Thousands of Dunedin residents have to be refunded for tickets they've bought to a cancelled show.

All Dunedin showings of Sleeping Beauty on Ice have been cancelled because the transport of equipment has been stalled.

Show promoters won't say exactly how many tickets have already been purchased, but they're promising full refunds.

They say there are thousands of Dunedin ticket holders.

The show was due to be staged next month, and Christchurch audiences are also missing out.

Five tonnes of ice was to form a skating stage for the show, at the Regent Theatre.