A Year’s Worth Of Unmissable Events in Perth

Founded in 1983 by The Festival Fringe Society of Perth, Fringe World is one of Perth's most popular arts and culture festivals. With a vast array of comedy shows, musical acts, performances and even a circus, Fringe has something for everyone. With a combination of free and ticketed events, it also suits any budget. Formerly known as Fringe Festival, the 2022 instalment of Fringe World saw over 415,000 attendees, and with Fringe World 2023 planned from the 20th of January to the 19th of February, there's plenty of time to get amongst it.

As a city with no shortage of warm nights and stunning sunsets, Perth is home to an array of amazingly unique night market experiences. From beachside gatherings with live music to classic street food stalls, these markets are the perfect place to get up close and personal with Perth's vibrant culture. 

The Scarborough Sunset Markets and South Beach Sunset Markets offer a fantastic combination of beachside street market vibes and are the ideal place to watch the sun go down. The Inglewood Monday Night Markets and Kalamunda Night Markets have got you covered with street food and entertainment. At the same time, the Twilight Perth City Farmers Market is a must-visit for anyone passionate about ethical and sustainable produce. 

Perth's night market scene has all this and more, with new additions every season, so be sure to check out local sites on which markets will be running while you're there!

Founded all the way back in 1834, the Perth Royal Show is Perth's most established and longest-running festival, celebrating community, innovation and agricultural diversity. The extensive lineup boasts over 400 entertainers, 300 performances and nearly 100 hours of entertainment every day, covering anything from Dancers and Dog Shows to Music, Monster Trucks, and Mermaids. With the majority of major attractions included in the $25 ticket price, the Perth Royal Show is an excellent option for a family day out.

Optus Stadium was voted the Most Beautiful Sports Facility in the World in the Prix Versailles 2019 international architecture awards and plays host to many of Perth's biggest and most popular sporting events all year round. With a capacity of over 60,000 people, Optus Stadium welcomes regular AFL games with roaring crowds, as well as international Soccer, Rugby, and Cricket matches. This year, upcoming football matches include Leeds vs Crystal Palace and Manchester United vs Aston Villa, plus the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

The 2022 State of Origin Game will visit WA for Game II. On June 26th, the NSW Blues and QLD Maroons go head to head at Optus Stadium.

Optus Stadium also hosts musical acts like Ed Sheeran and Guns N' Roses. Combining this broad array of events with stunning architectural excellence, Optus Stadium has something to offer for sporting enthusiasts, curious casuals, and anyone in between.

At a whopping 400 hectares, Kings Park and Botanic Garden sits squarely among the largest parks in the world. Bigger than both Central Park in New York and Hyde Park in London, this expansive parkland plays host to a wide range of events all year round. 

The Fraser Avenue Tree Lights are a spectacular night event held every few months to commemorate relevant causes and celebrations, with corresponding coloured lights shining bright to light up the tree tops. The following 2022 instalments will see the trees shine yellow for Daffodil Day on the 26th of August before turning red for Remembrance Day on the 11th of November. 

Kings Park also hosts regular guided tours, photography workshops, and even concerts, with Aussie supergroup Crowded House scheduled to play at this wonderful venue from 25-27th Nov 2022, and the annual Kings Park Festival celebrates the diversity and beauty of WA’s wildflowers each year through September. 

Yet another hotbed of arts and culture, Perth Festival is a not-for-profit arts festival that brings world-class performance, music, film, visual arts and literature to Perth every summer. Created in 1953 by the University of Western Australia and inspired by Scotland's Edinburgh Festival, Perth Festival is one of the oldest arts festivals in the southern hemisphere. 

Under the Perth Festival banner also sits the Lotterywest Film festival, showcasing the best films from around the world in two of Perth's most beautiful outdoor cinemas, as well as the Perth Festival Literature & Ideas Weekend.

The upcoming 2023 Perth Festival is scheduled to run from the 10th of February to the 5th of March 2023.

Froth Town is Perth's famous weekend celebration of all things beer. Returning to Claremont Showground soon on August 19 & 20, Froth Town features anything from rides, games, shows, music & much more, and of course, a massive range of beers and other drinks to try. 

Kids are welcome to attend the SATUR-DAY FOR IT session, which will include tailored activities and entertainment for the little ones, who must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times. Children can attend for free, but registration is a must, and tickets are still available, so get yours now!

AWESOME Festival is an annual festival featuring high-quality programming and entertainment created by and for children aged 0 – 12 and their families. Held annually in the Perth CBD, the AWESOME Festival showcases a number of different events, including theatre, dance, early childhood activities, music, film, literature, visual arts, and even creative hands-on activities. The 2022 AWESOME Festival is scheduled for the 27th of September to the 1st of October at the Perth Cultural Centre, and is easily accessible by public transport.

Revelation Perth International Film Festival formally began in 1997 in the basement of Perth's legendary jazz venue, the Greenwich Club, designed to showcase the best of contemporary and independent film and help them gain recognition within the rather traditional cinema scene. 

Today, Revelation spans over 200 international films presented at a range of cinemas and bars across Perth but also includes Academic awards, industry discussion sessions, live performances, masterclasses, visual art exhibitions and more. Beginning in early July, it's a great last-minute reason to make the jaunt or the perfect event to plan around for next year.  

Also under the Revelation banner comes the XR:WA Games and Virtual Reality Expo, which is scheduled for September 15-18, 2022, as well as multiple collaborations with the Fremantle Arts Centre.

The Ice Cream Factory Summer Festival is a month-long venue driven music festival, scheduled this year to kick off on the 1st of December 2022. Held at the historical site that was once the Peter's Ice Cream factory, the location has been transformed into a colourful, pop style venue that stands as the perfect backdrop for a summer festival. This year's lineup features The Presets, The Veronicas, Running Touch, Example, Vera Blue, and a range of other local and international artists. You can also expect to find experiential art installations, unique outdoor zones, immersive stages, and a plethora of local creatives and businesses. 

Register for the pre-sale here, or wait until tickets go on public sale after the 15th of June 2022.

Step into the life and works of Vincent Van Gogh when the Van Gogh Alive exhibit visits Perth. You'll get the opportunity to see the world through Van Gogh's eyes as you immerse yourself in his artistry. When you arrive, you'll enter the Interpretive Area, where you'll learn all about Van Gogh's life and experiences, to help you better understand his art. Then you'll walk into the SENSORY4™ Gallery and be blown away by the immersive experience. Classical music scores your journey into some of Van Gogh's greatest works. Next is Van Gogh's Bedroom, a life-size recreation of one of the artist's most famous pieces of work. Finally, you'll wander into the Immersive Sunflower Room, a mirrored room that's almost overflowing with sunflowers. 

Anyone looking for artsy events on in Perth won't want to miss Van Gogh Alive.

Have all these events got you sold on your next Perth trip? Check out some of the best hotels on offer in this unique city.