Opening night will see British rock icons Pulp take over Elder Park for a completely free concert. Frontman Jarvis Cocker and his band will light up the riverbank with hits like Common People and Disco 2000, plus songs from their first new album in 20 years, More.
Festival Director Matthew Lutton OAM says: “The 2026 Festival program invites you to lower your guard and throw yourself into an ecstatic 17 days of exploration.”
It does not seek to narrow to a specific theme, instead, it elevates Australian and international artists who push boundaries and embody virtuosity… you will find narratives focused on the need for love, belonging and a sense of self; the brutal barriers… and the determination for hope, eccentricity, humanity and art.
Highlights of the 2026 program
- Director Simon Stone’s modern take on The Cherry Orchard, set in South Korea and starring Doyeon Jeon and Haesoo Park.
- Legendary Isabelle Huppert in Mary Said What She Said and Julia Bullock in Perle Noire: Meditations for Joséphine.
- Groundbreaking theatre from Elevator Repair Service’s Gatz, a marathon adaptation of The Great Gatsby.
- The premiere of Mama Does Derby from Adelaide’s Windmill Production Company, a heartfelt roller-derby comedy co-created by Claire Watson and Virginia Gay.
- Dance from Stephanie Lake, Australian Dance Theatre, and the UK’s Hofesh Shechter Company.
- Classical residencies by violinist Anthony Marwood and pianist Olli Mustonen, plus the Australian debut of Ensemble Pygmalion.
The Art Gallery of South Australia hosts the 2026 Adelaide Biennial of Australian Art: Yield Strength, exploring transformation under pressure. Meanwhile, WOMADelaide and Adelaide Writers’ Week return, with literary heavyweights Jacinda Ardern, Tina Brown, Christiane Amanpour, and Trent Dalton among the headline speakers.
Adelaide Festival also continues its commitment to inclusion with Tix for Next to Nix, Pay What You Can, and Festival Connect programs, ensuring more people can experience world-class art.
Become a Festival Friend for 15% ticket discounts and early access to the best seats.
The 41st Adelaide Festival runs 27 February–15 March 2026, with Adelaide Writers’ Week from 28 February – 5 March. Tickets on sale now at adelaidefestival.com.au
