From culinary showcases to world-class sporting events, Adelaide is home to a range of festival experiences. Here are a few of the most epic festivals in Adelaide that should be on your itinerary.
Spring and fall are the best times to visit Adelaide. With hot summers and mild winters, it’s ideal for outdoor activities.
1. Adelaide International Guitar Festival
The Adelaide International Guitar Festival is an immersive winter event that celebrates the world’s most popular instrument. It features performances that span across rock, jazz, world, flamenco and classical music. The program also features a series of workshops and master classes.
This year the lineup is a treat for all music lovers. It includes Stella Donnelly, Hockey Dad and The 1975 as well as the quintessential Melbourne music festival Laneway with a line up that is sure to impress.
Other highlights include the Australian debut of the acclaimed Melbourne Guitar Quartet, which is a driving force in the field of guitar ensemble performance. Then, Antonio Andrade takes you on a dazzling journey through Andalusian dance styles in Flamenco Suite. Finally, Adelaide metal band Freedom of Fear will make their festival debut with their dual guitar shredding and mesmerising musicianship.
If you’re a fan of the guitar, be sure to check out the festival’s talk sessions and workshops featuring top guitarists and luthiers. It’s an opportunity to hear about their inspiration and artistic process as well as explore new ideas.
2. Spin Off
South Australia’s winter festival Spin Off is back, and it has the lineup to blow you away. Direct from the sidelines of Splendour in the Grass, it’s a boutique lineup featuring hip hop royalty, dance floor ignitor, rock and pop superstars, plus local favs.
Adelaide OGs and hip hop royalty Hilltop Hoods headline Spin Off with their action-packed hometown show, alongside ARIA award-winning electronic duo PNAU. Sweden’s grunge-dark-pop star Tove Lo is also set to take the stage with a swag of hits like Habits (Stay High) and Talking Body. New Zealand popstar Benee and Australian rapper iann dior are also on the bill, as well as Hockey Dad, Thelma Plum, Noah Cyrus, Sly Withers and promising Sydney up and comers The Rions.
With a limited number of tickets available, you won’t want to miss this event. Grab yours now and get ready to spin off at the Adelaide Showground on Friday 21 July.
3. Bright Walk
The Bright Canyon Walk is a 3-5km trail along the Ovens River that’s well worth doing, whatever time of year you visit. The track is surprisingly scenic and full of history, too: the area was the centre of gold mining in the mid- to late-1800s, with prospectors lining the banks and dredges ripping up the river bed.
This year’s BRIGHT Walk, held tonight at 5pm, will raise money to help SAHMRI researchers push closer to life-saving discoveries. This epic one-night challenge will see participants walk 15 kilometres after dark past dazzling light installations at Illuminate Adelaide and exclusive BRIGHT Walk experiences.
Sibling duo Soda Jerk will open the event with their supercut film Hello Dankness, which mines hundreds of film clips to portray a distinctly American political spectacle over the past three years. The lineup also includes acoustic performer and singer-songwriter Lucy Sparks and indie rockers Skeletonwitch.
Register by November 15 to get a t-shirt, and you can take part in either the 5K timed run or 1-mile family-friendly walk. Alternatively, you can simply turn up on the day and pay $30 without a t-shirt guarantee.
4. Illuminate Adelaide
Between 28 June and 30 July, Illuminate Adelaide transforms the city’s streetscapes and notable locations with a festival of lights, music, art, and technology. The event is a chance for people of all ages to embrace innovation and awaken their sense of wonder.
The 2023 lineup is a mix of old favorites and exciting new installations. The Adelaide Botanic Gardens welcomes a return of Moment Factory, a mesmerizing trail of light and sound that celebrates the garden’s natural beauty. Meanwhile, Australian multidisciplinary creative hive Make|Shift @ The Mill offers thought-provoking projection art. Another premiere event is Van Gogh Alive, a world premiere that uses the latest audio and visual immersive technology to take viewers inside the paintings of the great artist.
There are plenty of musical highlights, too, with a curated program over four eclectic weekends at Live @ The Lab. Among them are genre-defying visual series KLASSIK underground and the 10th anniversary of Unsound Adelaide with its cutting-edge experimental music. From drum and bass to jungle and garage, the line-up includes global hitmakers The Avalanches and UK producer Tourist.
5. FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
The world’s eyes are firmly set on Australia and New Zealand this summer for the latest instalment of FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is set to be bigger and better than ever before. With a lineup featuring the likes of Megan Rapinoe and Marta, this is sure to be a tournament to remember.
While there are a number of ticket packages available, individual match passes are also being offered with prices starting at just AUD/NZD $40 for adults and $20 for kids. All ticket bundles and individual tickets can be purchased online through FIFA’s official ticketing portal.
Join the fun at Tumbalong Park with a wide range of interactive football and fan festival activities. Test your skills against friends and family in a game of soccer snooker or play a full game of football minigolf on our pop-up pitch. Then, get kitted out in your country’s colours at the nation-themed FIFA Fan Festival(tm) playground.