Localista Articles

New immersive space experience Smithsonian Starstruck lands in Perth

Following presentations in cities like Washington, DC., London, São Paulo, Lisbon and Melbourne, Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience will open in Perth. The virtual journey will make its Western Australian debut at Northbridge Centre on Thursday, November 26. Visitors will move through distant galaxies, exploding stars, black hole...

AGWA is set for a sugary-sweet summer with new exhibition Double Magic

Part enchanted forest, part candy kingdom and part psychedelic daydream, internationally celebrated artist Pip & Pop brings Double Magic to Perth. Exhibiting from Friday, December 18, to Sunday, May 9 and created by Perth artist Tanya Schulz (working as Pip & Pop), Double Magic transforms AGWA into a parallel universe of colour, sugar and won...

Perth Festival reveals 2027 program

The longest-running arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere is back this February, with the 74th Perth Festival putting together a compelling program of events across the city. From Friday, February 5, to Sunday, February 28, 2027, contemporary European artists, major international music acts, bold new commissions and the WA community will ...

Celebrate Queer Anthems with Queency and WAYJO this PrideFEST

WAYJO’s 18-piece Resonance Jazz Orchestra will reimagine iconic queer anthems as bold big band arrangements, joined by charismatic singer/songwriter Queency for one night only when Queer Anthems takes over The Rechabite on Sunday, November 8. Featuring music by Gloria Gaynor, Diana Ross, Madonna, ABBA, Kylie, The Village People, Sister Sledge...

WA Day Festival is back and bigger than ever this November

WA Day Festival is back in 2026, bringing two huge days of free carnival rides, live entertainment, family activities and fireworks to the banks of the Swan River on Saturday, November 21, and Sunday, November 22. The 2026 WA Day Festival will expand from previous years, taking over Charles Paterson Park and Kagoshima Park at Burswood Park fo...

The first acts of next year’s Perth Comedy Festival have been announced

The annual Perth Comedy Festival is gearing up for its 2027 return, announcing the first acts that will make up the program. From Monday, April 19, to Sunday, May 16, 2027, both international and local acts will visit Perth for a month of stand-up and big personalities. The first acts have been announced, with more shows yet to be reveal...

Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike Live will make Australian debut in Perth

An all-new international touring production of Channing Tatum’s Magic Mike Live will premiere in Australia, kicking off its run in Perth. The global stage phenomenon will arrive in Perth on Wednesday, February 24, 2027, performing at the Crown Theatre, before continuing on to Adelaide. Magic Mike Live has thrilled nearly two million guests...

Contemporary and classic Polish cinema returns to Perth with the Polish Film Festival

This October, the Polish Film Festival in Perth launches the 12th edition of its program, putting together contemporary films, Australian premieres and landmark Polish classics. The Polish Film Festival in Perth will run from Sunday, October 25, to Thursday, December 10, screening across Luna Leederville and The Backlot Perth. The program wa...

Koorliny Arts Centre makes a splash with Singin’ in the Rain

Koorliny Arts Centre will stage one of the world’s most beloved musicals this November, bringing all the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age to Kwinana. Singin’ in the Rain will run from Friday, November 20, to Saturday, November 28, packed with romance, comedy and spectacular dance. Classic musical numbers include Good Morning, Make ‘Em Laugh...

Black Swan State Theatre Company unveils its 2027 season

Black Swan State Theatre Company has announced its 2027 season, featuring six productions that span contemporary Australian writing, international classics, psychological drama and high-energy comedy. The season brings together four works by Western Australian writers, two acclaimed international plays, emerging artists and established perfor...

Perth welcomes Grammy-winner Maria Schneider to the McCusker Recital Hall

This October, WAAPA’s final Premier Visiting Artist for 2027 will light up the stages of the Minderoo Centre for Performance Excellence for a landmark jazz residency. Seven-time Grammy Award-winning composer and bandleader Maria Schneider will visit Perth to workshop, conduct, and collaborate with WAAPA’s Music students, proudly supported by...

The heart behind the art

Wall of Hearts is a new free, all-ages exhibition showing at Forrest Chase from Friday, October 2, to Friday, October 23. Created by WA artist Erica Allia, the exhibition brings together 265 individual hand-painted hearts as one collective artwork, with each heart representing its own story, energy and meaning. Allia rediscovered painting while ...

