Eleven thousand artists across 700 exhibitions – this year’s SALA festival reaffirms South Australia’s reputation as one of the nation’s most vibrant arts destinations.
The 29th South Australian Living Artists festival launched this week, kicking off a month of creativity, connection and cultural discovery.
Running throughout August, the festival brings people together through art, with opportunities for artists and audiences to connect, exchange ideas and celebrate the state’s thriving artistic community.
As Australia’s largest open-access visual arts festival, SALA is built on the belief that art belongs everywhere and should be accessible to everyone.
For one month each year South Australia’s artists take centre stage as artworks transform iconic cultural institutions, heritage buildings, country pubs, wineries, libraries, studios and neighbourhood cafes across the state.
The festival brings together artists at every stage of their creative journey, providing a colourful snapshot of South Australia’s visual arts scene.
SALA CEO Bridget Alfred said the state would "come alive during August and celebrate the extraordinary breadth, depth, and vitality of South Australia’s visual arts community".
"Across the program, you will find opportunities to engage with art in many forms – from exhibitions and artist-led experiences to community art fairs and participatory events," she said.
"Each contributes to the distinctive cultural life of our state and highlights the value of supporting local artists and the broader creative sector.
Ms Alfred said the festival reflected the important role the arts played in our "wellbeing, in social connection, and in shaping a more vibrant and inclusive cultural future".
"We have expanded our tours and events and created more opportunities for all South Australians, artists and audiences to come together, to discover, make connections and enjoy the enormous fun of trying something new," she said.
Highlights of this year’s SALA festival include:
- Immersive Light and Art (ILA) will host Matthew Quick’s bold new exhibition Deaf in One Eye, with new paintings alongside an immersive animation inviting you to step inside his earlier painting series. August 6–29.
- SALA Date Night invites partners, friends and siblings to team up for an evening of playful creativity. Designed for duos, the event combines light-hearted challenges, collaborative artmaking and plenty of laughs. 14 August.
- SALA’s Guided Walking Tours take you through a selection of exhibitions in the heart of Adelaide led by expert artist tour guides. The tours include Street Art Walking Tour led by artist Lucinda Penn, Wander & Wonder Walking Tour led by Filipina Australian visual artist Alyssa Powell-Ascura and an Artist-Run Initiative’ Walking Tour guided by Luna Chen.
- The SALA Bus Tours, taking you to the regions, including: Barossa Valley Bus Tour, South to Coast Bus Tour and Adelaide Hills Bus Tour.
- Open Studios Weekend, which allows people to go behind the scenes and meet the artists and see where the art is created. View a working studio, chat with artists and discuss their work in detail. August 15 and 16.
- SALA Up Late invites people to experience Port Adelaide after dark and soak up the atmosphere. Wander through the precinct with local artists as your guides and discover the creative hub of The Port. August 15.
The SALA Festival 2026 featured artist is Troy-Anthony Baylis, who works across painting, textiles, installation and performance.
A descendant of the Jawoyn people from the Northern Territory and of Irish ancestry, Baylis' multi-faceted artistic practice is founded in the process of "queering" and unsettling "traditional" ways of representing Aboriginality. Baylis will present a new exhibition, Pile-up, at Adelaide Central Gallery.
Visit the SALA website or download the app for more details.
