Top Picks for Week One of Adelaide Fringe 2026

Feeling overwhelmed by the mad month of Fringe? Bamboozled by more than 1,500 shows written up in 7-point type beneath a blizzard of icons? Well, fear not! The Note’s reviewers have done a bit of cherry-picking…

Love Is A Game: An Adele Cycle

WHAT: Legendary UK DJ whose worked with thelikes of Sir Tom Jones, Bryan Adams, Cher and more.

WHEN: Mar 6 | The Fantail @ Gluttony

WHY: Spend the night on thedancefloor shaking it to thebiggest dance anthems from thepast two decades.

…Ernest?

WHAT: An interactive comedy theatre production riffing off of Oscar Wilde’s iconic play The Importance of Being Ernest. When a traditional production of the play gets underway, and the lead actor fails to arrive on cue, it’s the audience members who they call upon to jump on stage.

WHEN: Feb 19 - Mar 22 | The Peacock @ Gluttony

WHY: The 5-star rated show has flown in over from the UK, ready to deliver an unforgettable night of laughs. We could not recommend this show more.

Twenty Sixteen

WHAT: Nostalgia-filled live rockumentary paying tribute to the great music stars we lost in 2016.

WHEN: Feb 19-Mar 09 | The Fantail @ Gluttony

WHY: Experience the music of David Bowie, George Michael, Prince, Leonard Cohen and more performed by a stellar cast of Aussie musos.

Wonderfully Terrible Things

WHAT: This daring show leads you through a night of debaucherous and daring acts, featuring live vocals, circus, acrobatics and lingerie.

WHEN: Feb 19–Mar 8 | The Octagon @ Gluttony

WHY: Part cabaret, part circus, part burlesque and part opera – sure to blow your mind.

Lizzy Hoo – Says, Who?

WHAT: Lizzy Hoo’s new hour stand-up special is another riotous exploration of a single woman in her early 40s navigating everyday life.

WHEN: Feb 24-Mar 1 | Neat Freak @ The Howling Owl

WHY: Find out why Lizzy Hoo is hands down Australia’s funniest comedian.