The 2025 Adelaide Festival program has been officially unveiled by artistic director Brett Sheehy, setting the stage for a spectacular cultural event. Running from February 28 to March 16, the festival will feature 65 events, including 11 world premieres and 15 Australia-exclusive shows. This year’s lineup promises an unforgettable experience with a mix of opera, dance, theatre, and music, drawing art lovers to South Australia for a packed 17-day celebration.
A Grand Opening with Opera and Dance
The festival will open with the grand opera Innocence, a modern masterpiece from Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho.
Directed by Simon Stone, this compelling production comes to Adelaide after a successful run at London’s Royal Opera Covent Garden. It features a stellar international cast, including acclaimed Australian baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes. The opera is being hailed as a powerful exploration of morality and is a major highlight of the program.
Dance enthusiasts also have much to celebrate. The program includes captivating performances from international and local companies, such as Germany’s Tanztheater Wuppertal presenting Club Amour and Australian Dance Theatre celebrating its 60th anniversary with A Quiet Language.
Unmissable Premieres and Gripping Theatre
One of the most ambitious highlights is the world premiere of Mass Movement by the Stephanie Lake Company.
This incredible large-scale outdoor performance will unite over 1,000 dancers of all ages in Elder Park on March 1. As a free event, it aims to be a powerful celebration of community and unity through dance.
The theatre program is equally strong, featuring iconic actors and cult classics. Key productions include:
- Stephen Rea in Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape: A profound one-man play exploring memory and self-reflection.
- Hedwig and the Angry Inch: A new Australian production of the beloved rock musical, starring the charismatic Seann Miley Moore in the lead role.
These premieres and unique stagings are set to be major drawcards for theatre lovers across the country.
From Literary Giants to Global Rhythms
The festival’s cultural reach extends beyond the stage to the world of literature with Adelaide Writers’ Week, scheduled from March 1 to 6.
This year’s event will feature celebrated authors like Geraldine Brooks, Helen Garner, and Marcus Zusak. Zusak’s appearance is particularly notable, as it will mark the 20th anniversary of his global bestseller, The Book Thief.
Music lovers can look forward to WOMADelaide, which will take place in Botanic Park from March 8 to 11. Known for its vibrant atmosphere, the event will showcase artists from over 25 countries. The full lineup will be announced in January.
| Event | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide Festival | Feb 28 – Mar 16 | Various Venues |
| Mass Movement | March 1 | Elder Park |
| Adelaide Writers’ Week | March 1–6 | Adelaide |
| WOMADelaide | March 8–11 | Botanic Park |
Building on Record-Breaking Success
The 2025 program aims to build on the incredible success of the 2024 festival, which shattered previous attendance records.
Last year, around 500,000 people attended both ticketed and free events. Significantly, 30% of these visitors came from interstate, highlighting the festival’s national importance and its role as a major cultural draw for Adelaide. This influx of cultural tourists provides a significant boost to the local economy and creative industries.
Artistic director Brett Sheehy, who returned to lead the festival, expressed his pride in the lineup. He stated, “I’ve relished the opportunity to curate a lineup of extraordinary works you simply won’t find anywhere else in the country.”
