The Adelaide Festival Centre has announced Australian singer, comedian and writer Reuben Kaye as Artistic Director of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival for its 2026 edition.

The news was announced at the Festival’s 25th Birthday Party by current Artistic Director Virginia Gaye on Friday night, 20 June, ahead of the annual event’s final weekend.

Reuben Kaye at the 2024 Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Photo © Claudio Raschella

Kaye was a performer at this year’s festival with enGORGed, where he performs backed by an 18-piece orchestra. He’s been involved with the festival as a performer for more than a decade, and is currently performing the role of King Herod in the touring production of John Frost for Crossroads Live’s Jesus Christ Superstar.

His show The Butch Is Back received the Green Room Award for Best Cabaret Artist, Best Production and Best Musical Direction, and Kaye has won Best Cabaret awards from both the Perth and Adelaide Fringe Festival.

“Adelaide Cabaret Festival has cemented its place globally as the premiere festival for the boundary pushing art form that is Cabaret… there is no festival like it,” said Kaye.

“To inherit the mantle of Artistic Director is not something...