Illuminate Adelaide 2025 is just around the corner, and the city is gearing up to be transformed into a vibrant, glowing wonderland.
Running from July 2 to 20, this festival promises a stunning lineup of light shows, immersive experiences, and world-class performances.
Whether you’re a local or visiting, there’s no better time to explore Adelaide’s iconic events, such as the Horizons drone show, Night Visions at the Botanic Garden, and the free City Lights trail.
With something for everyone, this festival is an unmissable celebration of light, art, and music.
Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your time in Adelaide during this exciting event.
Major Light Shows & Artists
The Horizons drone-and-light show at Adelaide Oval on 18 July is set to be a visual spectacle.
Hundreds of illuminated drones will light up the sky, creating stunning stories in motion.
The show runs in two back-to-back sessions, starting at 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., to accommodate demand.
Ticket prices range from $69 for the Premium Plus package (which includes VIP seating and Oval Club access) down to $26 for a Restricted View. You can book through Ticketek (details below).
Night Visions at the Botanic Garden offers an immersive after-dark experience. As you walk through the gardens, cutting-edge light, lasers, and projections transform the landscape into a “portal to parallel worlds”.
The shows run every 15 minutes from 5:30 pm, Wednesday to Sunday, between 2 and 20 July.
Tickets are $45 for general entry (adults) and $42 each for groups of four or more. Children under 4 enter for free, though they still need a ticket.
For those looking to explore the city, City Lights offers a free trail from July 4 to 20. This city-wide celebration lights up Adelaide’s buildings, parks, and streets with dozens of installations and projections.
Notable works include Javier Riera’s geometric projections at Government House, “Emergence” – a giant mirrored sculpture by the UK’s This Is Loop at Festival Plaza, and Fièrs à Cheval, a roving light performance by Compagnie des Quidams. Be sure to pick up a map from the festival site to help you navigate your way around.
Alongside the lights, Illuminate Adelaide also brings a stellar lineup of headline performers.
Icelandic duo Kiasmos (Ólafur Arnalds & Janus Rasmussen) take the stage on 18 July at Hindley Street Music Hall, blending ambient strings with techno beats.
Experimental music icon John Cale (of The Velvet Underground) headlines as part of the Unsound Adelaide takeover.
Other highlights include a 12-hour Supersonic music party and the Offline Club, an invite-only event where you can put away your devices and enjoy live acts.
Be sure to check the full program – it’s a mix of art, light, and music, with something for everyone across Adelaide.
Tickets, Pricing & Booking
For most Illuminate events, such as Horizons, Night Visions, Kiasmos, and Supersonic, advance tickets are required, while some flagship city attractions remain free. Here’s a breakdown of the ticket details:
- Horizons at Adelaide Oval (18 July) – Tickets are available through Ticketek. Seating options range from $69 for Premium Plus (Oval Club VIP) to $26 for Restricted View. With two sessions on the night, it’s best to secure your slot early. Booking fees apply.
- Night Visions at the Botanic Garden (2–20 July) – Book your tickets on the Illuminate website. General tickets are $45, and group tickets for 4 or more are $42 per person. Kids under 4 enter for free but still need a $0 ticket.
- Universal Kingdom at Adelaide Zoo (3–20 July, Thu–Sun) – Tickets can be booked via the Adelaide Zoo website. General tickets are $36, while Zoo Members pay $31. A family of four can attend for $130, with each member paying $ 32.50. Kids under 4 are free. Relaxed and sensory-friendly sessions are available at 5:30 pm on Sun, 13 and 20 July.
- Kiasmos Concert (July 18) – Tickets are approximately $59 and can be purchased via the Illuminate website or through promoter links.
Free Events: City Lights, Universal Kingdom (Zoo entry is not required for the light display), Base Camp, Offline Club, Illuminate Hosts, and Lumen Bar are all free to attend. While the Offline Club costs $25 for access to the lounge area, roaming performances are complimentary.
Tickets are on sale now through the official Illuminate Adelaide box office, with links on the festival website, Ticketmaster, and Ticketek. Be sure to check for members’ pre-sales (for example, RAA members had early access to Horizons).
