# Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2026 Is Now! **Featured** — On Your Markus **Published:** 5 June 2026 **Author:** Markus Hamence **Source:** https://onyourmarkus.au/adelaide-cabaret-festival-2026-is-now/ The Revolution Is Now – Adelaide Cabaret Festival Opens as Ursula Yovich Awarded the 2026 Icon Award Ursula Yovich was presented with the 2026 Adelaide Cabaret Festival Icon Award at last night’s sold-out Variety Gala, ahead of her highly anticipated solo performance honouring Nina Simone. The 2026 Adelaide Cabaret Festival continues at Adelaide Festival Centre until June 21.… --- **The Revolution Is Now –** **Adelaide Cabaret Festival Opens** **as Ursula Yovich Awarded the 2026 Icon Award** ![Performer with red-lit stage backdrop and festival branding for Adelaide Cabaret Festival, June 2024.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/originals/43322/cab26-hero-intercontinental-1500x725-1.jpg) **[Ursula Yovich](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/ursula-yovich-sings-nina-simone)** was presented with the 2026 Adelaide Cabaret Festival Icon Award at last night’s sold-out *Variety Gala*, ahead of her highly anticipated solo performance honouring **Nina Simone**. The 2026 Adelaide Cabaret Festival continues at Adelaide Festival Centre until June 21. ![Woman in a zebra-striped shirt holding a microphone against a warm, blurred interior background.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/originals/43321/Ursula-Yovich-Adelaide-Cabaret-Festival-2026-Icon-Award-winner-photographer-credit-Claudio-Raschella.jpg) *Ursula Yovich* Opening weekend audiences can look forward to a musical theatre spectacular at Festival Theatre, with *[What’s the Buzz?](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/whats-the-buzz)* – in concert and conversation with the cast of *Jesus Christ Superstar*, and world-renowned tenor direct from the UK, ***[Alfie Boe](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/alfie-boe)*** (*Les Miserables*) with special guest soprano **Amy Manford** (*Phantom of the Opera*) – limited tickets remaining. At Dunstan Playhouse and Space Theatre, comedy takes centre stage this weekend with musical comedy superstar **Em Rusciano**’s *[Addicted to Love](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/em-rusciano-addicted-to-love)*, outrageous femme queer clowns **PO PO MO CO**’s *[Best Bits](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/po-po-mo-co-best-bits)**, *and classically trained pianist turned unhinged gay musical comic **Dylan Adler** (USA) in *[Haus of Dy-Lan](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/dylan-adler-haus-of-dy-lan)*. Other highlights for opening weekend include **Natalie Gamsu**’s reflection on growing up in Apartheid-Era Africa in *[A Voice Like Shrapnel](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/natalie-gamsu-a-voice-like-shrapnel)*, **Lou Blackwell** & The French Set performing a tribute to the Great French Songbook in *[A French Romance](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/lou-blackwell-and-the-french-set-a-french-romance)* and from the remote North East Arnhem Land community of Yirrkala, gifted singer-songwriter***[Yirrmal](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/yirrmal)***. Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2026 Artistic Director **Reuben Kaye**: *“It’s here! The biggest cabaret festival on the planet is in Adelaide once again. 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.”* ![Performer holds microphone on stage illuminated by red and gold stage lights, addressing an audience silhouetted in the foreground.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/originals/43324/MwE9zOQQ.jpg) *Reuben Kaye – Photo by Claudio Raschella* Next week’s highlights include indie-pop stars ***[Lime Cordiale](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/lime-cordiale-with-adelaide-symphony-orchestra)*** at Festival Theatre, in a one-night only collaboration with **Adelaide Symphony Orchestra**. In Dunstan Playhouse, **Mahalia Barnes** performs **Bette Midler**’s *[The Rose](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/mahalia-barnes-sings-the-rose)*, and **Jonny Hawkins** & **Jo Dyer** team up for sketch show *[I’d Like to Say A Few Word](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/jonny-hawkins-and-jo-dyer-id-like-to-say-a-few-words)*[s](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/jonny-hawkins-and-jo-dyer-id-like-to-say-a-few-words), with a spectacular line up of special guests – including **Robyn Archer**, **Frida Las Vegas** and more. Don’t miss the world premieres of Frank Ford Commission ***[Baylie Carson](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/baylie-carson-is-handsome-ish)****[ is Handsome-ish](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/baylie-carson-is-handsome-ish)*, vertically challenged pocket rockets **Libby O’Donovan** & **Michaela Burger**’s*Short*, and cabaret royalty **Paul Capsis** alongside showstopper **Adam Noviello** in *[HOUSE OF ROT: Grey Gardens](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/paul-capsis-and-adam-noviello-house-of-rot-grey-gardens)*. At Banquet Room, catch cabaret iconoclast **[David Mills](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/david-mills-glamour-and-despair)**, direct from the comedy clubs of New York, and trailblazing expatriate **Tara Tiba **performing *[OMID](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/tara-tiba-omid)* – ARIA-nominated for Best World Album. Audiences can indulge late into the night with *[Festival Late Nights](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/festival-late-nights-2026)*, featuring a different show each week hosted by a rotating line‑up of artists including **Gillian Cosgriff**,**Frankie McNair** & **Isaac Haigh**, **Tina Del Twist** and Reuben Kaye. Adelaide Cabaret Festival Executive Producer **Isobel Marmion**: *“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.”* ![Two men in vintage-style blazers, one mint green and one beige, stand against a neutral backdrop.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/originals/43326/orVEYZux.jpg) *Lime Cordiale – Photo by Oliver Begg* ![Musician in a gold-striped jacket performing at a piano under stage spotlights.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/originals/43325/wgvdGj2w.jpg) Trevor Jones – Photo by Claudio Raschella **Dr Trevor Jones** will delight at the Quartet Bar by Corryton Burge with *[Piano Man](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/dr-trevor-jones-piano-man-2026)* from Thursday – Sunday each weekend, and *[Show Tunes Trevia](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/dr-trevor-jones-show-tunes-trevia)* on June 7 and 18. Plus the much loved and always fabulous *[LGBTIQ+ Elders Dance Club](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/all-the-queens-men-lgbtiq-elders-dance-club-2026)* returns to Space Theatre on Sunday June 21. Dig deeper into the world of cabaret with Festival Theatre Foyer exhibition, *[Rags to Riches](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/rags-to-riches-exhibition)*, featuring iconic costumes from **Rhonda Burchmore**, **Kitty Bang Bang **and more, and *[Festival Talks](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/festival-talks-2026)*, a series of candid, intimate conversations hosted by Reuben Kaye unpacking the art, history, and style of cabaret. Adelaide Festival Centre CEO **Kate Gould**: *“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.”* The festival goes out with a bang in its final week with world-class musicians, burlesque artists and comedians. In Festival Theatre, **Casey Donovan** *[This Is Me](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/casey-donovan-this-is-me-amy-winehouse-special)* and **Scott Bradlee**’s *[Postmodern Jukebox](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/scott-bradlees-postmodern-jukebox)** *headline the festival’s closing weekend.** **In Dunstan Playhouse, national treasure **[Vince Jones](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/vince-jones-a-mavericks-tale)** celebrates 50 years of music, and Monsieur Camembert reimagine the great works of **Leonard Cohen** in *[Cohen Noir](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/monsieur-camembert-cohen-noir)**. *Banquet Room and Space Theatre come alive with renowned Cuban trumpet player ***[Lazaro Numa](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/lazaro-numa-and-sabor-a-cuba)****[ & Sabor a Cuba](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/lazaro-numa-and-sabor-a-cuba)*, rock icon** *****[Sarah McLeod](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/sarah-mcleod)******,*** the cockiest woman in comedy ***[Jordan Gray](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/jordan-gray-is-that-a-cock-in-your-pocket-or-are-you-just-here-to-kill-me)*** and Miss Burlesque Australia ***[Bettie Bombshell](https://cabaret.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/whats-on/bettie-bombshell-a-night-of-burlesque)***. Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2026 is at Adelaide Festival Centre from June 4 – 21. Tickets on sale now at [www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au](http://www.adelaidecabaretfestival.com.au/) ![Two performers in black sequined outfits with bold makeup expressions against a deep red-lit stage backdrop for Adelaide Cabaret Festival.](https://media.onyourmarkus.au/originals/43323/1-3.jpg)