Bread & Circus World Buskers Festival runs from 19 – 28 Jan 2024
You can find performance times on our TIMETABLE page following the program launch
The festival takes place at various locations in the heart of Ōtautahi Christchurch.
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Leave the car at home and take public transport or ride your bike, there is limited parking near the festival precincts.
Some daytime pitches will have temporary shade spots up and the natural surroundings will provide some sun relief. Please make sure you bring along suitable sun protections, especially for young children.
Bread & Circus reserves the right to take video recordings and photographs at each event and within the festival. On entering a Bread & Circus site and attending a performance of Bread & Circus you consent to be photographed and/or videotaped and acknowledge that the intended use is for archival and/or promotional purposes and authorise use by or on behalf of Bread & Circus.
We love to see happy snaps from our busker shows! Post them, share them and snap away (#BreadandCircusNZ). All professional photography and filming must have prior approval from the Bread & Circus team. The use of cameras, videos or other recording devices within theatres at ticketed events is strictly prohibited.
In the event of wet weather, shows will go ahead unless otherwise advised. Please bring an umbrella and/or weather appropriate clothing to stay dry.
If you find something, please hand it in to any member of staff and we’ll do our best to return the item to its owner. If you have lost something notify a member of staff or security or email us. Bread & Circus is not responsible for any lost or found property and will give any unclaimed items to charity or to the police at the conclusion of the season.
Tickets to the Bread & Circus Galas are sold via Ticketek, other ticketed events are sold through Universe.
You can purchase tickets through the Bread & Circus website.
Phone Bookings (Isaac Theatre Royal only): 0800 TICKETEK (842 538)
In Person: Box Offices at the Isaac Theatre Royal will open 60 mins prior to the performance start time. However, audiences are strongly advised to book online in advance to avoid disappointment.
The Box Office at Architects of Air will open at 10am every day
As a condition of sale, there are no refunds, exchanges or cancellations once the booking is complete except in accordance with applicable laws in the region of purchase. Please refer to the ticketing platform’s Terms and Conditions for further information or contact the relevant ticketing provider for further assistance.
At Ticketed Events you pay an advertised ticket price to secure your seat. There will be no hat circulated and no expectation that you donate to the performer directly. The only exception in 2024 is the Buskers’ Comedy Club, where you pay a small entry fee and a hat will be passed around.
At Hatted Events there is no cost of admission as these busking events take place at the public busking pitches, however a hat will be passed around during the performance and audience members should pay what they can to support the performers. Remember to bring cash for when the hat comes by – that’s how buskers make their living!
Age suitability is listed with every performance at Bread & Circus – World Buskers Festival.
G: Suitable for general audiences
PG: Parental guidance recommended for younger audiences
M16+: Suitable for mature audiences 16 and over
R18+: Restricted to audiences 18 and over
R20+: Restricted to audiences 20 and over
Unless otherwise specified, children 18 months and under can sit on the lap of a carer free of charge. Any child over this age must have a ticket. No children, including babes in arms are permitted to Restricted 18+ performances.
Some productions may offer discounts for children and/or families. Where available, these tickets will be listed as ‘Child’ and ‘Family’ respectively.
Adult | Full price tickets
Concession | Government issued concession card, seniors, full time student cards*
Child | Children 12 and under
Family | 2 Adults and 2 Children
* If you are purchasing a concession ticket please have your student or pensioner ID card ready, as you will be required to enter your concession ID in some cases. When attending the event ensure you can present your card on request.
Where applicable, GST is including in the ticket price. All prices listed are in $NZD.
For events at the Isaac Theatre Royal you can choose your seat at the time of booking. All other events are General Admission. This means your ticket does not assign you a specific seat and seating will be on a first in, best dressed basis so please arrive early
Being late to a ticketed event affects performers and the rest of the audience. Where possible, latecomers will be admitted during a suitable break in the performance however this is at the discretion of the performer and Front of House team. Bread & Circus regrets it is not possible to refund a completed booking for latecomers.
The only way to ensure you are purchasing legitimate and official tickets is through the Bread & Circus website (www.breadandcircus.co.nz) which will link directly to our official ticketing agencies, Ticketek (www.ticketek.co.nz) and Universe.
A limited number of advanced tickets to Architects of Air: Arborialis Luminarium are available for pre-purchase online. We recommend booking in advance where possible to secure your preferred date and time. Where advance sales are sold out online, there will be walk-up tickets available on site during operating hours for immediate queuing and entry.
Advanced ticket holders should arrive at the site 10-minutes prior to their booked entry time for priority admission 30-minutes from the time indicated on the ticket.
Entry is subject to a queue: ticket holders will be admitted where capacity allows.
Online tickets are not available for the first 30mins and final 1hr of opening times.
Architects of Air: Arborialis Luminarium is located in Cathedral Square, Christchurch
This is a self-guided experience – please allow at least 20 minutes to immerse in the luminarium.
Architects of Air: Arborialis Luminarium is suitable for all ages. It is a great option for a family day out, introducing younger children to artistic and cultural experiences in a public space.
Children 2 years and under are admitted free of charge, and do not require a ticket
Children under the age of 16 must be supervised by an adult at all times – entry is subject to supervision of a maximum of 4 children per adult guardian.
Architects of Air: Arborialis Luminarium is wheelchair accessible. Priority entry will be granted to patrons who use wheelchairs.
Architects of Air is not suitable for Assistance Dogs as the luminarium is not an environment that dogs feel comfortable in. We have a shaded area for Assistance Dogs to remain outside the Luminarium while you explore inside. If you require support to make your way through the structure you may wish to bring a companion to accompany you through, otherwise our friendly Luminarium stewards will be happy to guide you through. Free admission is provided for companions providing accessibility support.
We wish for a safe and inclusive experience for all guests. If you’re uncomfortable without your assistance dog, please contact us at info@breadandcircus.co.nz to discuss alternative arrangements.
Please note that prams must be left outside of the luminarium.
Feel free to take as many photos as you would like with your phone, and don’t forget to tag #breadandcircusnz when you post them! However, please note that due to the size and obstruction of lenses, professional photography equipment (DSLR cameras video equipment and tripods) will not be admitted into the luminarium.
Public toilets are available in Cathedral Square
Shoes are not to be worn within Architects of Air: Arborialis Luminarium. There will be a shoe rack available for visitors to leave their shoes before entering the luminarium. Please note this is at the owner’s risk.
Isaac Theatre Royal Events: If you have specific access requirements or you require a complimentary support-person ticket, please contact Ticketek on 0800 686 677 or through their website. For all other ticketed events access information is available on the booking pages.
Bread & Circus makes every effort to ensure our sites and events are accessible to our entire audience. Busking events are held outdoors in public spaces. If you need additional assistance at a ticketed event, please make yourself known to Front of House staff and they will be happy to assist. For information regarding Isaac Theatre Royal, please visit the Isaac Theatre Royal website.
Bread & Circus artistic and creative submissions are now closed for the 2024 festival. Subscribe to our newsletter to find out when 2025 applications are open.
Bread & Circus offers innovative partnership opportunities that support brand experiences and help our business partners achieve a greater connection with our audience. Become one of our beloved festival partners by emailing: info@breadandcircus.co.nz
Please contact info@breadandcircus.co.nz and media@christchurchnz.com
