PSA: Perth Festival Is Back For 2027 With A Lineup So Good You’ll Want To Book Your February Off

One of Australia’s biggest summer arts festivals is back to take over Perth, and this year’s program is looking so good we’re already plotting our February social calendar.

From 5-28 February, the city will once again become a stage for Perth Festival, bringing together a big few weeks of music, art, theatre and culture. Think big-name international acts, homegrown talent, unexpected performances and plenty of free outdoor experiences that are well worth getting out for.

Whether you’re keen for a big night of live music, something a little different or an excuse to spend a summer evening by the river, here’s what we’re most looking forward to.

Big Names, Big Gigs And A Dolly Parton Singalong

One of the festival’s biggest drawcards is the return of East Perth Power Station, transforming the historic industrial site into a live music destination.

The Main Stage lineup has some seriously good names on the bill, including electronic favourites The Avalanches, who will close out the festival with two performances on 27 and 28 February. Elsewhere, Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds brings his Falling Apart Together show, while legendary producer DJ Shadow celebrates 30 years of Endtroducing.

Local favourites Methyl Ethel are also set to take the stage, while folk fans can catch a double bill from Foy Vance and The Paper Kites. There's also Casa Musica, a free music and food offering running Thursday to Sunday, and Boorloo Contemporary, which will bring First Nations-led commissions and artworks to the site and surrounding city spaces. The full Main Stage and Casa Musica lineups are still to come in December, so there's more to look forward to.

If there’s one event we’re already eyeing off, it’s We Will Always Love Her, a celebration of country music icon Dolly Parton from Perth Symphony Orchestra on 12 February. Expect a night of beloved hits, from Jolene and 9 to 5 to Islands in the Stream, and I Will Always Love You. Whether you’re a lifelong Dolly fan or simply know every word to the classics, this one’s shaping up to be a pretty good night out.

Returning for its third year, The Embassy will also turn Perth Town Hall into an intimate performance space. The program brings together an eclectic mix of music, theatre and cabaret, with names including Stella Donnelly, Vikki Thorn, Ursula Yovich, Peter Cat Recording Co., Tara Lily and Endea Owens & The Cookout. The bill also includes more unexpected performances, including Salty Brine’s take on Cyndi Lauper’s She’s So Unusual and The Huxleys with Betty Grumble in Together We Are Beautiful.

Free Music, Secret Gigs And Summer Nights

There’s plenty to fill your calendar without buying a ticket. Casa Musica is bringing free performances from artists across the Indian Ocean Rim and beyond to East Perth Power Station, including Grace Barbé, Yātra, and Khun Narin's Electric Phin Band. Boorloo Contemporary will also bring First Nations-led commissions and artworks to the site and surrounding city spaces.

For something a little more mysterious, Astral Weeks Sessions will offer intimate performances in a secret Northbridge location, with artists revealed only when they take the stage.

Take The Festival Beyond The City

One of the most exciting parts of the 2027 program is the return of Karla Bidi, which is extending beyond the city for the first time. This free outdoor experience will take over locations from Kings Park and Matagarup Bridge to City Beach, Mullaloo Beach and beyond, with installations created by First Nations artists and guided by Noongar Elders.

Over on the South Perth Foreshore, Kite Choir will invite visitors to experience an interactive installation featuring kites carrying songs, stories and voices from children around the world.

For theatre fans, there’s plenty to explore too. ROHTKO brings a multimedia take on a real-life art fraud scandal to His Majesty’s Theatre, while The Last Great Hunt’s witches.exe promises a mix of puppetry, animation and live performances.

With everything from large-scale music events to intimate performances and free outdoor installations, Perth Festival 2027 offers plenty of reasons to make the most of summer. The festival runs from 5-28 February 2027, with tickets available via Perth Festival. 

Image credit: Supplied