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Just when you thought winter in Adelaide might call for early nights and oversized hoodies, Illuminate Adelaide saunters back into the city to remind us all that cold nights and bold ideas are a match made in heaven. From 2 to 20 July, our CBD streets will once again hum with light, music, and immersive wonder - cementing Adelaide’s place as a world-class destination for digital creativity and cultural delight.
And let me just say: she’s not just back - she’s better, brighter, and bolder than ever.
With nine world premieres, 23 Australian exclusives, and a delicious total of 134 events, this fifth edition of Illuminate feels like a true love letter to the curious, the culture-lovers, and the night owls alike.
The Highlights You’ll Want to Bookmark (or Insta Story immediately)
💡 Horizons at Adelaide Oval: An exclusive Illuminate production that turns our beloved Adelaide Oval into a dreamscape of drones, light and sound. This is the future, and it’s playing above your head.
🌌 Night Visions at Adelaide Botanic Garden: A mind-bending sensory journey through light, lasers and immersive soundscapes. Think parallel dimensions and secret portals... but make it magical.
🌆 City Lights: Free and fabulous, this program transforms the CBD into a glowing wonderland. Expect massive installations, cheeky surprises and interactive magic in your usual weekday haunts.
📵 Offline Club: This one is for the screen-fatigued. Leave your phone behind (gasp!) and reconnect in the real world through curated, tech-free experiences. Exclusive to Adelaide, and very wellbeing chic.
🎶 Unsound Adelaide + Supersonic: Experimental music meets late-night revelry. Expect local legends, international icons and 12 hours of sonic immersion across the West End.
🍷 Base Camp at Lot Fourteen: The city’s cosiest cultural playground is back - complete with fireside eats, cocktails, and some of the best local food and beverage offerings South Australia has to show off.
Why This Festival Matters
Illuminate Adelaide isn’t just another event on the calendar - it’s a love story between our city and its creatives. It’s about turning everyday places into stages, galleries, and playgrounds. It’s about reminding us how thrilling winter can be when we lean into its sparkle, its mystery, and its late-night potential.
And beyond the dazzle, Illuminate continues to champion local artists, foster international collaborations, and draw in over 1.3 million attendees - giving a powerful boost to South Australia's visitor economy during the cooler months. And yes, that means more buzz for your fave small bars and boutiques too. Win, win.
Let’s Get Glowing
So whether you’re slipping into a puffer coat for a quiet date night at Night Visions, or throwing on sequins for a high-octane night at Supersonic, consider this your invitation to step into something extraordinary.
Because when the temperature drops, Adelaide turns up the light.
Tickets and more info: illuminateadelaide.com
Going to Illuminate this year? Slide into my DMs @theiconicblonde or leave a comment below with what you're most excited to see at this year! 💡