows

Past performance

Letdown

Wed 14 Oct, 6pm Sold out | Sat 17 Oct, 8pm Sold out | Sun 18 Oct, 2pm Sold out
Past performance

A Raptor in Dunedin

Wed 14 Oct, 8pm | Thu 15 Oct, 6pm
Past performance

Invisible to the Naked AI

Thu 15 Oct, 6pm | Fri 16 Oct, 8pm
Past performance

He Māori?

Thu 15 Oct, 8pm
Past performance

Bones

Fri 16 Oct, 6pm | Sat 17 Oct, 8pm
Past performance

He Māori? (marae shows)

Fri 16 Oct, 6pm | Sat 17 Oct, 4pm | Sun 18 Oct, 4pm
Past performance

A Mesmerising Voyage

Sat 17 Oct, 6pm | Sun 18 Oct, 4pm
Past performance

Not Yet Named: Nicola#5 2/3/83

Sat 17 Oct, 6pm | Sun 18 Oct, 4pm
Cancelled

Grass Roots

Calendar

Festival calendar

Coming soon. The calendar layout is still being decided.