Perth Festival Top Five Must See
The city’s annual arts festival, Perth Festival of the Arts, returns from 21-31 May, bigger than ever and spreading across 14 local venues. Presenting music, comedy and drama plus art exhibitions, free community events and a brand new ‘Jazz in Perth’ weekend, there’s much to be enjoyed.
Here are our top five ‘must see’ moments of this year’s Festival!
Big Laughs in Comedy and Drama
Festival-goers can enjoy a hilarious night out at Showstopper! The Improvised Musical at Perth Concert Hall on 28 May. Direct from the West End, this is spontaneous musical comedy at its absolute finest, as a brand new musical comedy is created from scratch and transformed into an all-singing, all-dancing production.
Whether you fancy Hamilton in a hospital or Sweeney Tood on the South Inch, you suggest it and The Showstoppers will sing it!
Find out more and buy Showstoppers tickets >
Fans of the much-loved Carry On series can enjoy a legendary portrait of one of its stars in this acclaimed dramatic production My Life with Kenneth Williams in Perth Theatre on 27 May.
Find out more and buy My Life with Kenneth Williams tickets >
World-class Classical Stars
On 26 May, superstar soprano Lesley Garrett comes to Perth Theatre for one night only for an intimate ‘Audience With’ event. A Diva and a Piano shares stories and songs from the operatic sensation who has enjoyed a diverse career, taking her from leading roles in hit musicals to ITV’s Loose Women and Strictly Come Dancing. This is a unique chance to meet a legend!
Find out more and buy Lesley Garret tickets >
Music fans can enjoy a treat on Saturday 23 May with two outstanding classical ensembles. St John’s Kirk hosts an afternoon Café Concert - discover chamber music in the most delicious way with a live string quartet, coffee in hand, cake on the side.
Find out more and buy Café Concert tickets >
Classical chart toppers and YouTube stars The Ayoub Sisters return to Perth Concert Hall later that evening, dazzling with their unique musical stye that blends Western classical, Celtic and Arabic influences.
Find out more and buy Ayoub Sisters tickets >
A Weekend of Jazz
Meet the music. Meet the city, as a brand new jazz trail comes to Perth on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May.
Jazz in Perth weaves around local venues, with Saturday concerts including the upbeat Perth & Kinross Big Band and Rhapsody in Blue: An Afternoon of Gershwin featuring a lush 9-nine piece string orchestra, vocals and piano.
Osteria Bau-Bau and La Cave a Vin wine bar will host free early evening live jazz sessions while The Salutation Hotel hosts big headline jazz artists including virtuoso guitarist Martin Taylor, vocalist Georgia Cecile, and Colin Steele/ Martin Kershaw Quintet.
The perfect way to enjoy live jazz and a relaxing weekend. Why not make a day of it and pick up a Jazz Pass, giving 20% discount on headline shows?
Find out more and buy tickets to enjoy Jazz in Perth >
Family Fun
Needing plans for the In-service Day on Friday 29 May? Scottish Opera has you covered! Their fun family show Be a Sport, Spike for 4-8 years returns to celebrate the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Kids can also join a free children’s art workshop before the show.
Find out more and buy By a Sport Spike tickets >
Children’s Classic Concerts return on 23 May with a brand new show – Junkyard Jam – introducing children to live orchestral music and the musical magic that can be made from simple household junk.
Find out more and buy Junkyard Jam tickets >
Singing & Rainbows Destination Rainbow offers an enchanting show for babies and toddlers plus a new relaxed family ‘picnic concert’ for all ages.
Find out more and buy Singing & Rainbows tickets >
Both Saturdays are also packed with free family concerts indoors and outdoors featuring local community arts groups. From Perthshire Brass to children’s choir Fair City Singers, Perth UHI musicians and Perth Amateur Operatic Society, there’s something for every taste.
Curated Art Exhibitions and Poetry
One of Scotland’s largest exhibitions of contemporary Scottish art, ArTay in partnership with Lindsays, returns by popular demand from 21 May for four days only. This unmissable pop-up gallery in a large marquee beside Perth Concert Hall showcases the work of more than 80 artists. It’s free and all the artwork is for sale.
Find out more about ArTay >
Throughout the Festival run, St John’s Shopping Centre hosts an exhibition of photography by Perthshire Photographic Society. From landscapes, wildlife and portraits, to night, street, still life and fine art, there’s lots of explore.
Find out more about the Perthshire Photographic Society exhibition >
A final must-see curated event at the Festival is Long Water Soft Shadows; a powerful, immersive theatre performance showcasing Scotland’s rising stars in poetry and exploring humanity’s fragile relationship with its most precious resource: water. Produced by renowned poet Jim Mackintosh and featuring the work of three emerging poets, images, music and song by Craigie Choir.