Perth hosts over 20 major festivals and events each year, with the busiest period from January through March. The city’s Mediterranean climate means most events take place outdoors, from beach fireworks to riverside arts festivals. The Perth Festival, Australia’s longest-running international arts festival, anchors the cultural calendar each February. This guide covers the key Perth events and festivals with dates, locations, and practical information for visitors. For more detailed information, see our guides to best time to visit Perth, things to do in Perth, and Perth travel tips.
Perth Events and Festivals: January and February
Australia Day Skyworks (January 26)
Australia Day Skyworks is Perth’s largest single-day event, drawing 300,000 people to the Swan River foreshore between 3pm and 9pm. The 30-minute fireworks display launches from barges, high-rises, and bridges along a 5km stretch of the river from the Causeway to Matilda Bay. Viewing areas include Kings Park, Langley Park, and South Perth foreshore. All areas fill by 5pm. Public transport is free after 3pm on Australia Day; special event buses and trains run until midnight. Road closures begin at 3pm around Elizabeth Quay. Bring a picnic, hat, and sunscreen; food vendors sell Australian barbecue and seafood.
Fringe World Festival (late January to mid-February)
Fringe World runs for 4 weeks across 150+ venues in Perth and Northbridge, staging over 700 shows including comedy, cabaret, theatre, circus, and music. The Pleasure Garden, a pop-up outdoor venue at Russell Square in Northbridge, is the festival hub with bars, food trucks, and free entertainment. Ticket prices range from AUD 15 to 45, with free street performances on Friday and Saturday nights in the Northbridge Piazza. The program launches in early December at fringeworld.com.au. The festival draws 400,000 attendees annually. Shows run 6pm to midnight on weekdays, 2pm to midnight on weekends.
Perth Festival (February to March)
The Perth Festival, founded in 1953, runs for 3 weeks from early February to early March. It presents international and Australian contemporary performance, visual arts, classical music, and film. The opening event, usually held at Kings Park, is free and draws 20,000 people. The Perth Writers Weekend, part of the festival, hosts 80+ authors across 3 days at the Octagon Theatre at UWA. Film screenings take place at UWA Somerville outdoor cinema. Ticket prices range from AUD 25 to 120. The full program is published in November at perthfestival.com.au.
Perth Events and Festivals: March to May
Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe (March)
Sculpture by the Sea transforms Cottesloe Beach into an outdoor gallery for 18 days in early to mid-March. Over 70 large-scale sculptures by Australian and international artists are installed along the beach, sea wall, and grassy terraces. It attracts 220,000 visitors over its run. The exhibition is free and accessible 24 hours, though the sculptures are floodlit from 6pm to 10pm. Parking at Cottesloe is extremely limited during the exhibition; take the Fremantle train line from Perth Station to Cottesloe Station (15 minutes). The Cottesloe Beach Hotel and Indiana Tea House are the main food and drink options on site.
Swan Valley Vintage Festival (April)
The Swan Valley Vintage Festival runs for 4 days in early April, celebrating the annual grape harvest with cellar-door tastings, long-table lunches, and live music across 15+ wineries. Participating wineries include Sandalford, Houghton, Mandoon Estate, and Upper Reach. A free shuttle bus loops between venues on Saturday and Sunday. Individual events require separate booking; wine tastings cost AUD 10 to 15 per flight at most cellar doors. The festival coincides with the peak of autumn colours in the valley.
Perth Events and Festivals: September and October
Kings Park Festival (September)
The Kings Park Festival runs throughout September, celebrating the peak wildflower season with over 100 events. The month opens with the Kings Park Festival Day, a free family event with guided wildflower walks, live music, and native plant sales. The park’s 25,000 native orchid species bloom during this period. Free guided walks run daily at 10am and 2pm from the Visitor Information Centre throughout September. The park shuttle bus runs weekends from September 1 to 30 (AUD 5 for unlimited day travel). The festival draws 200,000 visitors across the month.
Perth Royal Show (late September to early October)
The Perth Royal Show runs for 8 days at the Claremont Showgrounds, 9km west of the CBD. It features agricultural displays, carnival rides, show bags, animal competitions, and nightly fireworks. Adult entry costs AUD 30 online or AUD 35 at the gate. The show attracts 390,000 visitors over its run. Trains on the Fremantle line stop at the dedicated Showgrounds Station (open during the event only), 15 minutes from Perth Station. Parking at Claremont is AUD 25 and fills by 10am. The showgrounds open 9am to 9pm daily. Rides cost AUD 5 to 15 per person.
Perth Events and Festivals: November and December
Perth International Jazz Festival (November)
The Perth International Jazz Festival runs over the first weekend of November at multiple venues in the CBD and Northbridge. It features 50+ Australian and international jazz artists across indoor stages and free outdoor performances. The Jazz Quarter, a free outdoor stage at Forrest Place in the CBD, runs Saturday from 12pm to 9pm. Ticketed performances at the State Theatre Centre and His Majesty’s Theatre range from AUD 35 to 95. The festival draws 30,000 attendees.
Christmas Lights Trail (December)
Perth’s Christmas Lights Trail runs from late November to early January across the CBD and Northbridge, featuring 30 large-scale light installations connected by a 5km walking route. The trail takes 2 to 3 hours to complete on foot. Highlights include the 30-metre Christmas tree at Forrest Place and projection mapping on the facade of St George’s Cathedral. The trail is free and illuminated from 6pm to 11pm nightly. Free guided walks depart from the Perth Town Hall at 6:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays in December.
