Adelaide Cabaret Festival Opens as Ursula Yovich Awarded the 2026 Icon Award
This week’s highlights include indie-pop stars Lime Cordiale at Festival Theatre, Mahalia Barnes performing Bette Midler’s The Rose and much more.
Image Claudio Raschella
The 2026 edition of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival kicked off over the weekend.
Ahead of the opening performance, Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2026 Artistic Director Reuben Kaye, a multi-award-winning Australian comedian, singer, and writer, revealed his excitement in a statement.
“It's here! The biggest cabaret festival on the planet is in Adelaide once again,” he said. “This glorious city wraps itself in its finest glam, grabs a glass (or in some cases a bottle) and floods the Festival Centre to see the best of Australia's and the world's wildest talent. I hope you enjoy every bit of it as much as I've enjoyed making it for you.”
Highlights across the weekend included world-renowned UK tenor Alfie Boe performing with special guest soprano Amy Manford at Festival Theatre, musical comedy superstar Em Rusciano taking to the Dunstan Playhouse for Addicted to Love and Lou Blackwell & The French Set performing a tribute to the Great French Songbook in A French Romance.
Ursula Yovich was also presented with the 2026 Adelaide Cabaret Festival Icon Award at the sold-out Variety Gala ahead of her highly anticipated solo performance honouring Nina Simone.
The Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2026 program entails 79 performers across 12 nights, highlighting local, national and international talent.
Adelaide Cabaret Festival Executive Producer Isobel Marmion added, “As well as celebrating the world’s best cabaret performers, Adelaide Cabaret Festival nurtures the cabaret stars of the future. This year, celebrate 17 years of Class of Cabaret, showcasing South Australia’s next generation of performers, with Homecoming, a reunion of Class of Cabaret Festival alumni.
“Our Work in Progress showings feature emo-rock heist musical Artefact (or, Repatriation: The Musical), gothic fever dream JAVON, a celebration of the South Asian diaspora in Vidya Makan’s Light and a work in progress from Class of Cabaret Alumni Maybelline Celles Spinley San Juan.”
Check out the full program and buy tickets at adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au.
READ MORE: Marc Carnes Appointed As New CEO of Adelaide Fringe
When it comes to the remaining shows, next week’s highlights include indie-pop stars Lime Cordiale performing alongside the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra at Festival Theatre, Mahalia Barnes tackling Bette Midler’s The Rose and Jonny Hawkins & Jo Dyer teaming up for the sketch show I’d Like to Say A Few Words, with a spectacular line up of special guests – including Robyn Archer, Frida Las Vegas and more.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO Kate Gould said, “Welcome to Adelaide Cabaret Festival – a delicious revolution of comedy, music and theatre. Our first Cabaret Festival since our extensive venue refurbishments, I look forward to welcoming back our beloved Cabaret audiences in style, with upgraded foyers, seating and food and beverage offerings – including our new restaurant Angry Penguin, and QR code ordering system for interval drinks and snacks.”
Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2026 runs until Sunday 21 June at Adelaide Festival Centre. Tickets and full program available at adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au.
