Illuminate Adelaide has closed out its sixth year with its biggest turnout yet, drawing more than 1.6 million attendances across 19 nights from 1 to 19 July. Locals and visitors turned out for the festival’s mix of light, art, music and technology, spanning over 100 experiences across the city.
Family favourites this year included Night Visions, the after-dark light and sound journey through the Adelaide Botanic Garden, and Universal Kingdom, the Adelaide Zoo’s family-focused adventure experience. Augmented Games, a new interactive experience by Canadian creative studio Moment Factory presented by RAA, transformed the Adelaide Showground into a giant gaming-inspired arena and sold out well before its final week. The free outdoor program City Lights once again lit up North Terrace, Rundle Street and Rymill Park with more than 50 installations, including a towering illuminated sculpture from the Netherlands’ Close-Act Theatre and Loomaland’s fleet of 12 robotic swans gliding across Rymill Park Lake.
Illuminate Adelaide Co-Founders and Creative Directors Lee Cumberlidge and Rachael Azzopardi said the festival continues to surprise them with how audiences embrace the chance to experience their city differently. They thanked the artists, partners, venues, staff, volunteers and audiences who made the 2026 event memorable, saying the festival is ultimately about creating moments of connection, curiosity and wonder for people of all ages.
Beyond the ticketed program, the Illuminate Hosts initiative grew to more than 30 participating restaurants, bars and eateries this year, up from ten in 2025, offering exclusive menus and experiences tied to the festival.
More than 200 artists and creatives, along with hundreds of staff and volunteers, helped bring this year’s program to life. Illuminate Adelaide is supported by the State Government through the South Australian Tourism Commission, with data on the festival’s economic and tourism impact expected later in the year.
More information is available at illuminateadelaide.com.
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