Celebrate creativity, collaboration and cutting-edge performance at WAAPA’s new music festival

Perth’s up-and-coming creatives will host a contemporary music festival this October, putting together everything from the sound and lighting to the performance itself. The inaugural Amped Up: WAAPA Contemporary Music Festival will consist of three cutting-edge concerts performed at ECU City’s SoundHouse on Wednesday, October 14, Thursday, Oc...

Wall of Hearts brings connection, creativity and community to Forrest Chase

A new free and all-ages exhibition is coming to the heart of the city throughout October. Titled Wall of Hearts, the exhibition showcases 265 individual hand-painted hearts coming together as one collective artwork. This vibrant, immersive celebration of individuality, unity, and hope will be displayed at Forrest Chase from Friday, October...

West Australian Symphony Orchestra announces 2027 program

The West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) has announced its 2027 season, Joy Lives Here. Bold new Australian works will accompany much-loved masterpieces across the season, along with visits from international artists and special events in regional WA. Principal Conductor and Artistic Adviser Asher Fisch is set to lead the orchestra ...

October event highlights: festival takeover

Perth is heating up in more ways than one this October, with our events calendar expanding to almost 400 events. International tours, Broadway musicals and global comedy legends will all make their stops here throughout the month, but the true powerhouses are the 16 festivals bringing their programs of events across the city. From food and wi...

Perth International Jazz Festival brings the jazz heartland down under with 2026 program

Over 11 days this spring, Perth International Jazz Festival returns for its 14th year. Venues across Perth will welcome performances ranging from contemporary New York jazz and vibrant New Orleans styles to Armenian folk traditions from Thursday, October 22, to Sunday, November 1. The compelling program is headlined by jazz supergroup AZ...

Get Entwined in the Swan Valley this spring with tastings, masterclasses and more

This October, Perth is invited to discover one of Australia’s oldest wine regions through a two-week festival of flavour. Entwined in the Swan Valley runs from Monday, October 5, to Sunday, October 18, with a program of events taking place across boutique wineries and award-winning restaurants, and hosted by local artisans, brewers, distiller...

Full program announced for the third Fremantle Design Week

10 days of exhibitions, conversations, tours, workshops, films and open studios will take place across Fremantle for the 2026 Fremantle Design Week. Running from Friday, October 16, to Sunday, October 25, the biennial Fremantle Design Week gathers the city’s architects, interior designers, makers and creatives with some of Australia’s leadin...

First events announced for Perth Festival 2027

Perth Festival has revealed this morning the first events of the 2027 program. The festival, running from Friday, February 5 to Sunday, February 28, holds the title of Australia’s longest-running arts festival, entering its 74th year next year. Headliners include theatrical thriller ROHTKO, hypnotic visual opera Operation:Orfeo, and internati...

Come From Away brings a story of hope and human kindness to Koorliny Arts Centre

Following a celebrated season in 2024, the internationally acclaimed musical Come From Away is set to return to Koorliny Arts Centre for a special encore season, running from Friday, September 11, to Saturday, September 19. Marking the 25th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Come From Away‘s return to the stage offers aud...

Dig into these Perth event highlights putting a spring in our step this September

With the arrival of spring, Perth’s events calendar is coming to life with things to do in every category, whether it’s arts and culture-based, or an opportunity to explore Perth’s natural attractions. With over 300 events on our guide for September, there’s never a dull moment for the month, where we’re encouraged to head outdoors, engage with ...

Grammy winners, powerful live music and groundbreaking dance round out WAAPA’s first year at ECU City

WAAPA’s last season for 2026 is here, presenting an exciting program of new works, fresh interpretations and classic stories across the final months of the year. From Saturday, October 10, to Thursday, November 19, the talent of WAAPA’s next generation of artists is on full display, accompanied by industry professionals from across Australia ...

Fifty years on, the National Collection’s most valuable painting makes its way to Perth for the first time

A historic moment for Western Australia has been brought about by the Sharing the National Collection program, with an extraordinary loan from the National Gallery of Australia creating a rare opportunity for Perth to see one of modern art’s most influential works. From Friday, April 30, to Sunday, September 5, 2027, Jackson Pollock’s iconic...

Perth positioned as a leader in piano scholarship with ECU City Campus

With 160 instruments, several of which are the last of their kind in the world, WAAPA’s free Piano Encounters sessions invite visitors to experience and hear performances on these historic instruments housed within their purpose-built Piano Salon at City Campus. Dating from 1736 to 1874, the collection covers the entire history of keyboard in...