The Adelaide Festival Centre Trust (AFCT) has unveiled a refreshed strategic plan focused on growing audiences, enhancing diversity, and delivering high-quality arts, entertainment, and cultural experiences that reflect and celebrate a wide range of distinct voices. Effective from 2026, this direction will further establish Adelaide Festival Centre as the Heart of the Arts in South Australia.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO Kate Gould: “By 2030, Adelaide Festival Centre’s venues will be destinations for arts, entertainment and culture, open to all, night and day, attracting both local patrons and new visitors through its programs and offerings. We will extend Adelaide Festival Centre’s commitment to children and young people with an ambitious new goal: to deliver quality arts and cultural experiences to every South Australian school-aged child by 2035.”
“With the support of the South Australian Government, work has begun to achieve these objectives. Adelaide Festival Centre is set to re-open in February 2026 following a significant redevelopment including new theatre seating, upgraded foyer fit outs, upgraded access and a new concept restaurant.”
Under the new strategic plan, Adelaide Festival Centre will introduce two dynamic year-round programs designed to broaden appeal across artforms and cultural representations, drawing in new audiences while giving loyal patrons and presenters fresh reasons to return.
CentreStage will spotlight internationally acclaimed artists and events, delivering world-class performances to Adelaide while showcasing exciting new works by Australian and South Australian creators. This program builds on investments in theatre upgrades to ensure Adelaide remains a key stop on national and international touring circuits.
Drawing on Kate Gould’s acclaimed experience with Dark Mofo, Brisbane Powerhouse, and Adelaide Festival, the new Contemporary Arts Program will emphasise experimental music, art, and culture to engage diverse audiences, particularly younger generations.
AFCT will boost investment in projects, productions, and workshops for children and young people, collaborating with sector partners for greater impact. The world’s oldest children’s festival, DreamBIG Children’s Festival, will remain a flagship biennial event.
First Nations initiatives remain a core priority across all programming. The acclaimed OUR MOB exhibition of South Australian Aboriginal artists will continue annually, with the 2026 edition set to be the largest yet.
The iconic Adelaide Cabaret Festival, which marked its 25th anniversary in 2025, returns in 2026 as an annual highlight, under the artistic direction of Reuben Kaye.
OzAsia Festival will be reimagined for 2026, with popular elements including the Moon Lantern event and Lucky Dumpling Market making a welcome return. Further details will be announced soon.
While the Adelaide Guitar Festival will not continue as a standalone event, its regional touring program On the Road will persist in 2026, and guitar-focused projects will integrate into the new year-round music offerings. AFCT extends heartfelt thanks for the passion and contributions of all involved over the past 18 years, particularly Artistic Director Slava Grigoryan (since 2010) and Executive Producer Sarah Bleby.
Adelaide Festival Centre eagerly anticipates welcoming home companies, artists, presenters, and patrons upon reopening in February 2026. In the meantime, events continue at Her Majesty’s Theatre throughout the redevelopment. Additional programming announcements are expected in 2026.
Visit www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au for the latest updates.
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