Image: Prudence Upton
One of Adelaide’s most ambitious live entertainment events has officially been cancelled.
TEG Live has announced that AIDA in Adelaide, the spectacular outdoor staging of Franco Zeffirelli’s acclaimed production that was due to transform Adelaide Oval into ancient Egypt in February 2027, will no longer go ahead.
The production had been scheduled for February 26th and 27th and was set to be one of the largest arts events ever presented in South Australia, marking the first time the legendary Arena di Verona production had been staged outside Italy.
TEG Live made the difficult decision to cancel AIDA in Adelaide, and all ticket holders will automatically receive a full refund to the original payment method used for their purchase.
When the production was first announced in 2025, it was hailed as a landmark cultural event for Adelaide.
With a reported production value of around $20 million, the spectacular was set to transform Adelaide Oval into an ancient Egyptian landscape complete with monumental sets, lavish costumes and hundreds of performers.
The internationally acclaimed production, created by legendary Italian director Franco Zeffirelli for the Arena di Verona, has captivated audiences since its debut in 2002 and was due to make its global debut outside Italy in Adelaide.
The performances were expected to feature a star-studded international cast, including Grammy Award-winning soprano Angel Blue and internationally renowned soprano Maria José Siri sharing the title role, alongside opera stars Elīna Garanča, Jonas Kaufmann and Brian Jagde.
They would have been joined by an extraordinary ensemble of 389 international performers from the Fondazione Arena di Verona, including a 106-piece orchestra, 100-voice chorus and the company’s ballet.
The production also promised a major local contribution, with around 300 South Australian cast and crew members involved. That included performers from State Opera South Australia, whose 50-member chorus was set to appear as part of the company’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, alongside more than 150 local extras.
The cancellation comes as a disappointment for opera lovers and arts audiences alike, with the event widely promoted as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience one of the world’s most celebrated opera productions in an outdoor Australian setting.
