The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) has released its 2026 Performance Program, with over 300 performances and concerts on offer throughout the year at its newly opened city campus.
Professor David Shirley, Executive Dean of WAAPA, said:
“This program ushers in an exciting new era for WAAPA as we welcome audiences to the Minderoo Centre for Performance Excellence at ECU City.
Our brand-new performance space and state-of-the-art facility will ensure WAAPA continues its place at the forefront of performing arts training, both nationally and internationally.”
This year also marks the start of the Premier Visiting Artists Fund which, through the generous support of Minderoo Foundation, will bring the world’s pre-eminent creative artists to WAAPA.
Professor Shirley added:
“Our partnership with Minderoo will enable WAAPA to deliver dynamic, highly enabling training and extraordinary performance experiences that serve to inspire and empower both current and future generations of arts practitioners.”
In March, WAAPA is proud to present the inaugural Premier Visiting Artist, internationally renowned classical pianist Alexander Gavrylyuk. Described by Roger Woodward as ‘easily the most compelling pianist of his generation’, the Ukrainian-born Australian pianist will be at WAAPA for a week-long residency and concert.
Then in October the acclaimed Grammy-winning jazz composer and bandleader Maria Schneider will collaborate with the WAAPA Big Band to perform her celebrated works in the magnificent new McCusker Recital Hall.
Throughout the year, music lovers will enjoy a range of concerts from classical to jazz, contemporary to new music. There are free concerts for all, and free weekend music workshops for high school students.
Other highlights of the 2026 Performance Program include LINK Dance Company’s Enter Coda at the Liberty Theatre in May, featuring an excerpt of Hofesh Shechter’s Grand Finale, and a mid-year production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at the Heath Ledger Theatre starring the graduating Acting students.
September marks the inaugural performance in WAAPA’s gorgeous new Playhouse Theatre, a production of Purcell’s The Fairy Queen performed by the Classical Voice and Music students. That same month, the Music Theatre students light up the Regal Theatre with the Broadway hit musical, & Juliet.
In November, the Performance Making students will stage a contemporary Australian reimagining of Euripides’ The Bacchae in WAAPA’s new Flex Theatre.
These are just a taste of what’s on offer at WAAPA this year. As this 2026 Performance Program proves, WAAPA’s venues might have changed but their performances and concerts remain as extensive and exciting as ever.
Get a copy of the 2026 WAAPA Performance Program in person from the WAAPA Box Office (entry via Roe St). Hard copy programs are available upon request by emailing: waapaboxoffice@ecu.edu.au.
The 2026 Performance Program can also be downloaded here.
Tickets for the WAAPA 2026 Performance Program are on sale now. Visit the website for details.
Tickets: https://www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/performances-and-events/performances
Website:https://www.waapa.ecu.edu.au/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/waapa.ecu/
Hero image: Still from Tivoli Lovely 2025. Photo by Stephen Heath
2026 Musical Theatre Season at a Glance:
RENASCENCE
27 March – 1 April
Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA
Australian Premiere. Music by WAAPA alum Carmel Dean
COMPANY
6 – 11 June
Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA
& JULIET
11 – 17 September
Regal Theatre
IRVING BERLIN’S HOLIDAY INN
13 – 18 November
Playhouse Theatre
2026 Acting Season at a Glance:
REPERTORY SEASON: THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE and DANCE NATION
26 – 31 March
Subiaco Arts Centre
WAAPA’s 3rd Acting present two plays performed in repertory with distinct casts.
ROMEO AND JULIET
12 – 17 June
Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA
THE CRUCIBLE
12 – 17 September
Flex Theatre
