52 events, 11 World premieres, 8 Australian premieres and 17 exclusives

The 38th Adelaide Festival program includes a total of 52 events in theatre, music, opera, dance, media and visual arts, including major festivals-within-the-festival Adelaide Writers’ Week, UKARIA Chamber Landscapes and WOMADelaide, over 17 days and nights from Fri 3 to Sun 19 Mar, 2023. Featuring 11 world premieres, 8 Australian premieres and 17 events presented exclusively in Adelaide, the Southern Hemisphere’s preeminent arts festival will again celebrate diversity, innovation and our city’s world leading role as the place where global creative forces converge, blend and evolve.

In a transition from six hugely successful Festivals curated by artistic directors Rachel Healy and Neil Armfield, there is a new team in the driving seat at Adelaide Festival: Artistic Director Ruth Mackenzie CBE, Chief Executive Kath M Mainland CBE and Adelaide Writers' Week Director Louise Adler AM.

Ruth, who will direct the 2024, 2025 and 2026 Adelaide Festivals, says about presenting the 2023 program: “I see my role as enthusiastic spruiker for the program initiated by Neil and Rachel. The international quality of their festivals more than doubled audiences over the past six years and it leaves our new team well placed to continue their legacy.”

See the full program online now >>

Photo: Kath M Mainland CBE and Ruth Mackenzie CBE (left to right). Credit: Andrew Beveridge.