What to do in SA this Weekend
This weekend marks the official start of Adelaide Fringe 2026, or get along to an art exhibition, or a day at the races.
Adelaide Fringe
February 20 to March 22
Adelaide’s biggest arts festival is back. This year’s Adelaide Fringe program is packed with more than 1500 shows spanning everything from cabaret and comedy to theatre, music, visual art, and interactive and immersive experiences. Fringe staples Gluttony and The Garden of Unearthly Delights return to light up Adelaide’s East End and venues of all sizes from across the whole state are hosting artists from around the country and the world in this 2026 season. See the full program to start planning your Fringe season.
BMG exhibition
Friday 20 February to 8 March 2026
Opening tonight from 6pm, get along to BMGArt’s Lisa Tomasetti and Paul Lacey exhibition, featuring photography and panting. Photographic collection, Not Sinking, Rising by Lisa Tomasetti is set in Venice. Lisa’s art practice has been heavily influenced by the work of the Old Masters and she recently travelled to Venice to immerse herself in the rich history of this beautiful city. Paul Lacey’s Way Over Yonder series continues his Going out West theme, often using lyrics from songs as titles, inspired by his fascination with early American bluegrass, Folk and Appalachian music and musicians.
Woodville Town Hall Fringe program
February 20 to March 22
Woodville Town’s Hall‘s program kicks off on February 20 as one of Adelaide’s fastest growing suburban Fringe Hubs in 2026, hosting 25 shows across more than 60 performances. From comedy and music to cabaret, theatre, dance and family-friendly shows, enjoy nationally recognised names alongside fresh, local and emerging talent.
Chilli Fest
February 21-22
Willunga spices it up this weekend as Chilli Fest brings the heat to Willunga Recreation Park. Expect stalls full of local chilli produce, plants for sale, cooking demonstrations and the hottest food around. There are also artisan stalls and a beer garden with live music, offering a chance to cool off. The SA Chilli Championship is a festival highlight – 10 competitors face the heat in 15 rounds of chilli tasting, starting from jalapenos and working their way up to Carolina Reapers. The Chilli Championship is on the Saturday.
A Concise Compendium of Wonder
February 18 to March 15
Award-winning local production company Slingsby is celebrating a successful 19 years with its final production. Premiering at Adelaide Festival, The Childhood of the World, The Giant’s Garden and The Tree of Light are three new stories inspired by classic fairy tales Hansel and Gretel, The Selfish Giant, and The Little Match Girl, performed in one venue by one cast as a triptych entitled A Concise Compendium of Wonder. Slingsby’s final production is showing at The Wandering Hall of Possibility at the Plane Tree Lawn at Adelaide Botanic Garden.
An Evening on Broadway
February 20-21
Experience the best of Broadway as the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra brings a suite of timeless hits to Her Majesty’s Theatre. An Evening on Broadway is a celebration of musical theatre, featuring numbers from some of the biggest stage shows including Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, West Side Story, Evita and The Sound of Music. Stars of The Phantom of the Opera in London’s West End, Josh Piterman and Amy Manford will bring the classics to life with the help of conductor Jessica Gethin and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.
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Lunar New Year Street Party
February 21
Chinatown will transform into a lively cultural showcase with a street party celebrating Lunar New Year. Expect a day full of entertainment, family-friendly activities and the flavours of Asia. Exhibitors and performers from a variety of Asian and other multicultural groups will feature across the day, bringing the vibrant traditions of Asia to the heart of Adelaide as Chinatown Adelaide rings in the Year of the Horse. The party is along Moonta Street and Gouger Street in the city, and entry is free.
SeaLink Kangaroo Island Cup Carnival
February 19 & 21
The race that stops Kangaroo Island returns for its 143rd year in a weekend of fanfare. The SeaLink Kangaroo Island Cup Carnival highlights the best horses in country racing as they compete for the prestigious $40,000 Penneshaw Pub Kangaroo Island Cup. Local wines, spirits and produce are also showcased alongside the best fashion of the day, with more than $5000 of prizes up for grabs for the Fashions on the Field competition. The event is on at the Cygnet River Racecourse.
COMING UP
Prospect Road Autumn Fair
March 1
The Prospect Road Autumn Fair returns to Padnpadninya Tapa at Blackfriars School in partnership with Markets in Prospect and Fibre Feast SA. The family-friendly event will feature food stalls, a bar, live music, roaming performers and plenty of games and activities for kids. In association with Markets in Prospect, the event will showcase fabulous designers, artisans and creators at dozens of market stalls. Fibre Feast will include yarn, tools, patterns, and accessories for makers of all different skill levels and interests, such as knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, felting, yarn dyeing, macrame and embroidery.
WOMADelaide
March 6-9
In 2026, WOMADelaide will be home to more than 600 artists from more than 30 countries, providing a meeting place of world culture unique to Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla. Headlining the four days of sun-soaked festivities this year are ’80s revolutionist Grace Jones (Jamaica), Italian pop icon Jovanotti, global superstar Oumou Sangaré (Mali), and hip hop trailblazers Arrested Development (USA). Plus, performances from BADBADNOTGOOD (Canada), Marlon Williams (NZ), Jalen Ngonda (USA/UK), Annahstasia (USA) and many more. Elsewhere in the park, there’s a plethora of activities for everyone to enjoy, including The Planet Talks, Workshops, the WoMarkets, Taste the World, and the festival within a festival, KidZone, packed with fun, adventure and all kinds of activities just for kids.
