World-class international opera to land in Adelaide
AIDA – a lavish opera only ever been performed in the Italian city of Verona – is heading to Adelaide at the start of February, weeks before our festival season kicks off next year. Watch the video.
South Australia has lured the unique Italian opera to Adelaide Oval just before the Adelaide Fringe and Festival next year.
The opera has only ever been performed in Verona and will make its international debut in an Adelaide coup on February 5 and February 6, 2026, with the help of a “commercial-in-confidence” boost from taxpayers.
The Adelaide Fringe will run from Friday, February 20, to Sunday, March 22 2026, whereas the Adelaide Festival takes place from February 27 until March 15 2026.
While a state government spokesperson did not reveal the cost of bringing the event that will transform the oval into a Roman amphitheatre, she said “since coming to government, we have invested an additional $160 million in arts and culture, including an extra $8 million in Adelaide Fringe and $3 million in Adelaide Festival”.
“We’ve also released our state’s first ever 10-year strategy for the arts representing an $80 million investment over four years,” she said.
The spokesperson said AIDA was expected to attract national and international visitors to the state.
“Ernst & Young modelling shows 31,500 visitors were expected to come from outside of Adelaide for the event, spending at least $36 million, with the overall economic impact predicted to be $75 million,” she said.
You might like
Opposition Arts Minister Jack Batty told InDaily he’s “excited” to see this opera come to Adelaide, and he’s “even more excited to finally see Labor show some remote interest in the arts”.
“South Australians deserve to know how much this has cost taxpayers. It’s hard to understand why the government can find millions for one-off international productions while at the same time cutting funding that supports South Australian artists and companies year-round,” he said.
“While we welcome such high-profile works, it’s important to make sure they are accessible and affordable for South Australians, not just visiting audiences. Arts policy must fill hearts and minds not just hotel rooms.”
Batty also wants to ensure this production “complements, rather than competes with, our existing major festivals – especially the Adelaide Festival and Adelaide Fringe – which are cornerstones of our cultural calendar”.
“Big productions should strengthen our local cultural scene – not come at its expense,” he said.
Although the Adelaide Festival is “not involved in the commercial arrangements for bringing AIDA to Adelaide”, it “welcomes all opportunities for the community to come together through arts and cultural experiences”, executive director Julian Hobba said.
“The attraction of event scale productions like AIDA is a testament to our city’s reputation as an internationally significant cultural destination and Adelaide Festival is central to that,” he said.
Stay informed, daily
This opera is a Franco Zeffirelli production, he famously directed the 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, the 1967 adaption of The Taming of the Shrew which starred Elizabeth Taylor, and the 1990 adaptation of Hamlet.
AIDA is renowned for its towering sets, lavish costumes and was described as an “unforgettable sensory experience” by promoters. The storyline follows a tale of love, war and betrayal and is set in ancient Egypt.
Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said South Australia continues to “punch above its weight when it comes to hosting major international events”.
“We are proud to host the historic first production of Zeffirelli’s AIDA performed outside of Verona, Italy, which will bring opera lovers from across the country and globe to South Australia,” Bettison said.
“Adelaide Oval is an iconic sporting venue the world over, and now thanks to this monumental production, it will be for art lovers as well, playing host to arguably the world’s best opera singers.
“The world-exclusive production adds to a blockbuster events calendar which makes South Australia a must-visit events destination for everyone – from the Santos Tour Down Under and LIV Golf Adelaide, to Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide Festival and WOMADelaide.”
The stage will mainly consist of the Italian company – featuring 389 international performers – and they will be joined by 300 local cast and crew, including 155 extras and a 50-member chorus from State Opera South Australia.
State Opera South Australia executive director, Mark Taylor, said he was “really pleased” to be involved in the partnership and to “bring this magnificent production to Adelaide”.
“Since 1976, State Opera South Australia has brought world-class opera to South Australian audiences, and we are thrilled that we are playing such an important part in this wonderful production of AIDA as we celebrate our 50th anniversary Golden Jubilee Year in 2026,” he said.
“We have a rich history of providing opportunities for local SA-based talent to perform alongside some of the world’s greatest operatic singers and this production is another great example of this.”
Pre-sale tickets for AIDA start from 12pm, Wednesday, September 10. Regular tickets go on sale at 1pm on Wednesday, September 17.
