The 2021 Adelaide Cabaret Festival has ended with a bang. At last night’s final sold-out Club Cumming in The Famous Spiegeltent, hosted by Artistic Director Alan Cumming, the renowned Scottish-born, New York-based performer announced that his successor for 2022 will be Tina Arena.

Tina Arena

Tina Arena. Photograph © Bernard Gueit

“This year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival has been nothing short of joyous, vibrant and elating! To be able to connect with audiences again after such a tumultuous time has been a heart-felt experience for artists, myself included, and audiences alike. Cabaret is such a vital form of connection for us all through music, dance, and comedy,” said Cumming, who also premiered his new cabaret show Alan Cumming Is Not Acting His Age to sold-out houses.

“I wish Tina Arena all the best as new AD of this beloved winter festival, and hopefully I’ll get to see you all again soon!”

In a statement, Arena said: “I am so looking forward to getting stuck into programming next year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival as Artistic Director and working with some incredible artists I’ve come to know, love and respect over my decades working in Australia and...