There’s no need for South Australians to travel far in 2024 to find the party – it’s happening right here in our state, all year long! With an events calendar that doesn’t let up from January onwards, and tickets on sale now, it’s time to start planning for an unforgettable year.
What’s in store for SA
South Australia has long been known as the ‘festival state’, and 2024 is packed with experiences you won’t want to miss. Our event lineup for the first half of the year includes everything from the electric energy of WOMADelaide to the adrenaline rush of AFL Gather Round, and the culinary delights of Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel. Plus let’s not forget the excitement of LIV Golf Adelaide, bringing the world’s best golfers to our backyard.
The secret’s out, and a global audience now knows that Adelaide is the nation’s ultimate events destination: Last year they arrived in droves, making our events expected to be worth more than $400 million for SA’s economy. More than 90 per cent of available Adelaide accommodation was booked up during the first AFL Gather Round, while visitors from interstate and overseas snapped up 40 per cent of tickets for the inaugural LIV Golf Adelaide.
It’s not just about attracting tourists!
Why let the visitors have all the fun? This year’s event calendar is set to be even more epic than last year, so grab your planners and start marking those dates now to avoid FOMO later. Tickets are already selling like hotcakes – you don’t want to miss out on the best seats, the most sought-after shows, or the once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Whether you’re into arts, sports, or just looking for a great time, there’s something in the 2024 lineup for you. Plus, let’s be real – who doesn’t love the thrill of being part of the crowd, the shared laughter, the collective gasps and the cheers? Check out our round-up of event highlights for the first half of 2024, then follow the links to grab your tickets.
Adelaide International
8-13 January
Tennis hits home as the Adelaide International returns to The Drive for 2024 – and it’s not too late to be part of the action! We spoke to Alicia Molik to find out what’s in store at this international sporting spectacular.
Santos Tour Down Under
12-21 January
The greats of world cycling will once again battle it out along SA’s roads during the largest cycling event in the southern hemisphere. We’ve put together a guide to the seven highlights of this massive party of cycling you won’t want to miss.
Adelaide Fringe
16 February – 17 March
Bursting at the seams with more than 1300 shows held over a month, Australia’s biggest arts fest is a multi-genre mega-event: Whether you’re a cabaret connoisseur, comedy queen, theatre tragic or just want to chill and enjoy the atmosphere, there’s something for you. The Fringe fun is statewide across 500 venues this year, from the Coober Pedy Comedy Night to the Naracoorte Fringe Street Party. While 23 per cent of performers travel from overseas to join the party, there are also 703 South Australian shows and a strong First Nations program – including Marlon Motlop, Frank Yamma and the Aboriginal Comedy Allstars.
Plus, famous Fringe fan faves are back, including The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Gluttony and Wonderland in Hindmarsh Square. They’re joined by fun and fabulous newbies to explore – the Pink Flamingo in Festival Plaza, Infamous Circus in Ellis Park/Tampawardli, and The Inflatable Church in Light Square. Other programme highlights include music festivals Sidebyside and ‘Poppin Out’, adults-only cabaret LIMBO – The Return, outdoor art gallery Natural Wonders, SAGE 2024 for all the gamers, and YOAH Circus – an Australian premiere from Japan. But that’s just the beginning – check out the full programme for loads more.
Adelaide Festival
1-17 March
For a 64-year-old, the Adelaide Festival is looking pretty damn good! In 2024, it boasts 64 events, 16 world premieres, 12 Australian premieres and 23 exclusives. Audiences can immerse themselves in an outstanding mix of internationally acclaimed live theatre, music, dance, experimental art and more. The 2024 festival’s galaxy of global stars includes Laurie Andersen, Angélique Kidjo, Barrie Kosky, Akram Khan, Milo Rau, Marina Abramović, Elizabeth Streb, Édouard Louis and Víkingur Ólafsson.
The festival is set to open in stunning style at Glenelg Beach with Baleen Moondjan – a contemporary ceremony from creative visionary Stephen Page. There are treats galore for dance fans, with Jacob Boehme’s Guuranda and Restless Dance Theatre’s Private View, plus the world premiere of Marrow by Australian Dance Theatre. For opera buffs, this year’s international opera production is Stravinsky’s The Nightingale and Other Fables, directed by Robert Lepage. Meanwhile, two major exhibitions – Yucky and the 2024 Adelaide Biennial – will showcase exciting new visual art.
Adelaide Writers’ Week
2-7 March
Adelaide Writers’ Week is Australia’s largest free literary festival, offering bookworms a unique opportunity to spend quality time with their literary heroes in a shady garden by the Torrens. Over 100 local and international writers will give readings and insights into their works during free panel discussions this year. The 2024 lineup includes Édouard Louis, Richard Ford, Ted Chiang, Yanis Varoufakis, Trent Dalton, Anna Funder, David Marr, Patrick deWitt and Alexis Wright. The secret to a great Writer’s Week experience is planning ahead – you want to make sure you arrive early for panels featuring your literary faves. That way you can bag a shady seat up front and you’re more likely to be called on during question time. For BookTok fans, the 2024 lineup includes a dedicated YA Evening and Hear Me Roar poetry slam – both also free.
