The Ultimate Adelaide Guide to Events in August 2026

Here’s our Radelaide Tours insider guide to the hottest happenings in Adelaide and across South Australia this MAY.

August is one of Adelaide’s best-kept secrets. Winter is still in the air, but the city feels alive with art, great food, live music and cosy wine bars. It’s the perfect time to slow down, wander the laneways, explore museums and galleries, and enjoy some of South Australia’s biggest cultural events.

If there’s one event that defines Adelaide in August, it’s SALA Festival.

For the entire month, the city transforms into one giant art gallery. You’ll find exhibitions in traditional galleries, but also in cafés, restaurants, pubs, hotels, libraries and even shopfront windows. Thousands of South Australian artists showcase their work, making it one of Australia’s largest visual arts festivals.

Alongside the exhibitions are artist talks, workshops, open studios and guided walks, giving visitors plenty of opportunities to meet local creatives and discover Adelaide’s thriving arts scene. Most events are free, making SALA an easy addition to any itinerary.

Art lovers are in for a treat with this major international exhibition featuring masterpieces from some of Europe’s most celebrated artists.

It’s the perfect excuse to spend a few hours inside one of Australia’s finest art galleries before heading out for lunch or a wine in the East End.

Forget the sugar-coated fairy tale you remember from childhood. This August, State Opera South Australia is bringing a darker, more daring version of Hansel & Gretel to Adelaide, transforming the beloved Brothers Grimm story into a powerful operatic experience.

Taking over Her Majesty’s Theatre from August 21st to 29th, Engelbert Humperdinck’s work will be reimagined by acclaimed director Constantine Costi in a genre-bending production which will uncover the sinister secrets lurking beneath one of the world’s most famous fairy tales.

Celebrate Buy SA Week with a delicious morning of local flavours at the Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market, where more than 80 South Australian growers, makers and producers come together in one place.

On Sunday 2 August only, follow our Buy SA Week Tasting Trail and sample your way around more than 38 participating stalls. 

One of the best things about visiting Adelaide is how easily you can explore the rest of the state.

SALA isn’t just an Adelaide event. Throughout August you’ll discover exhibitions in the Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Clare Valley, Fleurieu Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, Limestone Coast, Riverland and Flinders Ranges.

Many country cafés, wineries and cellar doors become temporary galleries, making a regional road trip even more rewarding.

Winter is one of the best times to visit South Australia’s wine regions and the Flerieu Food Festival is happening in two of them.

Running from August 1st to 31st, the festival stretches across more than 60 venues and producers, bringing together hands-on workshops, wine dinners, farm experiences, tastings and one-off dining events.

Spanning four regions across the Fleurieu with events in McLaren Vale, Willunga, Aldinga, Goolwa, Strathalbyn, Langhorne Creek, Victor Harbor and Yankalilla, it’s a perfect excuse to hop in the car and road trip with friends.

Just 30 minutes from the city, the Adelaide Hills offer cosy pubs, boutique wineries, artisan food producers and charming villages like Hahndorf, Stirling and Woodside.

Cool mornings and crisp afternoons make it perfect weather for scenic drives and relaxed lunches by an open fire.

If you’re planning a longer holiday, August is a wonderful time to discover the Limestone Coast. The Coonawarra wine region is famous for its Cabernet Sauvignon, while nearby Penola offers heritage streetscapes, boutique shopping and welcoming cellar doors.

August offers a different side of Adelaide:

It’s a month where you can take your time—wander through galleries in the morning, enjoy a long lunch over South Australian wine, and finish the day with live music or a theatre show. For visitors looking to experience Adelaide like a local, August is one of the most rewarding times of the year.