Family-Friendly Fun
Illuminate Adelaide offers plenty of family-friendly activities and events that cater to all ages:
- Universal Kingdom at Adelaide Zoo: Step into a glowing prehistoric world with life-sized dinosaurs like Triceratops and Pterodactyls, plus baby dinosaurs and light-up puppets. Kids can dig for fossils in the kids’ zone, making it a fun and educational adventure for the whole family. Children under 4 enter for free, and there are relaxed sessions on 13 and 20 July for neurodiverse or noise-sensitive families.
- Night Visions at the Botanic Garden: This immersive light walk is perfect for families. Little ones can join in for free with a complimentary child ticket, and the route is stroller-friendly, with staff available for assistance. However, note that children under four can’t join the paid dining experience. That said, I’ve heard that some children find the lights and effects a bit overwhelming, so it’s a good idea to consider your child’s age before attending.
- City Lights in the CBD: The free trail is ideal for families to explore after dark. With colourful sculptures and laser projections dotted around the city, it’s a treat for younger eyes. It’s a free-roaming event, so you can pop in and out as you please, with the art trail running nightly from 5:30 pm.
- Base Camp & Lumen Bar at Lot Fourteen: The festival hub on North Terrace is a vibrant and safe spot for families. Here, you’ll find live DJs, pop-up bars, and casual food stalls. It’s explicitly family-friendly, offering a relaxed environment where kids can play and parents can unwind.
- Dance Parties & Workshops: Short, interactive events, such as the 10-Minute Dance Parties at Lot Fourteen, invite people of all ages to join in the fun. These pop-up performances are designed to get everyone moving, regardless of age.
Tips for families: Be sure to dress the kids warmly, as July nights can be chilly. Take advantage of the early-evening, relaxed sessions at Universal Kingdom and enjoy the wide-open spaces at places like the Botanic Gardens and Lot Fourteen Plaza for little breaks.
Where to Stay
Adelaide’s central location makes it easy to book a hotel near any of the festival events. Whether you’re looking for budget, mid-range, or luxury options, there’s something for everyone.
- Budget – For those looking to keep costs low, the historic Grosvenor Hotel (Barrack Street) and Mantra Hindmarsh Square are often priced around $129–$149 per night. These older CBD hotels and backpacker hostels offer affordable yet comfortable accommodations. Be sure to book in advance, as winter deals fill up quickly.
- Mid-range – Popular chains like Vibe Adelaide, Tryp by Wyndham, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn Express typically range from $199 to $229 per night. These hotels are conveniently located in Adelaide’s North Terrace/Rundle Mall area, with easy access to the Illuminate sites via tram and bus. If you prefer serviced apartments, Quest on Franklin offers 1-2 bedroom units and even a 15% festival discount for July bookings with the code LUMINARY25.
- Luxury – For a more luxurious experience, the new Sofitel Adelaide (corner of North Terrace & Pulteney) offers an Illuminate Winter Staycation package that includes elegant rooms and two tickets to Night Visions. Other five-star options, such as The Mayfair (King William St) and Majestic Roof Garden (Rundle Mall), typically range from $250 to $300 per night. For a fun and upscale stay, The Oval Hotel sits directly across from Adelaide Oval, making it the perfect choice for drone-show nights. Many hotels also offer special packages through membership or travel companies, such as RAA Travel, and winter deals often come with extras like free breakfast or late checkout.
No matter your budget, be sure to book early. As winter is the off-peak season, many hotels offer added perks to attract festivalgoers.
Getting Around & Travel Tips
✅ Public Transport – Adelaide makes it easy to get around with its free buses and trams. The Free City Connector buses loop every 15–30 minutes around the CBD and North Adelaide, including stops along North Terrace. The trams on King William Street and North Terrace are also free and perfect for reaching places like the Botanic Garden (for Night Visions) or Adelaide Oval. Use the Adelaide Metro trip planner to make your connections smooth.
✅ Cycling/Scooters – E-scooters and public bikes are available downtown, making it a fun way to zip around and catch the City Lights art installations. You can check out hire locations through the City of Adelaide’s cycling info page.
