Cockatoos, chaos and creativity: SA artist captures the spirit of Adelaide Fringe
Billie Justice Thomson has been chasing a dream since childhood: to see her artwork emblazoned across the city as the official Adelaide Fringe poster. This year, her vision finally took flight.
Thomson, a South Australian artist known for her hyperreal paintings and nostalgic eye for detail, won the 2026 Adelaide Fringe Poster Competition with Cockatoo Call. The design features a bold cockatoo in full flight – a cheeky, unmistakably Australian symbol of curiosity and chaos.
“It’s been a dream of mine since childhood to win the Fringe poster competition,” Thomson said. “I’ve been entering for years, so to finally have my artwork chosen feels incredibly special.”
The artwork captures the raucous joy of Australia’s largest arts festival: a joyful collision of people, performance and creative energy. Thomson’s cockatoo swoops across the page like a city alive, echoing the movement, colour and conversation that fills Adelaide during Fringe season.
“I wanted the poster to feel loud – in the best possible way,” Thomson said. “Cockatoos have that wild, social energy that reminds me of the Fringe – they turn up everywhere, they make a bit of noise and they bring life with them. That’s exactly what I love about this festival.”
The Adelaide Fringe Poster Competition is proudly supported by Lumo Energy, who this year provided the $10,000 prize to the winning artist. The partnership celebrates Lumo’s commitment to championing South Australian creativity and supporting the artists who power the state’s cultural life. Through this collaboration, Lumo Energy helps shine a light on local talent and brings the magic of Fringe to communities right across the state.
“We’re thrilled to partner with Adelaide Fringe and support this incredible competition that shines a spotlight on South Australian creativity,” Lumo Energy GM David Holman said. “Congratulations to Billie on her winning design – her artwork captures the community spirit, joy and connection that make Fringe such a beloved part of South Australia.
“It’s a privilege to help support local artists and be part of a festival that brings people together through creativity.”
Adelaide Fringe director and CEO Heather Croall said Thomson’s work “leaps off the page”. “It’s bold, joyful and instantly captures that unmistakable Fringe feeling,” she said. “Every year the poster becomes a window into the festival’s spirit, and Billie’s design celebrates connection, creativity and community in a way that feels completely her own.”
South Australian Minister for Arts Andrea Michaels described it as “nothing short of electric”.
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“Billie Justice Thomson has created an image that will stop people in their tracks and remind them why Fringe is such a special part of our state’s identity,” she said.
For Thomson, it’s a personal milestone as much as a public one. Her cockatoo isn’t just a bird in flight; it’s a declaration of what Fringe is all about – life, energy, and the wild joy of art shared. “That’s exactly what I love about this festival,” she said.
The winning artwork now rolls out across Adelaide Fringe merchandise, city streets, digital campaigns and global promotions as anticipation builds for the 2026 festival.
The 2026 Program will be announced on December 5, 2025. Adelaide Fringe 2026 will be held from February 20 to March 22.
