"There are eight different pieces of theatre, five dance works and 14 music events," Mr McBryde said at the programme launch in the Glenroy Auditorium in Dunedin.
"It's been two years in the making and the preparation is all in place. There's a real sense of achievement that we've got something very special and we're already seeing a groundswell of anticipation at the line-up. Interest is really high. Now it's time to get it out there and get ready to start the party."
Some of the highlights include Dame Kiri Te Kanawa in recital, the Dhol Foundation, a Mike Nock and Michael Houstoun piano duet, the Kransky Sisters, Le Sud and the Loons Circus Company's The Butler.
The world premiere of Dunedin composer Anthony Ritchie's Symphony No 3 will have special significance for Mr McBryde.
As the Dunedin Sinfonia general manager 20 years ago, he commissioned Ritchie's first symphony when the composer was University of Otago Mozart fellow.
"That will be very special and I'm very proud that we're doing that. Anthony is a world-class composer who lives in Dunedin and it's fabulous to be showcasing something like that.
"Over the past six festivals, the breadth of acts we've had has been remarkable. We've had things that would never usually come to Otago," Mr McBryde said.
This year's festival will have an added poignancy, as it will be the last one for both Mr McBryde and chairman Paul Dallimore, who have been involved since the biennial festival started in 2000.
The 2010 Otago Festival of the Arts runs from October 8 to 17.
