A Festival that reached further, and got younger

In her second year as Perth Festival Artistic Director, Anna Reece continued to shape a Festival that reaches further into the city and welcomes new audiences.

Across the Festival, 351,000 attendances reflected the breadth of the program and its reach across Perth. East Perth Power Station became a major Festival destination, welcoming 85,238 people through its gates, including a record 15,044 to Main Stage.

Karla Bidi was enjoyed by more than 100,000 people, while 18 of 20 Embassy shows sold out, demonstrating the appetite for ambitious international work.

Across the program, the average age of our audience dropped from 54 to 51, reflecting success in reaching new and younger audiences. Noongar leadership continued to shape the Festival’s First Nations programming through the Noongar Cultural Authority Council, ensuring First Nations voices and stories remained central to how we connect with audiences and place.

The Festival’s impact also extended beyond audiences.

More than 1,000 artists and arts workers were involved across the program, with $2.15 million paid directly to artists and arts workers. A further 1,893 students participated in Festival programs and events, connecting young people with artists, ideas and experiences from around the world.

The Festival’s economic impact continued to benefit the local community, generating $16.6 million in direct economic impact.

At Lotterywest Films, 45,977 tickets were sold across 35 films, including 11 films with Oscar nominations, two of which went on to win. Audiences also showed their loyalty, attending an average of 2.7 films each.

Audiences felt the difference, too. Our Net Promoter Score, which measures how likely people are to recommend the Festival, rose to 58. Agreement that Perth Festival provided access to experiences people wouldn’t otherwise have grew by 14%, supported by open captioning, Auslan interpreting and the ongoing work of our Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee.

More than 4,800 people shared their feedback with us, telling a story of a Festival that is reaching further, welcoming more people and helping strengthen the arts community in Perth.