The first major productions for the 2027 Adelaide Festival have been announced, with acclaimed international directors Romeo Castellucci and Barrie Kosky bringing new works to Adelaide. Tickets for the two productions went on sale today, 26 August 2026, giving audiences an early look at some of the headline performances planned for next year's festival.

The announcement provides an early indication of the scale and international focus of the 2027 festival. Both directors are recognised internationally for ambitious theatre and opera productions, and their new works are expected to form important parts of the festival program.

Romeo Castellucci will present a new production connected to the work of composer Béla Bartók, while Barrie Kosky will bring a production inspired by Franz Kafka. The two projects represent different artistic approaches but share the festival's focus on presenting distinctive contemporary performances to Adelaide audiences.

Tickets going on sale more than six months ahead of the festival gives theatre and arts audiences an opportunity to secure places for the first announced productions before the wider 2027 program is revealed. More performances and events are expected to be announced as planning for the festival continues.

The Adelaide Festival is one of Australia's major international arts festivals and regularly attracts performers, directors and audiences from Australia and overseas. Its program covers theatre, music, dance, opera and other performing arts, bringing large-scale productions into venues across Adelaide.

The early announcement is also significant for Adelaide's cultural and tourism sectors. Major festival events attract visitors who spend money on accommodation, restaurants, transport and other local businesses. International productions can also strengthen Adelaide's reputation as a destination for arts and cultural events.

The 2027 festival is still in its planning and announcement phase, so further details about the complete program are expected to emerge later. Today's ticket release nevertheless gives audiences the first opportunity to plan around two of the festival's key productions.

For Adelaide residents and visitors interested in performing arts, the announcement marks the beginning of the countdown to next year's festival. The combination of internationally recognised directors and new productions is expected to generate considerable interest as additional program details are released.