The Board of Adelaide Fringe has paid tribute to outgoing director, Heather Croall AM, for positioning the festival as the biggest arts festival in Australia. Heather has been the driving force behind the Adelaide Fringe for 11 years – the longest serving Director and CEO in the festival’s 65 year history.
“Heather has brought the community together, supporting artists, venues, and audiences so everyone can experience the joy Fringe delivers and the state can reap the benefits,” said Adelaide Fringe Chair, Paul Hamra.
The Adelaide Fringe has grown in stature under Heather’s visionary leadership becoming the biggest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere and the most ticketed festival in Australia, making it an economic and tourism powerhouse and a jewel for South Australia.
Adelaide Fringe has seen significant growth under Heather’s tenure generating a total expenditure of $197.7 million in 2025, with $144.2 million identified as new money injected into the state economy.
“Leading the Fringe for the past decade has been one of the greatest honours of my life. It has been a privilege to work alongside such passionate colleagues, artists, volunteers, and supporters, people whose creativity and dedication make the Fringe such an amazing, vibrant, daring and unique festival. It’s a massive collaboration and together, we present something truly remarkable every year,” said Heather.
As Adelaide Fringe begins the search for its next Director and CEO, the eventual appointee will inherit a truly celebrated, award-winning festival. Under Heather Croall’s stewardship, Adelaide Fringe recently secured Gold in Major Festivals and Events at the 2025 South Australian Tourism Awards, been inducted into the Hall of Fame for Excellence in Accessible Tourism, and was voted Australian Traveller Readers’ Choice Best Festival to Travel For in 2025.
“Adelaide Fringe is a global destination for culture seekers, arts lovers and artists, the board has very high ambitions for the next phase of growth, building on the work Heather and her team have been able to achieve. We all deserve the best arts leader to take the reins of the Fringe,” said Hamra.
“As with any evolving organisation, change brings new opportunities. Heather leaves Adelaide Fringe in an exceptionally strong position and with Fringe 2026 preparations already well advanced, the Executive Team is well-prepared to lead the operations and continue the momentum to deliver another exciting and successful festival season.”
“They are big shoes to fill – but we will find the best arts entrepreneur to take Adelaide Fringe from strength to strength and in new directions in the years ahead,” said Hamra.
A global recruitment process will commence this week, the Adelaide Fringe Board has appointed Aegeus Executive Search to assist.
Heather has been announced as the new director of beloved South Australian cultural institution Carrick Hill.
The 2026 Adelaide Fringe runs 20 February – 22 March. For more information, visit: www.adelaidefringe.com.au for details.
Image: Nancy Bates, Michelle Brasier, Heather Croall AM, Rhys Nicholson and Enza Ferraro – photo by Bee Saint James