The purpose of this study is to investigate teachers' core competencies in relation to their innovative teaching performance. Based on the literature and previous studies in this field, four competencies (learning competency, educational competency, social competency and technological competency) are theorised as core competencies for teachers' innovative teaching. A questionnaire on teachers' core competencies and innovative teaching performance was developed and tested. The findings indicate that teachers' educational competency, social competency and technological competency were positively related to their innovative teaching performance. The study also shows that a supportive relationship with colleagues is important for teachers' innovative teaching performance. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed. (Contains 8 tables and 1 figure.)