Adelaide Fringe returns for an extra week in 2025
Two major east end Fringe hubs will open a week early to cash in on the LIV Golf crowd ahead of the main event during Mad March, which offers 1300 shows across 500 venues.
The Garden of Unearthly Delights and Gluttony will open on Friday, February 14, a week before other Adelaide Fringe hubs for what’s been dubbed “Sneak Peek Week”.
Sneak Peek Week will include previews of some Fringe shows, encouraging audiences to book into seasons earlier and check out Fringe food offerings, aligning with LIV Golf’s tournament at the Grange Golf Club from February 14–16.
Data from Adelaide Economic Development Agency said hotel occupancy in Adelaide peaked at 90.5 per cent on Friday, April 27 during the 2024 edition of LIV Golf.
Adelaide City Council – which licenses the Garden, Gluttony and the Fringe Box Office use of the park lands – was only recently alerted to the date changes, to be approved next Tuesday.
At a City Community Services and Culture Committee meeting last Tuesday, Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith said approving the extension was a “no-brainer” despite the request coming six months after the council approved licenses for the hubs.
“I think this was driven by the Fringe and the operators felt obliged to assist with the LIV Golf event and it’s suboptimal and we should have known sooner, but we are in a position now where we can refuse it, but it would cause mayhem,” Lomax-Smith said.
In a blog post to its artist and venue registration website, which is publicly viewable, Adelaide Fringe says Sneak Peak Week is “a great opportunity for all participants to drum up some word of mouth, prepare for the season and set themselves up for success before the main Adelaide Fringe crowds arrive”.
Beyond the east end, nearly 200 events will be spread across 30 venues in the west village of the city, including Light Square’s ILA, Adelaide College of the Arts, Nexus Arts and The Mercury Cinema.
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The Courtyard of Curiosities is growing its program at the Migration Museum to include shows at the State Library, while Fools Paradise returns to Victoria Square.
Over 100 events will also take place in the regions, including Coober Pedy, Kimba, Kangaroo Island and Coonawarra.
Adelaide Fringe Director and CEO Heather Croall AM says this year’s program reflects the “diversity and spirit of Fringe”.
“Adelaide Fringe is an invitation to explore South Australia through the eyes of the local and international artists who make this event so unique,” she says.
“I encourage everyone to check out nearby shows in their own suburb, venture out to regional performances, and if you’re visiting take the time to explore the program and uncover some of the hidden shows and gems throughout our city and state”.
Bates won Adelaide Fringe’s Best Live Music Award in 2022. This picture: Adelaide Fringe.
Also announced today are the 2025 Adelaide Fringe ambassadors: First Nations singer-songwriter Nancy Bates, comedian and television personality Rhys Nicholson, comedian Michelle Brasier and South Australian actress Teresa Palmer.
Bates will launch her new album Share Your Love at the Arts Theatre and Nicholson will take the Hindley Street Music Hall stage for three nights with Huge Big Party Congratulations.
At Gluttony, Braiser will perform It’s a Shame We Won’t Be Friends Next Year and Palmer’s husband, Mark Webber will perform his show You Are Going to Die.
Electronic music festival Sidebyside returns for 2025, as does the 2024 crowd favourite Sleeps Hill Tunnel, set in the historic Panorama railway tunnel.
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What else is on the Fringe program for 2025?
The Garden of Unearthly Delights. This picture: Andre Castellucci
The Garden of Unearthly Delights
The Garden’s program has a celestial theme, featuring more than 80 shows, 20 world premieres and 18 award-winning Garden debuts.
First Nations talent will be on show every Saturday afternoon during the festival in The Garden Sessions, a free music series featuring Katie Aspel, Rob Edwards, Bec Gollan & Troy Rigney and more at the Hesketh Wine Bar in the hub.
The Garden’s latest immersive offering is a light, sound and projection work called Dream State from the SA lighting artist and producer behind Kaleidoscope. Another shipping container ASMR experience is also set to land in the Garden called Invisible.
Adelaide 36ers player and singer Isaac Humphries will make his Garden debut with a cabaret show More of Me, a new work from the 2024 Fringe Ambassador.
Isaac Humphries. This picture: Samuel Graves/CityMag
Headlining the Garden’s program is La Ronde, making its world premiere while the high-energy acrobatic show LIMBO – The Return is back for another year.
Sh!t-faced Shakespeare is also back with a hilariously tipsy rendition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Gluttony. This picture: Johnny von Einem
Gluttony
Get your music fix at Gluttony with new UK tribute shows for Elton John in This One’s For You and The Fleetwood Mac Story.
New show Hey DJ – A history of hip hop from DJ YO! MAFIA will celebrate the rich culture of the hip-hop genre while the popular 27 Club and So Fresh: Hits of the 2000s return.
Australian dance duo Bag Raiders, known for their hit single ‘Shooting Stars’, will also perform a DJ set and Hans brings a new show called Young, Fun and 21!
Also headlining Gluttony is the glamorous Ladyboys of Bangkok, making its Australian premiere and MARVELous a parody of Marvel heroes with a Dirty Dancing meets Magic Mike flair.
The 2025 Adelaide Fringe is on February 21 – March 23, with select venues open for Sneek Peak Week from February 14. View the full program and book tickets via the Adelaide Fringe Website.