Limelight’s 2025 is coming to a close. The performing arts world keeps turning regardless, but year’s end always invites a moment of reflection amid the usual headlong rush of deadlines and breaking news.

Limelight celebrated its 250th issue this year, a not insignificant milestone. What began 49 years ago as a modest guide to the ABC’s classical-music programming has matured into a proudly independent national arts publication, offering readers across Australia a home for music, arts and culture.

In 2025, our small but dedicated team – together with a network of expert reviewers across the country – experienced the arts in full. Between our website and 11 print issues, we reviewed nearly 700 performances and created hundreds of feature and news pieces for our print and online editions. And as the way people read evolves, so do we – this year we introduced a new flipbook format to make reading our content digitally easier and more enjoyable.

Through it all, one theme underpinned our work: a renewed commitment to Australian music. Launched in 2025, our monthly Australian Accent column put a spotlight on the vibrant – and often under-represented – breadth of...