Concerts in Adelaide: the venues, trams and getting home

Adelaide's gig rooms run from a few hundred people at Lion Arts Factory on North Terrace to more than 11,000 in the Entertainment Centre arena at Hindmarsh. In between you've got Festival Theatre on the river, Her Majesty's on Grote Street, Hindley Street Music Hall in the West End and Thebarton Theatre out on Henley Beach Road. Most of them sit on or near the free city tram, which makes getting there the easy part.

Getting home is where you need a plan. You can't pay cash on a bus any more, the free City Connector buses stop well before most encores, and the After Midnight buses only run on Saturday nights. This guide covers each venue, how to reach it and how to get back.

Everything here was checked against the venues' own pages, Adelaide Metro, the City of Adelaide and Consumer and Business Services SA on 3 October 2026. Services change, so check the Adelaide Metro journey planner on the day. For the full listings, see concerts in Adelaide.

Quick facts

Adelaide's main concert venues

Capacities are the venues' own figures for the room, not the number of tickets for any one show.

Adelaide Entertainment Centre

The Entertainment Centre (AEC) is the big one, at the corner of Port Road and Adam Street in Hindmarsh. It has two spaces: the Arena, which the venue lists at 1,500 to 11,300 depending on the setup, and the Theatre, at 500 to 3,000.

Getting there. This is the easiest big venue in the country to reach by tram. The venue says the Entertainment Centre tram stop is "immediately infront of the Centre on Port Road", and Adelaide Metro's free tram zone runs all the way out to it. Bowden Railway Station is about 150 metres away, and bus routes 150 and 157 pass right by, with more stops 50 to 80 metres off.

Driving. There are more than 1,400 paid spaces on site, entered from Mary Street, Manton Street or Adam Street. The venue also mentions a Park 'n' Ride option that comes with free city tram access. Accessible parking needs a valid Disability Parking Permit and has to be booked ahead by phone during business hours.

Taxi and rideshare. The taxi rank is on Port Road before the traffic lights, on the main entrance side. The rideshare and chauffeur zone is on Port Road after the lights, on the Theatre side, and it's "maximum 2 minutes for drop-off or pick-up only". Agree with your driver which side you're on before you walk out.

Bags and payment. This is the venue that catches people. Bags and backpacks bigger than A3 (40cm x 30cm) are "strictly prohibited", and there's nowhere on site to leave them. The cloakroom is next to Door 22 in the Arena Foyer, but it isn't open for every event. It also hands out free earplugs. AEC is card only for everything on site, parking and food and drink included.

What else to know:

• Banned items include video cameras, tripods, monopods, selfie sticks, audio recorders and professional cameras. Some shows are phone-free.
• The conditions of entry also rule out bottles, cans, laser pointers, glow sticks, horns and anything that could be used as a weapon. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early for security screening, and bring ID in case you're asked.
• Under-12s need a parent or carer with them. Anyone aged 12 to 18 needs adult supervision between midnight and 2am, and minors have to leave by 2am.
• No smoking anywhere in the venue.
• The FAQ says to check your ticket for door times.

Accessibility. There's wheelchair and mobility-restricted seating in both the Arena and the Theatre. Use the "Accessible" filter on the event page, and book Companion Card seats through Ticketek, by its accessible seating form or by phone. If you have reduced mobility you can be dropped at the entrance closest to your ticketed door. For hearing, the venue runs an FM system: bring your own analog FM receiver and tune to 88.3FM in the Arena or 88.1FM in the Theatre. Registered guide, hearing and assistance dogs are welcome. There's also a Sensory Space (for under-18s with an adult) and the venue is part of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program.

Festival Theatre and the Festival Centre

Festival Theatre opened in 1973 and the Festival Centre says it "seats almost 2000 people". It's on King William Road by the river, part of a precinct that also includes the Dunstan Playhouse and Space Theatre.

Getting there. The Festival Centre says Adelaide Railway Station is "right next door". The tram stops in front of the station on North Terrace and in front of Festival Theatre on King William Road. Both are in the free zone.

Taxis and rideshare. There's "no formal taxi rank on King William Road". Taxis can use the drive-through zone about 100m north of the car park entrance, which you reach heading north on King William Road. The nearest ranks are on North Terrace, outside the Casino and the Railway Station, and on King William Street next to Rundle Mall. For rideshare, set your pick-up to the King William Rd Horseshoe outside the main entrance, or the riverbank drop-off zone on the ground floor next to Dunstan Playhouse and the Malt Shovel Taphouse.

Parking. The Festival Centre lists eight car parks within a 10-minute walk, and says it doesn't own or run any of them. The closest, Festival Car Park about 60m away, "may be restricted to Sky City patrons only" because of busier precinct activity, as of October 2026. The venue suggests the Adelaide Convention Centre car parks or public transport instead, and booking ahead where you can. Other options it lists include the Convention Centre Riverbank car park (400m), Care Park Blyth Street (400m), the Myer Centre (400m, open 5am to midnight) and Wilson Hindley Street (550m). It also mentions a ticket-holder parking deal at Wilson Adelaide Oval East for weekday arrivals after 5pm or weekends, but not on major Oval event days.

