The countdown is on for Perth Festival to return in spectacular style to energise another summer shared under the same sun.

A diverse range of special free events await audiences across a 2024 Festival program radiating with light and joy from 9 February to 3 March under the theme of Ngaangk, our sun and mother.

Two sun-kissed free events open and close the Festival, starting with Rebecca Baumann’s Light Event bathing audiences in coloured sunlight beneath the atrium of Carillon City, where Linda Tegg’s planted Wetland, developed in collaboration with Vivienne Hansen, reclaims the food court in the abandoned shopping mall’s basement.

The sun sets on Festival 2024 with our free Lotterywest Closing Event Under the Same Sun at Supreme Court Gardens on Saturday, 2 March. Under the Same Sun is a special free ticketed event and we encourage people to book tickets early for this intimate concert with a star-studded cast.

Image: Angélique Kidjo. Picture: Sofia And Mauro.

This creative collaboration between leading Aboriginal musicians and international greats includes Angélique Kidjo, Emma Donovan, Lior, Sampa The Great, Mama Kin, Maatakitj, Paul Kelly, Flewnt, Shane Howard and Stephen Pigram. Picnics and low chairs are welcomed but capacity limits apply so you must book tickets to attend.

Dozens of other free events range from the inclusive Ngaank Talks series at UWA Somerville to the all-ages Prom Night party at Leederville HQ – think Heartstoppers Season 2 meets Sex Education Season 4 – and STRUT Dance’s extensive Perth Moves dance hub spanning movement, music and community from morning mediations and workshops to dance battles and late-night DJs.

Image: STRUT Dance's Perth Moves. Picture: Duncan Wright.

The entire Visual Arts program is also free, including iconic US artist Joan Jonas’ first Australian exhibition Sun Signals at Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, the biggest Australian showing of Yhonnie Scarce’s glass and mixed media works in her solo show The Light of Day at the Art Gallery of WA and Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija’s  poetic provocations across public spaces around the city.

Celebrate the opening of the Festival with free entry to our international contemporary music hot spot in Northbridge, The Rechabite. Perth’s trailblazing ballroom house, House of Reign joins two of the country’s most audacious MCs, Vv Pete and JULAI – for a high-energy extravaganza to kick off the 2024 Festival in style.

Image: Boorloo Block Party. Picture: Jess Wharehinga.

An exciting new talent joins the Rechabite line-up later in the season in the sonic form of Botswana-born, Perth-raised artist xmunashe on Friday March 1.  Now based in Sydney, xmunashe will make it a night to remember with Jonti and Joshuah plus special guest Mali Jo$e and DJ Santamaria Brothers. FLEWNT’s Boorloo Block Party also extends its Rechabite line-up with talented First Nations hip hop trio 3% joining MC FLEWNT, INKABEE, JK-47 and NT rapper J-MILLA for a party filled with good times.

Four new authors have been added to the Perth Festival line-up as part of the Writers Weekend from 23-25 February. Talented wordsmiths Amal Awad, Sarah Ayoub, Mabel Gibson and Raihanaty A Jalil will add their voices to enrich an exciting and varied program rolling out at the State Library of WA.

Image: Akram Khan's Jungle Book reimagined. Picture: Ambra Vernuccio.

With less than two weeks to opening night, many Festival shows are selling fast. Tickets are still available for such amazing acts as award-winning performer Sampa The Great, Akram Khan’s dazzling Jungle Book reimagined, acclaimed string quartet Brooklyn Rider, the exhilarating dance, music and art experience Wayfinder and the musical artistry of Lou Bennett, Lior and the Australian String Quartet in Ngapa William Cooper.

On the back of his acclaimed new album Lahai, UK soul-pop sensation Sampha will close out Festival 2024 in blissful style at Supreme Court Gardens on March 3. The Mercury Prize winner will be supported by magnetic triple-Grammy Award nominee Nai Palm, from Hiatus Kaiyote.

Perth Festival runs 9 February to 3 March. Lotterywest Films is currently running through to Sunday 31 March.

Find Information and tickets for Under the Same Sun HERE.

Bookings and Festival info: perthfestival.com.au