Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2026
Adelaide Cabaret Festival returns this winter under the bold new artistic direction of multi-award-winning Australian comedian, singer and writer Reuben Kaye, with 79 performances across 12 nights at Adelaide Festival Centre.
The 2026 program opens with the Variety Gala on Thursday 4 June at Festival Theatre, before a star-studded line-up takes the stage across three weeks of comedy, theatre and music.
Headline acts include Lime Cordiale performing with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Casey Donovan channelling Amy Winehouse in This Is Me, and opera and Broadway star Alfie Boe making his Adelaide Cabaret Festival debut alongside soprano Amy Manford. The festival closes with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox.
Highlights for FIFTY+SA readers include national treasure Vince Jones celebrating five decades of Australian jazz in A Maverick’s Tale, Jay Laga’aia sharing songs and stories from his remarkable career in Unscripted, and festival favourite Mahalia Barnes performing The Rose. Paul Capsis and Adam Noviello also present the world premiere of HOUSE OF ROT: Grey Gardens.
Free experiences include piano performances and Show Tunes Trevia with Dr Trevor Jones at the Quartet Bar, the LGBTIQ+ Elders Dance Club at Space Theatre, and the foyer exhibition Rags to Riches, featuring iconic costumes from Rhonda Burchmore, Reg Livermore and Kitty Bang Bang.
Dates: 4–21 June 2026
Location: Adelaide Festival Centre
Tickets available now via cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au
