- Annual festival kicks off Friday, 6 February, through to Sunday, 1 March
- Australia's longest-running multi-arts festival to showcase 108 world-class events, including 33 free experiences
- Supported by the Cook Government through a record $9.6 million Lotterywest grant
- Cook Government fostering a vibrant and creative economy
Perth Festival 2026 begins this week, raising the curtain on a month-long celebration of art, music, performance, and community across Western Australia.
This year's festival, from 6 February to 1 March 2026, will showcase 108 events, including 33 free events, 13 festival-specific commissions, 20 world premieres, nine Australian premieres/exclusives, and strong WA representation supported by a $9.6 million Lotterywest grant.
Following the successful 2025 launch of Casa Musica at the East Perth Power Station - which transformed the industrial site into a creative hub with music, free programming, visual projections, and installations - the 2026 festival will expand on this initiative.
The 2026 program highlights the depth of Western Australia's creative sector, showcasing several homegrown and Australian productions alongside major international performances, including:
- L Nr [the rain]by The Last Great Hunt;
- Songs of the Bulbul by the Aakash Odedra Company;
- Scenes from the Climate Era by WA Youth Theatre Company;
- Serenade from the Sewer by The Tiger Lillies;
- Incandescence: Ballet at the Quarry by WA Ballet;
- BlakOut featuring Baker Boy, Snotty Nose Rez Kids and M;
- Secret Opera by WA Opera;
- Mayhem and Rapture by West Australian Symphony Orchestra; and
- Meow Meow's The Red Shoes by Black Swan State Theatre Company.
Founded in 1953, Perth Festival is Australia's longest-running multi-arts festival, attracting more than 500,000 attendees annually. The not-for-profit organisation has built a global reputation for bold international programming, commissioning new works and showcasing outstanding Western Australian talent.
Perth Festival continues to bring the WA community together through music, performance, literature, film, and visual arts - delivering unforgettable experiences across the city and contributing to a thriving creative economy.
As stated by Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk:
"The Cook Government is committed to growing and sustaining a thriving arts and creative industry sector in Western Australia, and Perth Festival plays a major role in driving cultural and economic activity each summer.
"The 2026 program shows the depth and diversity of our arts sector - from major commissions and world premieres to performances by some of WA's most exciting companies.
"Perth Festival provides an essential platform for our actors, dancers, musicians, writers, technicians, and crew.
"I am excited to see the energy it will bring to Perth again in 2026, and proud of the Western Australian talent featured across the program."
