Your Guide to What’s Happening in Adelaide City This January

2026 kicks off with a roaring calendar of major events and festivals, world-class sport, cultural experiences, and hot new eateries across Adelaide City and North Adelaide.

Whether you’re a sports buff, culture lover or foodie, here’s what to look forward to – and why January is the perfect time to spend your summer in the city.

Witness world-class tennis players compete at The Drive from 12-17 January, when the Adelaide International serves up a riveting showcase of skill and determination with a side of live music and entertainment. Game, set, match!

Experience the thrill of the Big Bash League at the Adelaide Oval as the Adelaide Strikers battle it out on the cricket pitch from 6-17 January. From match changing wickets to unbelievable catches, you won’t want to miss a minute of the action.

Join in the excitement as the largest festival of cycling in the southern hemisphere and Australia’s greatest cycling race takes over the city between 16-25 January. Watch the race unfold from the streets, grab a drink and unwind at free City of Adelaide Tour Village and discover the latest cycling tech at the Bike Expo.

Round up your loved ones for an exclusive summer evening in Adelaide Botanic Garden at Gather in the Garden between 9-24 January. Picnic in the park over delicious sips and bites as you unwind to a soundtrack of live jazz and Latin bands. Summer nights never looked so good!

Get your contemporary art fix at Too Deadly: Ten Years of Tarnanthi. It’s the last chance to explore this enormous, vibrant retrospective of almost 200 First Nations artists from across Australia, which closes on 18 January. Perfect for kids of all ages.

Looking for a spectacle? Expect heart-stopping acrobatics as Cirque Alice reimagines Lewis Carroll's adventures in whimsical journey full of jaw-dropping feats and unforgettable performances from 8-18 January.

Adelaide's favourite food and drink festival, Cellar Door Fest is back! Indulge in three days of gourmet fun in the heart of the city while you taste your way through the best of South Australian wines, spirits and produce.

The city is awash with a host of new eateries. Sando lovers will enjoy tucking into the fluffy slices at Frankie’s on Franklin, while experimental foodies will want to get stuck into the comforting, Asian-Australian bites at Cho Cho in Chinatown. For impeccable European flavour, Patina Place offers French-inspired fare by the Pranzo team while Omada Bar & Grill emulates the tastes of yiayia’s house at Easter. Round off your meal with a tipple at this sexy new speakeasy!

Want the latest delivered to your inbox? Sign up for the weekly Experience ADL newsletter for the inside scoop of things to do and see.