The Foundations: Festival of Dunedin’s Past, Present and Future programme, a collaboration between the Southern Heritage Trust and the Dunedin City Council, will replace the Heritage Festival. The Southern Heritage Trust in a statement said the new festival represented a major step forward in how Dunedin’s outstanding heritage was shared and celebrated. "My expectation is that a heritage festival will attract significant visitor numbers in the offseason during April to October and will grow to be a marquee national event fitting to the Heritage Capital of New Zealand. "The Southern Heritage Trust has for many years run an informative and enjoyable heritage programme. ‘We are excited to incorporate and develop the Heritage Festival kaupapa within this new event."

Source: Otago Daily Times February 11, 2026 16:07 UTC