One thing’s clear about Adelaide lately: the city is gunning to equal Melbourne and Sydney’s status as year-round cultural capitals of Australia. And what better way to cement that status than by hosting an after-dark winter festival to rival those on the East Coast.
Illuminate Adelaide is set to literally and figuratively light up the South Australian capital from July 2 to 20 in its fifth year, with 134 free and ticketed events. The 2025 program features nine world premieres and 23 Aussie exclusives, including a new immersive journey at Adelaide Botanic Garden, a debut drone show over Adelaide Oval, an electrifying 12-hour music festival and an all-new culinary program.
If you’re after some free, after-dark fun, Illuminate Adelaide has got you covered with its annual City Lights display. More than 40 projections and installations will light up the CBD from July 4 to 20, switching on at 5.30pm every night. Each large-scale projection will showcase the talents of local and international artists, brightening landmarks like the Art Gallery of South Australia, State Library and Adelaide Railway Station.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head over to Base Camp at Lot Fourteen, the festival’s central hub, where you can hydrate, refuel and enjoy family-friendly performances. Or enjoy winter warmers at Adelaide Central Market, which will also come alive with immersive art installations and fresh acts.
What has us most excited in 2025 is Horizons, a one-night-only world premiere that will transform Adelaide Oval into a living canvas using hundreds of glowing drones. Taking place on the banks of Karrawirra Parri / River Torrens, Horizons will take you on an incredible 60,000-year journey through South Australia’s past, present and future. Another Illuminate Adelaide exclusive is Night Visions, a brand-new, multi-sensory light trail in Adelaide Botanic Garden, featuring cutting-edge lasers, projections and sound.
Other ticketed highlights include 10-Minute Dance Party – an immersive, DJ-powered experience inside a shipping container; Universal Kingdom: The Next Era – a prehistoric after-dark adventure at Adelaide Zoo; Offline Club – a series of Dutch digital detox experiences; and Unsound Adelaide – the Southern Hemisphere’s only outpost of Europe’s cult experimental music festival, featuring legendary Velvet Underground founding member John Cale and more.
Debuting in 2025, Illuminate Adelaide will unveil a brand-new culinary program, offering exclusive dining experiences at Adelaide’s top restaurants and bars, including 2KW, Aurora, Station Road and NOLA. The festival will also launch Supersonic – a fresh, 12-hour music festival taking over the city’s West End for one night only. And that's just a taster of the music program this year...
Illuminate Adelaide draws millions of people out of their winter hibernation each year, and we suggest you join them in 2025. Tickets go live at 9am on Wednesday, April 30. You can explore the full program here.