Matthew Lutton has been appointed as Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival ⁦⁩ from 2026 to 2028.

After nine years as Artistic Director and co-CEO of the acclaimed Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne, Lutton will take the creative leadership of Australia’s pre-eminent cultural event. During his time as Artistic Director and co-CEO, Lutton elevated Malthouse Theatre’s reputation as a space where classic works are reinterpreted, and visionary worlds are brought to life.

In a statement from the Minister for Arts, Andrea Michaels MP said, “Congratulations to Matthew Lutton OAM on being appointed the new Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival. The Adelaide Festival is our state’s premier arts festival with a legacy spanning 65 years and I’m delighted to see Matthew take the reins for the next three years. He brings a wealth of experience to the role and I’m looking forward to seeing his vision for the festival as it continues to be at the forefront of arts festivals globally.”

Lutton added, “It is an extraordinary honor to be the next Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival. As Australia’s premier international festival, it holds an astonishing artistic legacy. It is a festival renowned for large-scale international theatre, opera, dance, and music that can only be experienced in Adelaide, it launches daring new commissions that unite Australian and global artists, and it brings to life outdoor spectacles that astonish thousands. The Adelaide Festival truly is a national event in the ‘Festival State’ and I am thrilled to lead the festival into its next chapter.”

Over the years Lutton has directed many theater works as well as opera. His opera directing credits include “Make No Noise” at the Bayerische Staatsoper, “Elektra” at Opera Australia and West Australian Opera, and “The Flying Dutchman” at the New Zealand Opera.

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