20/01/2026
A first glimpse of what South Australians can expect this Australia Day has been revealed, with a sneak peek of the creative centrepiece taking shape for the state’s flagship Australia Day celebration, Aus Lights on the River at Elder Park on the evening of 26 January 2026.
One of the highlights of the evening will be the illuminated Rotunda at Elder Park / Tarntanya Wama, transformed into a visual storytelling canvas celebrating native wildlife as part of the state’s long-running Australia Day theme, Connecting to Country and Belonging to Nature.
The theme has guided South Australia’s Australia Day program since 2022, and this year is brought to life through native birds and other animals, movement and hands-on interaction.
Families attending Aus Lights on the River can expect to be greeted by three bespoke, friendly and cheeky, Adelaide-designed roving puppets; Eddie the Emu, Cookie the Kookaburra and Kevin the Koala. (see image from my phone attached)
Handmade to combine movement, sound and close-up engagement, the giant native animals are designed for both children and adults alike, stopping for pats and selfies — making for playful interaction throughout the evening. Children will also be able to feed the birds with provided bird seed as the puppets roam the park.
Inside the Rotunda, a native birds video installation will unfold across four creative moments, moving from historical illustration to contemporary animation and shadow-puppet storytelling. The drawings of pioneering ornithologist and master bird illustrator John Gould (1804–1881), commonly known as the “Bird Man,” will feature first, with the installation evolving into more contemporary animations of Australia’s native wildlife, including shadow puppetry.
This year’s new installation continues the Rotunda’s evolution as a storytelling feature on Australia Day, which has previously explored themes including ocean life, whales, insects and the icon “Aussie” artwork by Peter Drew. This marks the second year designer, technical director and digital pioneer Tom Kitney has led the Rotunda’s creative and technical design.
Kids and adults alike will be able to make their own shadow puppets as part of the event and see them projected on a dedicated screen.
The setting itself reinforces the theme, with Elder Park / Tarntanya Wama sitting among River Red Gums along the River Torrens / Karrawirra Parri, home to cockatoos, lorikeets, ibis and waterbirds, and long recognised as a place of gathering and connection to Country.
Aus Lights on the River is a free, large-scale community celebration that brings together colour, culture and live performance at Elder Park / Tarntanya Wama.
Gates open from 5pm ahead of the Aus Lights Parade, a vibrant street procession celebrating South Australia’s communities, featuring more than 1,300 participants from over 55 community and multicultural organisations.
From 6pm, the parade sets off from War Memorial Drive (next to Adelaide Oval), travelling along King William Street before finishing at Elder Park. Audiences of all ages can expect a fast-moving mix of music, dance and performance, with South Australians urged to line the route, cheer on the community groups, and then follow the parade into Elder Park as the celebrations build into the main evening event.
Once the parade arrives in Elder Park, the evening builds into a full program of free family entertainment, including the official ceremony featuring a flag raising and the Australian anthem, followed by live performances headlined by The Voice Australia 2019 winner Diana Rouvas. The stage program also features the Festival Statesmen Choir, Young Adelaide Voices and musical collaborations with the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, alongside international cuisine, immersive light installations and a major fireworks finale at 9.30pm, followed by illuminated lighting along the northern bank and Adelaide Riverbank precinct, with DJ Tommy Tequila closing out the celebration until 11pm.
Aus Lights on the River forms the evening bookend of South Australia’s Australia Day program, following the morning’s Mourning in the Morning ceremony at 7.30am, the First Nations-led gathering that invites reflection, truth-telling and respect. Together, the program offers South Australians the opportunity to mark the day in ways that are meaningful to them.
Thanks to our media friends for their coverage today!
📷: Keryn Stevens
