Adelaide Fringe Director & CEO Heather Croall said the accolade is a clear signal to travellers and the visitor economy that Fringe is a must-plan moment in the national calendar:
“This recognition from Australian Traveller’s readers tells us that people don’t just come to Fringe, they plan trips around it. It’s a win for artists, venues and the many small businesses that make Adelaide buzz every summer, and a brilliant signal to interstate and international visitors that Fringe and South Australia is a global destination for arts and culture.”
Adelaide Fringe Executive Director of Audience, Ella Huisman said, “What travellers are voting for is the Adelaide experience at its best — artists shoulder-to-shoulder with chefs, hoteliers, makers and venue teams to create four weeks of momentum you can feel on every street. It’s a fabulous nod from Australian Traveller’s readers and a celebration of South Australia’s welcome.”
“This recognition from Australian Traveller’s readers tells us that people don’t just come to Fringe, they plan trips around it. It’s a win for artists, venues and the many small businesses that make Adelaide buzz every summer, and a brilliant signal to interstate and international visitors that Fringe and South Australia is a global destination for arts and culture.”
Adelaide Fringe Executive Director of Audience, Ella Huisman said, “What travellers are voting for is the Adelaide experience at its best — artists shoulder-to-shoulder with chefs, hoteliers, makers and venue teams to create four weeks of momentum you can feel on every street. It’s a fabulous nod from Australian Traveller’s readers and a celebration of South Australia’s welcome.”
The award speaks to how people experience Fringe. Visitors map out weekends and weeks around the program, catch a show or three, then spill into bars, restaurants and late night venues, and many keep exploring the state before or after their Fringe fix. It is a reminder that a great festival is also a great trip.
Adelaide Fringe returns across February and March with hundreds of venues activated city wide and across South Australia. Thousands of artists across comedy, cabaret, circus, theatre, music and visual art bring fresh work and crowd favourites to stages large and small. The open access model keeps discovery and spontaneity at the heart of the experience, ensuring diversity.
Tourist numbers have quadrupled over the past ten years generating $144.2 million dollars in new money to the state of South Australia in 2025 alone.
For South Australians, the recognition is a point of pride. For travellers, it is a clear cue that Fringe is worth booking flights for, inviting friends along, and making a tradition of.
Australian Traveller is a leading Australian travel media brand across print and digital. Its audience votes in the annual Readers’ Choice Awards to recognise the experiences, destinations, stays and events Australians love most, and the results reflect the views of real travellers.
