‘Christchurch is the jewel for buskers’ as festival unveils 2026 line-up
Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Christchurch is gearing up for 10 days of world-class street performance, with the 33rd World Buskers Festival aiming to make the city the “circus capital of New Zealand”.
Buskers from 12 countries including Switzerland, Chile and Canada will take over the city’s streets from January 23 to February 1, performing back-to-back shows across five main pitches, from Cathedral Square to the Arts Centre.
Festival co-directors Pitsch Leiser from HooHa Productions said the festival is part of a mission to establish Christchurch as the centre of all things circus in the country.
“Making us the circus capital of New Zealand just makes sense – it’s bold, it’s fun, and it’s exactly where this city’s at,” said Leiser, who has more than 35 years’ experience in the field and co-directed last year’s festival.
“There’s a real buzz in Christchurch right now. We’re not just rebuilding – we’re reimagining what our city can be: playful, fun and daring.”
The central city will come alive with street comedy, circus performances, and acrobatic stunts, with locations stretching from the Bridge of Remembrance and Cathedral Square to the Scott Statue and the Arts Centre.
Festival-goers can also enjoy the newest pitch at Rollickin Gelato on Cashel St.
Ticketed events promise a mix of circus cabaret, dance, drag, comedy, and theatre, featuring NZ’s The Bitches Box, the Late-Night Cabaret, The Tiwhas, Mr & Mrs Alexander: Sideshows & Psychics!, and the Fiesta City Bus Tour with El Jaguar.
El Jaguar, aka the Christchurch-based Canadian comedian Derek Flores, is back with the third instalment of his much-loved party bus tour, promising a “laughing hard” ride through the city’s four avenues and a chance to peek inside the cathedral.
“It’s been seven years since our last tour in 2018, and we’ve been excited to bring it back,” Flores said.
Clarke McFarlane, who will perform his solo show Mario, Queen of the Circus and appear in headline act Cirque Bonbon, said 2026 will mark 23 years since his first appearance at the festival.
“Christchurch is the jewel for buskers and it’s so exciting to be part of it,” McFarlane said.
“The audiences here are amazing – they’re just as excited to see us as we are to come back.”
The festival also launches a new Māori and Pasifika cultural strategy and mentorship programme, aimed at supporting emerging local talent and ensuring inclusive representation on stage.
“We’ve got a bit of everything – cabaret, theatre, dance, drag, kapa haka, and music,” said Māori curator Savanah Tukariri.
“We’re opening the festival up to more artists from our community. Many don’t see the Buskers Festival as a platform for their work, so this is a chance for them to perform, have fun, and share their art in that world-class street performance space.”
Interactive games for children and families, called 8 Days of Play, have been introduced through a collaboration with Gap Filler.
Karena Finnie, head of major events at economic development agency ChristchurchNZ, said the festival plays a key role in the city’s cultural calendar and kicks off a major year of events.
“The World Buskers Festival is loved and cherished in Ōtautahi Christchurch – it’s part of what makes our city such a vibrant cultural centre.
“With The Court Theatre open and the new One New Zealand Stadium at Te Kaha coming, there’s a real energy around the city right now.”
Christchurch City Council is contributing $300,000 from its city identity events fund to support the 2026 World Buskers Festival, helping celebrate the city’s character and engage the community.