Revered for its breathtaking setting and world-class chamber music, the Adelaide Hills venue remains a place where audiences can discover artists, ideas and musical moments that resonate long after the final note.
As Graham Strahle observed in InReview in August 2025, ‘Adorning the slopes that rise up to Mount Barker Summit, UKARIA Cultural Centre continues to inspire breaths of admiration just as it did when it opened a decade ago. […] The concerts are still about offering highest quality chamber music in an intimate, almost private atmosphere.’
That spirit of intimacy and artistic excellence continues to guide the organisation’s next chapter.
A new season led by sound, curiosity and collaboration
Reflecting on the year ahead, UKARIA CEO Alison Beare writes, ‘After a year of celebration, we’re excited to be forging the future, finding new ways to engage with artists, collaborate with festivals, develop touring circuits and encourage curiosity from our audience. Our approach to curation is based around sound, and we are always searching for artists who inspire us to listen. The selection of music is artist-led, so each program is a deeply personal expression of what they want to explore and create.’
This artist-centred philosophy runs through the entire twenty-four-concert program, spanning February to August 2026. The new season includes two double-concert weekends featuring leading international ensembles, alongside new collaborations and debuts that highlight UKARIA’s commitment to bringing remarkable musical experiences to Australian audiences.
Highlights
Among the highlights is the Leonkoro Quartet’s first Australian tour, initiated by UKARIA in partnership with the Melbourne Recital Centre and Pier 2/3 in Sydney. Another major event reunites the celebrated Sitkovetsky Trio with Stefanie Farrands, Principal Viola of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Music lovers can also look forward to the much-anticipated recital by James Ehnes and Orion Weiss, two legendary performers whose long-standing partnership continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Cellist Umberto Clerici brings a deeply personal dream to life as he introduces his clarinet trio to Australian audiences. His connection to UKARIA and Australia forms the heart of this project, with performances by the Lonquich-Clerici-Mehner Trio and Júlia Pusker scheduled at the Perth Festival before their arrival at UKARIA in February.
The 2026 program embraces innovation, discovery and cultural diversity. Highlights include:
- GRAMMY Award-winning Roomful of Teeth, an a cappella ensemble redefining vocal expression
- UKARIA’s first Irish folk program, led by world-renowned fiddler Martin Hayes
- The Australian discovery of Japanese jazz pianist Makoto Ozone and his trio of next-generation artists
- A bold flute-focused program with three world premieres, curated by Joshua Batty
- The debut of David Leha (Radical Son), whose life story and artistry offer a powerful testament to the transformative force of music
From classical masterpieces to contemporary explorations, the season reflects UKARIA’s ongoing commitment to sound-led storytelling and meaningful artistic encounters.
UKARIA’s 2026 First Release is now on sale at ukaria.com/events. The full brochure is available at issuu.com/ukaria/docs/2026_first_release
