Australia’s favourite outdoor performance precinct, The Garden of Unearthly Delights, will once again bloom into the beating heart of the 2026 Adelaide Fringe, transforming Rundle Park/Kadlitpina into a vibrant celebration of world-class performance, Adelaide-exclusive shows, exceptional food, and undeniable excitement. The Garden opens on Friday 13 February and runs until 22 March.
The 2026 program features more than 115 dynamic shows across a six-week season, including 23 World Premieres and 39 South Australian Premieres. Audiences can expect an incredible variety of comedy, magic, cabaret, music, theatre, and circus performances starring internationally adored artists and beloved returning favourites.
For the very first time outside Osaka, Japan, The Sumo Show Hirakuza will bring its world-first theatrical experience exclusively to Adelaide, merging ancient sumo wrestling with comedy and jaw-dropping physicality. Australian media favourite Brian Nankervis (RocKwiz) will premiere Wish You Were Mine, a live music and storytelling show where guest artists perform songs they wish they had written alongside the mighty RocKwiz Orkestra.
New to The Garden in 2026 is Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett, a blend of breathtaking circus, gender-bending aerial acts, and fire-breathing performances from the hottest cabaret club in East Berlin. Returning favourites include the high-flying, five-star hit La Ronde, promising a bolder, wilder, and more unmissable show than ever with glittering spectacle, provocative energy, and raw talent from the world’s most elite stages. Comedy fans can also enjoy Tom Gleeson – Out of Touch, a brand-new show from the Hard Quiz and Taskmaster Australia host, along with last year’s hit Garry Starr: Classic Penguins, which won Best Comedy at Adelaide Fringe 2025, Best Comedy at Fringe World 2025, and Most Outstanding Show at the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
The 2026 season offers plenty for audiences who love comedy and storytelling with a nostalgic edge. Australian performers Pete & Frankie Rowsthorn (Smooth and Wrinkly), Wilbur Wilde (Talkin’ & Saxin’), and Rob Carlton (Virgin in a Knife Fight) join the program. From Rowsthorn’s unmistakable wit and warmth to Wilde’s legendary musicianship and humour, and Carlton’s sharp, heartfelt storytelling, these shows promise laughs, reflection, and familiar faces that long-time Fringe-goers will adore.
Food lovers will also be delighted by a lush, expanded food program curated by acclaimed SA chef Duncan Welgemoed, showcasing South Australian produce and culinary creativity. A highlight of the season, The Garden Feast, features three exquisite long-table dinners under the stars, each focusing on a different cuisine and including a spectacular line-up of chefs such as George Calombaris (The Greek Table), Matt Stone and Enrico Sgarbossa (La Dolce Tavola), and Annita Potter (Thai Spice Market).
Michelle Buxton, Co-Director of The Garden of Unearthly Delights, says,
“The Garden is programmed by four industry professionals who live and breathe performing arts every single day. We take so much pride in carefully curating a dynamic and eclectic program that is guaranteed to deliver the very best collection of shows for our wonderful Garden-goers.
“This will be our most dazzling season yet, and we can’t wait to welcome people to our wonderland where world-class superstars share the stage with blossoming new talents, and where tastebuds ignite and South Australia’s finest wines, beers, and ciders flow under the stars. It truly is a magical time in Adelaide, and we love being part of it every single year. Bring on the fabulous chaos of The Garden 2026!”
For the full program and moreinformation, visit gardenofunearthlydelights.com.au.