Accessibility. The Festival Centre says all its venues are "wheelchair accessible and assistance animal friendly". In Festival Theatre, row W of the Stalls has removable seats for wheelchair users, there are hearing loops for some seats, and lifts sit near Doors 4 and 8. You can borrow a hearing assistance pack by leaving photo ID as a deposit. Book access seating through Ticketek by phone. There's a Ticketek box office in the Festival Theatre foyer, open Monday to Friday 11am to 4pm and from 90 minutes before ticketed performances.

Her Majesty's Theatre

Her Majesty's is at 58 Grote Street and first opened in 1913. It's run by the Festival Centre. The nearest tram stop is in Victoria Square, about 250m away, and plenty of buses stop nearby, including the free City Connector (which finishes early in the evening, more on that below).

There's no drop-off area, but cars can stop nearby on Grote Street. Car parks close by include Care Park at 6 Pitt Street, UPark Grote Street and Wilson Parking Franklin Street. The foyer bars, on every level, open 45 minutes before each performance, and it's a cashless venue, so bring a card or phone.

Thebarton Theatre

As of October 2026, Thebarton Theatre's homepage says "we have reopened our doors!", so ignore older guides that still list it as closed. "Thebby" is a heritage building at 112 Henley Beach Road, Torrensville, with a capacity of 2,000. Its shows link through to Ticketmaster.

Getting there. Buses are the way to go. The venue lists Stop 3 Henley Beach Rd (south side), Stop 4 Henley Beach Rd (north side) and Stop 4 South Rd. The routes it names are the 163 (CBD), H20 (Paradise and Glenelg), H30 (West Lakes), J1 (Elizabeth) and J2 (Golden Grove). The nearest tram stop, at the Entertainment Centre, is 2.4km away, so it's not a quick walk.

Taxis and parking. The venue says there's a "taxi station directly outside Thebby". Parking is on the street, with approaches from Henley Beach Road and South Road. The FAQ says street parking via Danby Street is "first in best parked".

Inside. At most general admission shows, the upstairs seats are first come, first served. If you need a seat for health or access reasons, phone the venue before the show. There's a cloakroom. Bag and age rules weren't on the pages we read, so check with the venue. Our Thebarton Theatre guide has more.

Hindley Street Music Hall

Hindley Street Music Hall is at 149 Hindley Street in the West End. Live Nation Australia opened it in August 2022 on the site of the former HQ nightclub complex. Tickets are sold through Live Nation's venue page.

Two things to know. Age rules change from show to show: some listings are marked "ALL AGES", while the Dizzee Rascal listing for 1 December 2026 says "U16 TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY A LEGAL GUARDIAN". Check the event listing before buying for anyone under 18. And Live Nation says accessible tickets "need to be purchased directly by the ticketing agent's accessible hotline or form", not through the regular checkout.

We couldn't verify the venue's bag rules, cloakroom or nearest stops, so check with the venue. It's in the city, so the free tram on North Terrace is a short walk away, but look up the exact route in the journey planner. Our Hindley Street Music Hall guide has more.

Lion Arts Factory

Lion Arts Factory is at 68 North Terrace, a heritage-listed building with what it calls a "contemporary fit out". The main room holds 500 to 550 standing or 200 seated, and the front bar and mezzanine hold up to 400. North Terrace is inside the free tram zone.

A side ramp gives access to the building, and there are accessible toilets next to the venue. There's a paid cloak room, subject to availability. Age rules weren't on the pages we read, so check your ticket. Our Lion Arts Factory guide has more.

Stadium shows at Adelaide Oval

For the odd stadium concert, Adelaide Metro says the closest tram stop is Festival Plaza on King William Road, about 500m from the Oval. Free travel to the Oval (on AO/AOX buses and regular services) only applies to specified events listed in Adelaide Metro's events calendar, so check that page for your show. None of the sources we read said that tickets at the Entertainment Centre, Festival Centre or other venues include free transport, so don't count on it.

Is the tram free in Adelaide?

Inside the city, yes. Adelaide Metro says: "Tram routes around the CBD are free. The free zone is the area between the South Terrace stop, Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Festival Plaza and the Botanic Gardens." That covers the Entertainment Centre, Festival Theatre and North Terrace. You only need to validate between South Terrace and Brighton Road. If you stay on past South Terrace towards Glenelg, you need a fare.

The City Connector buses are free too, but they won't help after most shows. They run from just before 7am to 7:15pm, or to 9:15pm on Fridays. The 99A/99C runs Monday to Friday, and the 98A/98C runs every day and goes out to North Adelaide.

