The doors to Adelaide Festival Centre have reopened following a refurbishment of the 53-year-old building on the northern edge of Adelaide's CBD.
Originally designed by John Morphett of Hassell and Partners, the Adelaide Festival Centre was built in stages in the early 1970s. When the centre's Festival Theatre opened on 2 June 1973, it was Australia's first performing arts theatre - beating the Sydney Opera House by only three months. The building was awarded the John Cheesman Award for Enduring Architecture at the Australian Institute of Architects 2023 South Australian Architecture Awards.
Designed by Cox Architecture, the latest redevelopment works commenced in June 2025, delivered by contractor Built.
Upgrades across the building include new auditorium seats, lighting and foyer furniture in Festival Theatre, Dunstan Playhouse and Space Theatre, along with new stage flooring, auditorium carpet and foyer furniture in the two latter theatres; improved pedestrian access with a new lift and staircase; refurbishment of the Festival Theatre dressing room; and paint and ceiling upgrades to the Banquet Room.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said, "South Australia is proud to be the festival state, and this extensive redevelopment ensures that Adelaide Festival Centre will remain the heart of the arts in our state, continuing to foster local talent and attract world-class productions for many years to come."
SA Minister for Arts Andrea Michaels added that the government "is committed to cementing South Australia's legacy as a world-class arts, cultural and creative capital for the future."
"This upgrade will ensure generations to come can enjoy the power of the arts," she said.
Adelaide Festival Centre CEO Kate Gould commented, "I am delighted to welcome back our audiences to experience the beloved Adelaide Festival Centre as we reopen with greater accessibility and comfort for both our patrons and our artists."
The building's foyers are now open to the public, and the theatres will be open from 27 February, coinciding with performances in each of the three theatres programmed as part of Adelaide Festival.
