The countdown is on for another year of Adelaide Fringe, presenting more than 1,500 shows in 2026 spanning comedy, cabaret, circus, theatre, music, visual art, interactive works, and large-scale immersive experiences.
Adelaide Fringe is set to once again transform Adelaide into one of the world’s most bustling cultural destinations. The festival will activate hundreds of venues, precincts and pop-up locations across the CBD, suburbs, and regional South Australia. . . From iconic hubs, to intimate neighbourhood spaces.
Beloved Fringe institutions will return like Gluttony, The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Rhino Room, Fool’s Paradise, Goodwood Theatres, Courtyard of Curiosities, Plant 4 Bowden, Arkaba Hotel, and Holden Street Theatres.
In 2026, Gluttony will host a strong programme of First Nations-led works at Tandanya, featuring powerful storytelling, contemporary performance and collaborations that foreground Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices.
The Smartphone Orchestra and Adelaide Youth Orchestra will team up for a unique experience at the Star Theatres, where the audience will help to create the score. Plus, Holden Street Theatres’ programme is jam-packed with local and international theatre show, including Edinburgh Fringe sell-out ‘Eat The Rich’.
It’s all happening over at the West End too, as it delivers an exciting programme – with Arthur Art House returning along with ‘Infamous Circus’ back in the Western Parklands and ‘Fringe Lassu Cosmic Cabaret Circus’.
Immersive Worlds is a new festival initiative, showcasing Fringe’s rapidly expanding landscape of digital, sensory and experiential art. This year’s programme includes next-generation VR worlds like ‘Monsieur Vincent’, an interactive experience of works painted by Van Gogh, and Surround Sync VR experiences at the Mercury Cinema. Plus there’s a suite of full-dome works at Olympic House, including the return of ‘Pink Floyd: Dark Side Of The Moon’.
The 2026 Adelaide Fringe promises to be one of the most dynamic in the festival’s history. Through the Adelaide Fringe Fund, the festival has awarded more than 200 grants and more than $1 million in funding to artists, producers and venues in 2026.
“Adelaide Fringe is a cornerstone of our state’s cultural identity. It brings people together, supports jobs and local businesses, and gives artists a platform to build their careers,” South Australian Minister For Arts Andrew Michaels MP says. “The 2026 programme is absolutely incredible and reinforces South Australia’s reputation as a destination for world-class arts and cultural experiences. I encourage everyone to book their tickets early and get ready for another amazing season of Fringe.”
“For over 20 years BankSA has been supporting Adelaide Fringe, a collaboration that delivers significant economic returns for South Australia,” BankSA State General Manager Consumer Enza Ferraro says.
“BankSA is deeply committed to backing South Australians, championing local stories and creating shared cultural experiences that leave a lasting impact on our state’s communities and creative industries. We’re also proud to offer BankSA cardholders 25 per cent off tickets to participating shows, helping to make Fringe more affordable, accessible and exciting for South Australians and visitors alike.”
Adelaide Fringe 2026 is on from 20 February-22 March.