How do I pay for the bus, train or tram?

Leave the cash at home. Adelaide Metro says "You can no longer pay with cash when you catch a bus in Adelaide." Your options:

• Tap and Pay. Tap a Visa, Mastercard or American Express card, or your phone or device, on any bus, train or tram. It's charged as a regular fare and is "valid for 2 hours from the time you tap". Transfers inside those 2 hours are free if you tap the same card or device. You can only buy one Tap and Pay ticket per card or device, so each person in your group needs their own.
• metroCARD. A rechargeable card for buses, trains and trams. Recharge it online, at the InfoCentre in Adelaide Railway Station, at retailers, through the InfoLine, or at vending machines, including the ones on board trains and trams. Visitors can buy a 3-day Visitor metroCARD at the InfoCentre.
• Buy & Go app. It sells the full range of tickets and passes and holds up to five tickets at a time, which makes it handy for groups.

Whichever you use, you tap on only. Adelaide Metro says "You will not need to tap off."

Fares went up by about 3.3% from Thursday 1 October 2026, in line with CPI, according to Adelaide Metro. How you use metroCARD, Tap and Pay and Buy & Go hasn't changed.

How do I get home after a gig in Adelaide?

After Midnight buses (Saturday only)

Adelaide Metro runs After Midnight buses on Saturday nights, between midnight and 6am Sunday. There are five routes to the east and hills, one to the west, four to the north and three to the south. They all pass through the city home zone, using stops E1, V2, X2 and C2. Adelaide Metro says drivers "may be able to drop you off at well-lit locations on the route".

The City of Adelaide says it has four "premium stops" for these services, set up with Adelaide Metro and SA Police, with upgraded lighting, CCTV and a regular police presence.

Every other night

There are no After Midnight services on the other nights, and we couldn't confirm last train or tram times. Look up your last service in the journey planner before you leave home, especially after a weeknight show at the Entertainment Centre or Thebby.

Staff and safety on board

Adelaide Metro says "After 7:00 pm each night, Passenger Service Assistants (PSA) and security will also be on board every service until last service". Every train after 7pm has a security guard and a PSA on board, and trains and trams have emergency intercoms or help buttons in every carriage. In an emergency call 000. For police assistance, call 131 444.

Taxis and rideshare, by venue

• Entertainment Centre: taxi rank on Port Road before the lights (main entrance side); rideshare zone after the lights (Theatre side).
• Festival Theatre: no rank on King William Road. Ranks on North Terrace (Casino and Railway Station) and King William Street by Rundle Mall; rideshare at the Horseshoe or the riverbank drop-off zone.
• Thebarton Theatre: taxi station directly outside.
• Her Majesty's: cars can stop nearby on Grote Street.
• Hindley Street Music Hall and Lion Arts Factory: we couldn't confirm rank locations. Check with the venue.

City rules: drinking and CCTV

The City of Adelaide says city streets and squares are dry areas 24 hours a day, so drinking or carrying an open container in public without a permit is illegal. The Park Lands are dry from 8pm to 11am. Its City Safe CCTV network covers the city centre and North Adelaide and is monitored around the clock by a branch of SA Police.

Buying and reselling tickets in South Australia

Consumer and Business Services SA (CBS) suggests finding the authorised seller through the artist's, promoter's or venue's website, because resellers often show up at the top of search results. It warns that resold tickets may not be genuine and can be cancelled.

If you need to sell a ticket you can't use, CBS says a ticket with a resale restriction "must not be advertised for sale at more than 110% of its original cost". The ad has to show the original cost and the seat or viewing location, and penalties apply. CBS also points to Live Performance Australia's Safe Tix Guide.

Check before you travel

• Glenelg tram closure: the line is partly closed between Stop 15 Brighton Road and Stop 17 Moseley Square, from first service Monday 12 October to last service Friday 16 October 2026. Adelaide Metro says there are no substitute buses on Jetty Road.
• South Road stops near Thebby: Stop 8 South Rd is closed until further notice; use Stop 6.
• Adelaide Metro's events calendar: it lists major events, including concerts. For October 2026 it shows Conan Gray (5 October), Hans Zimmer (15 October) and Zara Larsson (18 October).
• The InfoLine: 1300 311 108, 7am to 8pm daily.

Before you go

• Check which venue your show is at, and whether it's in the free tram zone.
• Bring a card or phone. No cash on buses, and AEC and Her Majesty's are cashless.
• Going to the Entertainment Centre? Keep your bag to A3 or smaller.
• Saturday night? Know where your After Midnight bus leaves from.
• Any other night? Look up your last service before you leave.
• Festival Theatre on an Oval event night? Allow extra time and skip King William Road.
• Check the age rule on the listing before buying for anyone under 18.
• Buy from the seller the artist, promoter or venue links to.
• Need access help? Contact the venue or Ticketek before the show.

Upcoming concerts in Adelaide