✅ Driving & Parking – If you plan on driving, pre-book parking with UPark to save 20% (use code ILLUMINATE). There are major car parks, such as Rundle, Pirie, and Frome, near the event hubs, although the roads can become busy during event times. It might be easier to opt for a taxi or ride-share to avoid the hassle.
✅ Weather – July is winter in Adelaide, with daytime highs around 15°C and temperatures dropping to 8–10°C at night. It can get quite chilly, so be sure to pack warm layers and waterproof shoes. Don’t forget a raincoat or umbrella – showers are possible, though Adelaide tends to stay dry.
✅ Water & Environment – Bring a reusable water bottle! Base Camp at Lot Fourteen offers a complimentary water refill station courtesy of SA Water. Refill your bottle around the city to help minimise waste.
✅ Travelling from afar – Adelaide Airport is only 7 km west of the city. Metered taxis and shuttle buses take around 30 minutes to reach the city centre. If you’re an Australian citizen, you don’t need an adapter or visa, but international visitors should double-check their visa requirements ahead of time.
✅ Best Times to Visit – Winter is typically quieter in Adelaide, so you’ll enjoy fewer crowds than during summer festivals. The off-season also means the lowest prices and fewer tourists. For Illuminate Adelaide, weeknights and earlier show sessions are generally less crowded than peak nights on Friday and Saturday. In 2024, a second Horizons session was added due to high demand, so it’s always a good idea to book early for the most popular shows.
Food & Drink Options
Adelaide’s food scene is a highlight of the festival, offering plenty of options to fuel your night before or after the shows.
- Festival Precincts – The Base Camp hub and Lumen Bar at Lot Fourteen feature pop-up food stalls, coffee and wine bars each night. These stalls showcase local South Australian produce, with gourmet burgers, barbecues, and craft beers in a cosy winter market atmosphere. Even better, proceeds from BYO bottle sales at Base Camp go to charity.
- Venues’ Cafés – Selected eateries at Adelaide Oval and the Zoo are open during the events. For example, at Horizons on the Oval, the restaurants and kiosks offer a variety of warm drinks and snacks. If you’re at Universal Kingdom, the Zoo’s cafés (near Nature’s Playground) serve kids’ meals and hot beverages.
- City Dining – The CBD is packed with pubs, bars, and restaurants, perfect for extending your evening. South Australian Tourism highlights places like the Malt Shovel Taphouse (craft beer pub), Osteria Oggi (modern Italian), Golden Boy (fusion small plates), NOLA Adelaide (New Orleans-style bar), the rooftop Merrymaker bar, and fine-dining Koomo on O’Connell St. You’ll also find everything from pho and ramen to native-inspired dishes around Rundle Mall and the East End. A hot chocolate or Shiraz by an outdoor heater makes for a lovely winter treat.
Insider Tip: Make your Illuminate night extra special with a cosy dinner. The Night Visions Dining Experience at Botanic Lodge offers a set menu and candlelit dinner (bookable via the Illuminate website). Alternatively, try the “Snowdonia Cave” fondue in a secret laneway off the Mall, or enjoy a warming pie at the Adelaide Central Market (open on Saturday mornings). Adelaide’s chefs embrace winter produce, so expect hearty soups, braises, and local Shiraz on most menus.
When to Go & Crowd Tips
July in Adelaide is a great time to visit for those who prefer a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere.
Winter festivals are often a hidden gem on the calendar, offering a chance to enjoy the city without the usual crowds.
To avoid long lines, consider attending events on weekdays or opting for the earlier session of double-session shows (for instance, the second Horizons show was added after the first sold out).
City Lights can be enjoyed on any night, but it’s worth checking the weather – a clear night will make the projections look their best.
As it gets dark around 5:30 pm, make sure to plan your travel accordingly. Many locals enjoy evening strolls bundled up in warm coats, so you’ll fit right in if you add a festival scarf (available at Base Camp).
In short, dress warmly, book your tickets and accommodation early, and get ready for a magical experience. Adelaide gets lit… literally in July.
