News
The 2026 Bluff Oyster & Food Festival is set to deliver a full day of seafood, entertainment, and southern hospitality as thousands of visitors prepare to descend on Bluff this weekend.
Celebrating the region’s famous Bluff oysters alongside a wide range of southern food favourites. In addition to the iconic oysters being served at many food stalls, visitors will also be able to sample blue cod, muttonbirds, and pāua throughout the day.
With gates opening from 10.30am, event organisers are encouraging people to arrive prepared for southern weather conditions. Gate sales will be available on the day for $50, and attendees are recommended to bring cash, as EFTPOS facilities will not be available directly at the gate. EFTPOS services will still operate at the bar, merchandise areas, and before entering the venue. “As the saying goes, ‘Cash is king!"
People wishing to purchase tickets before the festival can do so through Barnes Oysters at the corner of Spey and Bond streets in Invercargill.
A packed programme of entertainment and crowd participation events has also been organised, helping make the festival one of Southland’s biggest annual attractions.
Among the highlights are the oyster opening races, where professional oyster openers compete in front of festival crowds. Members of the public will also have the chance to take part in the oyster eating heats, which remain one of the festival’s most popular spectator events.
Live entertainment will run throughout the day on the main stage, featuring international performer Helen Henderson alongside Sweet Marie, The Eastern, and Band Of Bluffies.
Cultural performances will also form part of the programme, with the Bluff School Kapa Haka Group and the Mapu-Kuki-Airani Rarotongan drummers scheduled to entertain festival-goers.
For your entertainment
MAIN STAGE
10.30am Te vaka o te uki ou drummers
11:00am Piping in of the Oyster
11:10am Ode to the Oyster
11:20am Bluff School Kapa Haka
11.50am Te vaka o te uki ou drummers
12:00pm Band of Bluffies
1:30pm Polynesian dance off
2:30pm Helen Henderson
3:30pm The Eastern
4:30pm Sweet Marie
SHED 3 STAGE
12.00pm Oyster opening and eating competitions
