"Any city that has an 18th-century poet in its centre is a city born to celebrate the arts," Mr Chin said.
"The success each succeeding festival has enjoyed is a testament to Dunedin."
More than 100 people attended the programme launch in the Glenroy Auditorium.
The October festival, which includes more than 40 international and New Zealand events, would be "a cultural event to savour", director Nicholas McBryde said.
The festival will debut four international acts never seen in the country, premiere three New Zealand productions and host, arguably, the largest number of great New Zealand literary figures to be brought together in one city.
The international line-up starts with a piano recital by David Helfgott and includes music, drama and comedy acts from Spain, Italy, Canada, Israel and Australia.
Original New Zealand work included theatre, literary performance, poetry, dance and music, Mr McBryde said.
World premieres at the festival include plays Things I Hate About Mother, by Sarah McDougall, Palliative Care, by Emily Duncan and the dance film Matchbox, by Daniel Belton and Good Company.
The New Zealand premiere of Jane Eyre will also open at the Fortune Theatre during the festival.
A festival highlight will be the gathering of 30 of New Zealand's greatest literary figures to mark the 50th anniversary of the University of Otago Robert Burns Fellowship in Literature.
