Images: Experience Adelaide
For one day only, Adelaide’s cafes, bars, bookstores, galleries, hotels and public spaces will transform into live music venues as Make Music Day returns this weekend on Saturday, June 20th, bringing more than 360 performers to 40 venues across the city.
Running from 11am until midnight, the free city-wide festival is part of the global Fête de la Musique movement and celebrates Adelaide’s status as Australia’s only UNESCO City of Music.
Following a successful event in 2025, this year’s program is bigger than ever, featuring 107 acts across genres ranging from folk, jazz, and classical to metal, punk, hip-hop, Afrobeat, country, world music, and choir performances.
The festival is completely free and invites music lovers to build their own trail through the CBD and North Adelaide, walking from venue to venue and discovering new artists in unexpected places.
Your day is completely customisable. For example, you might start with French jazz at the Adelaide Central Market, catch a choir performance inside Adelaide Arcade, stop by an East End flower shop for indie-folk, then finish the evening with Afrobeat, hip hop or alternative rock long after the sun goes down.
One of the event’s biggest strengths is its diversity. This year’s lineup showcases artists and communities from different cultures, with Afghan and Middle Eastern music at the Australian Migrant Resource Centre, Japanese traditional and contemporary sounds from Noriko Tadano, African drumming at The Archer Hotel, Arabic music at Nexus Arts Centre, and Latin rhythms filling venues throughout the city.
For those looking for heavier sounds, TIA LIVE will host a daytime metal and punk showcase, and Arthur and The Hotel Metropolitan will welcome a stacked lineup of alternative rock, grunge and post-punk acts.
Lovers of Jazz are also well catered for, with performances popping up across venues including The Howling Owl, La Louisiane, Leigh Street Luggage and the West Oak Hotel.
Families and casual music fans can enjoy a relaxed afternoon exploring free performances at Adelaide Railway Station, Rundle Mall’s City Sessions, Adelaide Arcade and numerous cafes and hospitality venues.
Make Music Day is the perfect excuse to get out, explore the city and experience the incredible talent that exists right here in South Australia.
Make Music Day
When: Saturday, June 20th, 11am to midnight
Where: 40 venues across Adelaide CBD and North Adelaide
For more information and the full program, click here.
