Speculation has been mounting since the English singer-songwriter and Grammy Award-winning artist posted an image of the cover of his new album, Divide, on social media this week.
The cover includes the division symbol, but had been modified to feature a kiwi and a kangaroo inside the dots, along with a caption by the artist saying ``news soon x''.
The teaser prompted a wave of speculation online as more than 23,000 fans commented, including many pleading with the star to confirm a visit to New Zealand.
Dunedin Venues staff were remaining tight-lipped about the prospect of a concert at Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday, refusing to be drawn on whether Sheeran was likely to appear in Dunedin.
However, southern music fans did not hold back.
Sharon Gower, of Queenstown, pleaded: ``Omg pleeeeeeease let it be true!!!''
``Would be brilliant if he came down here,'' Raewynne Pedofski said.
``Come for the cheese rolls!'' Rowena Taylor added.
Mike Reeve, of Dunedin, said he had travelled to Christchurch for Sheeran's 2015 concert, which was ``fantastic''.
``I believe he would fill our stadium, such is his universal appeal.
``We want him to be the Ed in DunEDin!''
Sheeran has been a frequent visitor to New Zealand in recent years.
He sold out Vector Arena in April 2015 as part of a tour that also took in Wellington and Christchurch.
He was back months later, drawing a crowd of nearly 50,000 to Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium, and returned last year to go bungy-jumping in Queenstown as part of an international ``gap year''.
A Facebook page - ``Bring Ed Sheeran to Dunedin, Auckland had their turn'' - set up earlier this year had attracted more than 4700 likes by late yesterday.
