In South Australia we love a party. Discover the top festival and events in Adelaide and throughout South Australia all year round.
South Australia's world-famous events and festivals showcase our exceptional food and wine, sport, art and vibrant city life. It's no surprise then that we are known across the country as the 'festival state'. But, the party doesn’t stop in Adelaide. Our regions will find any excuse for a celebration, with events and festivals that show off the best of our state's food, wine, fashion, art and design.
Discover our calendar of events and festivals on in Adelaide and throughout South Australia all year round.
1. SANTOS Tour Down Under, January
Pedalling across South Australia in January, The Santos Tour Down Under is Australia’s greatest cycling event, welcoming the world’s best to the city of Adelaide and South Australia’s beautiful regions. Tour time provides the perfect opportunity to see, eat and drink your way around the Barossa, McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills.
2. Adelaide Fringe Festival, February - March
Adelaide Fringe Festival is the party that defines this city! It is the largest open-access festival in the Southern Hemisphere, bursting at the seams with local, interstate and international five-star acts that transform the state for 31 wonderful days and nights. Whether you’re a cabaret connoisseur, comedy king or queen, theatre tragic or just want to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere, there’s something for you at Adelaide Fringe. Join the Adelaide Fringe in 2023 with festival dates of 17 February to 19 March.
3. WOMADelaide, March
Each year, sounds from around the world fill Adelaide’s beautiful Botanic Park as part of WOMADelaide. As one of the best Australian festivals, WOMAD is Australia’s ultimate feast for the senses, set in a glorious 34-hectare green oasis. In an impressive 2023 line-up, WOMADelaide is set to return to Adelaide from March 10 to 13, 2023 with headline acts from international sensations Florence + The Machine and Bon Iver. Tickets on presale from August 25th 2022.
4. Adelaide Festival, March
For 60 years, Adelaide Festival audiences have delighted in an outstanding mix of internationally acclaimed theatre productions, an eclectic array of world-class musicians, breathtaking dance pieces, renowned writers and striking visual arts displays. Immerse yourself in venues across South Australia throughout the month of March 2023 with a program highlight being the Andy Warhol & Photography Exhibition.
5. TASTING AUSTRALIA PRESENTED BY RAA TRAVEL, APRIL - MAY
South Australia’s food and wine are renowned the world over and for 10 sumptuous days one of Australia’s oldest food festivals dishes up the very best from around the state. With events across South Australia showcasing the best produce served up by our most awarded chefs, winemakers and restaurateurs, Tasting Australia is foodie heaven. Long lunches, exclusive dinners, farm tours, tastings, masterclasses and a celebration of food in Adelaide’s Town Square, loosen your belt buckle for a gourmet feast like no other.
6. Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend, May
One of South Australia’s premier wine regions, the Clare Valley is home to world-famous wineries with a beautiful country backdrop. The Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend was the first food and wine event of its kind in Australia. Each year, you can expect tastings, regionally inspired cuisine and full-blown feasts at more than 20 gorgeous Clare Valley wineries.
7. The Adelaide Cabaret Festival, June
Running throughout June, the dazzling Adelaide Cabaret Festival will see some of the world’s biggest acts sashay across the stage at venues throughout Adelaide. The Adelaide Cabaret Festival is the largest festival of its kind in the world with major events at the Dunstan Playhouse, Festival Theatre, Her Majesty’s Theatre and Artspace.
8. Illuminate Adelaide, July
Reignite your curiosity this winter with Australia’s newest major event, Illuminate Adelaide, returning bigger and brighter than before. This city-wide spectacle invites you to experience a program of art, light, sound and imagination. Shining a light on South Australia for the month of July, the program hosts a range of free and ticketed events by local, national and international artists and companies for you to enjoy and shake off those winter blues. Sparked your interest?
9. The Adelaide Beer and BBQ Festival, July
The Adelaide Beer and BBQ Festival is a showcase of South Australian, Australian and international beer and cider with 50 mouth-watering exhibitors pouring and cooking up a storm in the Adelaide Showground’s historic Brick Cattle Pavillion. The barbie will be lit from July 15 to July 17, 2022.
10. Winter Reds Weekend, July
Shrug off your jacket and shake your scarf free when the Adelaide Hills plays host to the annual Winter Reds Weekend. Be tempted by this food and wine festival showcasing more than 30 beautiful Adelaide Hills wineries offering sumptuous events, tastings and entertainment both day and night. Swirl some of the best deep reds around July every year.
11. SALA Festival, August
Celebrating South Australia’s thriving visual arts community, the SALA (South Australian Living Artists) Festival runs throughout August with works and exhibitions popping up in every corner of South Australia, from offices and cafés to galleries and wineries. SALA is the largest community-based visual arts festival in Australia, and celebrates sculpture, painting, photography, mixed media, moving images and installations.
12. OzAsia Festival, October – November
Held over 18 days, OzAsia Festival is Australia’s leading contemporary Asian arts festival. Yearly programs present the very best in contemporary theatre, dance, music, visual art, film, literature talks, food and more from across Asia. Highlights include the dazzling Moon Lantern Festival and the mouth-watering Lucky Dumpling Market. Get your taste with festival dates happening across October and November.
13. National pharmacies Christmas Pageant, November
The Credit Union Christmas Pageant is the largest single-day parade in the southern hemisphere; the second biggest in the world (behind the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City). Each year, fairy tale characters, colourful clowns, marching bands, twirling dancers and more than 60 floats lead the way to Father Christmas and his iconic sleigh, with the festival bringing the spirit and joy of Christmas to the streets of Adelaide in 2023.
14. VALO Adelaide 500, December
Start your engines and get ready this December for Australia's largest domestic motor sport event VALO Adelaide 500. Returning to the streets of Adelaide, this year will mark the 23rd time the cars will make their way around the famous street circuit. A weekend jam packed full of action, there's plenty to see from the Supercars on the track to the HotWheels stunt team and FMX and BMX freestyle motorcross entertainment. Plus, as the days draw to a close the off track action revs up with some of Australia’s and the world's biggest acts taking to the stage in the scenic surrounds of the Adelaide parklands.
Love A PARTY?
There’s so much to see and do in South Australia. Find out what’s on today, this weekend and this month in Adelaide and South AUstralia. Looking to keep the party going? Check out blog for the best things to do at night in Adelaide.