But if you want the full Adelaide Writers’ Week experience (and what lit lover doesn’t?), there are two ticketed events not to miss among all the freebies: The first is an evening with the ‘grande dames of letters’ Mary Beard, Anne Enright, Jane Smiley and Elizabeth Strout (what a line-up!). The second is a discussion of “leaders, leadership and lying” with two of the world’s political heavyweights and podcasting superstars, Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart. The venue for both is the Adelaide Town Hall, and tickets are already selling fast.
WOMADelaide
8 – 11 March 2024
More than just a festival, WOMADelaide is a whole vibe – an eco-friendly wonderland of global discovery in the green heart of Adelaide’s Botanic Park/Tainmuntilla. Each year, the WOMADelaide community comes together to celebrate the best, most essential and inspiring music, arts, dance and ideas from around the world – with more than 100 performances across seven stages. 2024 headliners include reggae singer and visionary Ziggy Marley, trip-hop legends Morcheeba, Grammy winners Corinne Bailey Rae and Arooj Aftab, vintage funk maestros Cymande, jazz wunderkind Yussef Dayes, Japan’s brilliant DJ Koco, Swedish folk hero José González and Senegalese superstar Baaba Maal.
Off stage there’s a whole lot more to explore among the giant fig trees. A village of international foodies will serve up mouth-watering cuisines from their home countries, while roving circus performers and acrobats bring the moves. The kids’ zone will entertain the little ones with nature-play and puppet making. Plus there’s the ‘Womarkets’ to wander through, and artist workshops to join in. Since it launched in 1993, WOMADelaide has established itself as an internationally acclaimed event and pilgrimage for artists and audiences from around the world, hosting over 30 countries. So get your crew together now and start planning for the party that blends the best of global beats, art and eco-cool.
AFL Gather Round 2024
April 4-7
It’s time to gather ’round, grab your mates and celebrate all things footy in South Australia. After a sell-out 2023, AFL Gather Round is back for another block-buster long weekend – 18 teams, nine games and one massive four-day festival of footy. Come for the love of the game, stay for the fun of the family-friendly party. Kicking off the action, the city will be electric on Thursday and Friday night as Adelaide Oval plays host to the Crows and Power. Weekend highlights include two matches at Mt Barker, where fans can indulge in the gourmet food and wine of the Adelaide Hills, as well as a Saturday double-header at Adelaide Oval. Sunday will serve up the second match at Norwood Oval, plus the return of the fan fave Food and Wine Festival on The Parade.
The family-friendly free Footy Festival will also return to Elder Park, with live music and on-stage entertainment plus food trucks and the chance to meet your footy heroes. Club and AFL members will once again have free access to their club’s match, a new family ticket will be introduced where kids go free, and a discounted multi-day pass will also be available. AFL Gather Round really is a chance to be a part of footy history, so book your tickets now to be a part of the action.
LIV Golf Adelaide
26-28 April
It’s golf, but louder! In the same way cricket introduced the Big Bash League, LIV Golf is supercharging golf by adding speed and entertainment. LIV Golf Adelaide is for both golf fanatics and newbies. The inaugural event was such a massive hit last year it was officially crowned the world’s best golf event. Its twelfth hole – known as the Watering Hole for its party vibe – even went viral for an epic shoey by FISHER, who was DJing at the event.
In 2024, LIV Golf Adelaide is back and bigger than ever: 12 teams, 48 players, 54 holes, no cuts, shotgun starts – it’s going to be awesome! If you have no idea what cuts and shotgun starts are, we’ve put together a handy explainer. Some of the top golfers teeing off at The Grange Golf Club for the 2024 tournament include Australian champion Cameron Smith, plus US stars Bryson DeChambeau, Talor Gooch, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson and Martin Kaymer. Now is the time to book your tickets to watch these legends in action. You’ll also be able to enjoy great food, drinks and interactive fun at the festival-style Fan Village during the tournament – and FISHER will be back to bring the noise at the Après Golf Concerts.
Tasting Australia
3-12 May
This event is foodie heaven! Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel 2024 goes way beyond a standard food festival and takes over the entire state, with more than 150 events across all 12 regions. Tasting Australia’s Town Square in Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga will be the festival hub and home to deliciously diverse eating and drinking experiences. Fun, free and perfect for locals, this is the place to meet for a drink and stay for a meal.
New for 2024 are the Dining Galleries. Part restaurant, part art showcase, there are 10 galleries to choose from, each hosted by a member of Australia’s hospitality royalty. Led by local chefs and artisans, the fun and immersive ‘Make’ sessions teach skills for home cooks looking to level up their dinner game. There will also be masterclasses for wine lovers looking to refine their palettes, and Wine! Wine! Party! Party! – the big Tasting Australia opening night gourmet celebration.
Then there’s a host of unique events showcasing SA’s incredible foodie regions – The Feast of Candela in the Barossa, TENDER on Kangaroo Island and The Coorong Long Lunch on the Fleurieu Peninsula. For those who want to go the whole hog, Tasting Australia Airlines is back, ready to jet you to an Eyre Peninsula private island or the Limestone Coast for a very special and very bougie overnight gourmet adventure. Tickets are on sale now, so it’s time to prepare your palate and start planning for Tasting Australia 2024!
