It’s the gift that keeps on giving, Adelaide Cabaret Festival – the world’s largest cabaret festival and Australia’s favourite winter festival – is turning 25 and in a birthday celebration like no other, audiences are invited to join the party and ‘BLING IT ON’, with a contemporary, and star-studded lineup.

Unwrapping her second program as Artistic Director, award-winning Australian actor, writer, and personality Virginia Gay presents the 25th Adelaide Cabaret Festival, showcasing world-class singers and storytellers throughout 77 performances over 12 nights, including 11 world premieres, 11 Australian exclusives and 9 Adelaide premieres by international artists from the USA (from New York to New Orleans) and United Kingdom, plus Australia’s best contemporary cabaret acts.

Audiences are invited to delight in cabaret and community from 5 – 21 June, kicking off with a special 25th birthday bash, the sold-out 2025 Variety Gala red-carpet opening night at Her Majesty’s Theatre.

Jessica Mauboy. Photo by: Peter Brew Bevan.

Headline artists performing at Her Majesty’s Theatre this year include:

Superstar and Australian music royalty, Jessica Mauboy makes her Adelaide Cabaret Festival debut with the world premiere of her show, The Story of Me. This promises to be an intimate and unforgettable evening of music and stories on Saturday 14 June.

Theatrical tour de force, Bernadette Robinson’s Adelaide premiere show DIVAS sees Bernadette transform into musical icons showcasing the vocal stylings and stories of Piaf, Winehouse, Bassey, Streisand, Garland, Cyrus and Callas on Friday 13 June.

One of Australia’s most beloved performers and former Adelaide Cabaret Festival Artistic Director, David Campbell brings his unmatched vocal energy to his show Good Lovin’ & More on Friday 20 June.

Adelaide Cabaret Festival Icon award winner of 2024 and international cabaret star, Reuben Kaye returns bigger, better and bolder (if that’s possible) with his hit show enGORGEd XXL on Saturday 21 June.

Davina Sowers.

Performers lighting up the Dunstan Playhouse stage:

Davina and the Vagabonds direct from New Orleans, in an Adelaide exclusive. The bandleader extraordinaire delivers a riotous evening of toe-tapping, sequin shaking covers and originals over two nights. Plus, award-winning cabaret superstar, Michelle Brasier, fresh from a sold-out off-Broadway run delivers an all-singing, all-joking and a little heartbreaking show, Average Bear.

It wouldn’t be a 25th celebration without one of the original Adelaide Cabaret Festival performers who performed at the very first festival - living legend Carlotta. Australia’s favourite showgirl brings her show The Party’s Over to Dunstan Playhouse on Sunday 8 June.

Bobby Fox will deliver his sizzling old-school cool on 14 and 15 June with his world premiere show Mr. Entertainment and Australian music legends Vika and Linda Bull make their triumphant return with an intimate showcase of their beautiful voices in An Evening with Vika & Linda 12 and 13 June.

Not to be missed, is Trio with powerhouse Australian female vocalists, Jess Hitchcock, Fanny Lumsden and Alice Keith as they perform a vibrant tribute to the iconic album, Trio by Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris on Thursday 19 June. Festival Statesman Chorus return home to Adelaide for a one-night only celebration on Saturday 21 June with A Cappella Time Warp.

La Clique. Photo by: RogerShoots.

More sparkling highlights:

The global phenomenon, immersing cabaret and circus, La Clique comes to party from 18 – 22 June at Space Theatre and continues their season after the festival, until Saturday 28 June. Plus, ARIA Award winner, Clare Bowditch with special guest Aurora Kurth dissolves the boundaries between performer and audience in an evening of music, storytelling, surprise special guests and collective joy with Clare Bowditch’s Random Creative Adventure on 6 and 7 June.

Festival favourite, Rizo returns to Adelaide with her incredible new show Home on 7 and 8 June. And from New Orleans, the electrifying Judith Owen and her all-star band The Gentleman Callers, perform in an Australian premiere with Unapologetically Judith Owen - celebrating the ladies of 1940s and 50s jazz and blues on 13 and 14 June.

In an Adelaide exclusive, the festival’s favourite (and only) book club, Between the Covers returns with Annabel Crabb, Virginia Gay and Lur Alghurabi along with fabulous musical guests, as they converse, laugh and turn the pages on Helen Garner’s classic novel, The Children’s Bach on Sunday 15 June.

Rai Thistlethwayte of Thirsty Merc performs his homage to soul, funk, Motown and pop legend Stevie Wonder with his show Reimagining Stevie Wonder’s ‘Innervisions’ on Thursday 19 June and the popular Michelle Brasier’s Comedians On Stage Auditioning for Musicals is on 20 and 21 June.

Natalie Abbott reflects on love and loss with humour and heart with her Australian premiere show Bad Hand. It’s got music, humour and a few poker metaphors too on at Banquet Room 18 and 19 June.

Hilarious additions to the festival’s 25th celebrations include Frankie McNair who brings her alter ego to life in the hilarious Tabitha Booth and The Burton Brotherswith 1925 a sketch comedy show set entirely in the year 1925. Plus Marry Your Friends with Emilie Zoey Baker and Michael Nolan will be a joyful interactive ceremony featuring live music and celebrity celebrants. Sign the certificate, take photos and throw the bouquet on Sunday 8 June.

Produced and presented by Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide Cabaret Festival has been a platform for shows and performers who have achieved critical acclaim and featured world-renowned artists including Ms Lisa Fischer, Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Dita Von Teese, Eddie Perfect and Tim Minchin to name a few.

View the full 2025 program here: 2025 Program – Adelaide Cabaret Festival

More information from the 2025 Adelaide Cabaret Festival edition of WeekendPlus: