Adelaide Fringe is stepping beyond the stage in 2026 with Immersive Worlds, a signature program bringing together 23 boundary-pushing experiences across VR, 360° film, surround-sync technology and interactive installations in venues across the city and regions. The program also offers family-friendly sessions throughout the festival.
Spanning Olympic House, The Mercury, Star Theatres and Carclew, with a hugely successful pre-season already wrapped up in Mount Gambier and an extended season in Whyalla from 27 March to 6 April, the program invites audiences to move from spectator to participant — stepping inside stories, soundscapes and digital environments that blur the lines between art, technology and live performance.
From deep sea to deep space and everything in between, Immersive Worlds explores natural wonders, cinematic storytelling and futuristic innovation through a diverse mix of global and local creators. The centrepiece is the Full Dome experience, where audiences recline beneath a sweeping curved ceiling as 360° films unfold overhead. More than 14 documentaries and visual works transport viewers to giant cuttlefish off South Australia’s coast, immersive planetarium journeys, a cinephonic rhapsody from Polyphonic Spree and a Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon visual experience.
Virtual Reality experiences take the concept further, placing audiences directly inside extraordinary environments. Monsieur Vincent allows participants to wander through Van Gogh’s swirling worlds, while MEGAfauna explores the marine giants of the Great Southern Reef in vivid detail.
Surround Sync VR introduces a new level of immersion, combining synchronised visuals and surround sound to position audiences at the heart of the action. Experiences include soaring across Antarctic wilderness, venturing beyond the Milky Way with Professor Brian Cox, and exploring the Kimberley alongside Luke Hemsworth.
Interactive works round out the program, inviting audiences to shape what unfolds in real time. Fire Escape draws inspiration from Hitchcock-style suspense in an interactive film environment, while The Score: The Smartphone Orchestra sees audiences play a game on their phones that directly influences a live musical performance by the Adelaide Youth Orchestra. In Celestial Gardens: The Secret Sound of Plants, visitors move through a sensory environment combining plant-generated music, live fusion folk, art and sound.
The Immersive Worlds program is made possible thanks to Major Partner NRMA lnsurance, Novatech, Electric Dreams, and the Government of South Australia. The Dome tours regionally to Mount Gambier and Whyalla supported by the Dome Touring Partner Adelaide University and the Drought Relief – Regional Event Fund.
More information: https://adelaidefringe.com.au/immersive-worlds
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