The most astonishing things to do in Perth this October

Side Splitter is back at Memorial Hall with possibly its strongest lineup yet. For a hilarious few nights this October, the Side Splitter Comedy Festival returns to Hamilton Hill. Think two weekends with national headliners like Pete Helliar, Luke Heggie, Dilruk Jayasinha, and more. Shows include a closing Gala and a pop-up garden bar and food truck hub each night.

Level up your October outings with Prison Island, an escape room with a twist. Rally your friends, family (one adult ticket included for children’s parties), or even host Hens and Stag parties (the bride or groom joins for free!), and take on 35 themed cells in groups of 2-5.

With mental puzzles, physical tests, and teamwork, you’ll need to wrap up the tasks within a set time to score points. From October 16, select weekends have a Halloween-themed ‘Horror Story’ event that you can’t miss. Buy tickets before they sell out!

For a standout October night out, G Flip brings the Bed On Fire Tour to 3 Oceans Winery in Margaret River for a single WA headline show on Saturday 31 October 2026, an all-ages licensed afternoon and evening event featuring support from The Rions and Boox Kid.

There’s nothing quite like an evening of live music surrounded by thousands of glowing candles. But dealing with parking, navigating public transport, or simply working out how to get from A to B can take some of the enjoyment out of the experience. That’s why Candlelight has teamed up with Uber, making your journey part of the night too, with discounted Uber rides to and from your concert now available. After all, when you’re not behind the wheel, you can catch up on the group chat, take a quick nap, or get your glam sorted from the back seat of an Uber. Discover Candlelight concerts near you, book your tickets, and arrange your Uber ride today. You’ll receive an email with your discount code 24 hours before the concert!

2026 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival is all set to take the city by storm this October. 33 films will screen across Palace Cinemas Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and Windsor Cinema in Perth from 24 September to 18 October, featuring new Italian cinema, documentaries, an Anna Magnani retrospective and an Australian co-production premiere.

Experience Hans Zimmer live in the city this month — a spectacle you won’t want to miss. Hans Zimmer brings his arena production ‘The Next Level’ to Perth’s RAC Arena on October 12, 2026, featuring cinematic scores, EDM elements, and special guest vocalists. Book your tickets here.

Taking place on 10–11 October 2026, the fourth Pride Wellbeing Festival runs at the Saltwater Performing Arts & Conference Centre in Busselton. The free conference explores LGBTQIA+ wellbeing, connection and belonging with speakers, panels, and an opening ticketed party on 9 October.

Zara Larsson brings her Midnight Sun tour to RAC Arena. Although her show was scheduled for the HPC Arena, demand after her album release earlier this year forced organisers to relocate it. Watch her perform classics from all her years as an artist and book your tickets if you haven’t already!

A landmark 6,000 km all‑female tour bringing performances, workshops and industry mentoring to regional WA. Women Out West is a month‑long concert and mentoring tour across regional Western Australia, running from October 2 to November 1, 2026, featuring Alexia Parenzee, Melody Pool and Tanya Ransom and stopping in 12 towns between Broome and Bridgetown.

We’ve heard his breakout hit, Maniac, but it was the 2025 album wishbone that gave Conan Gray his first #1 on Billboard’s Album Sales chart and Top 3 on the Billboard 200. Now, the pop singer is coming to Australia this October, with his Perth show taking place at RAC Arena. Book your seats if you haven’t already!

Kevin Parker and Tame Impala have emerged as one of the most influential voices of the last decade. Deadbeat arrived in late 2025, led by three killer singles: Loser, End of Summer, and, of course, the big hit, Dracula. As a newly formed six-piece touring band, Tame Impala will be joined by special guest Ninajirachi, for their hometown shows at RAC Arena. Book the tickets here.

“Hey now, hey now, this is what dreams are made of!” Hilary Duff is coming to Perth this October, bringing all the good Disney nostalgia with a new album, luck… or something, to boot! This is her first tour of this dimension in 20 years, and honestly, we can’t wait to see her at RAC Arena. Limited tickets are available, so if you haven’t already, book soon!

The West Australian Ballet and The Australian Ballet present an interactive adaptation of The Sleeping Beauty for children aged three and older. An onstage narrator guides the audience through the classic fairytale set to Tchaikovsky’s score. Entertain your kids for a little less than an hour while they wear ballet-inspired outfits and dance in their seats. Reserve your seats here.

Perth’s biggest street food market is also the most delicious! October marks the return of the Twilight Food Market, showcasing the city’s diverse cuisines alongside festive entertainment. It will be warmer, hearts lighter, and tummies fuller with brilliant food. Food is served from 4:30 pm; you can enjoy your weekend at the market.

Perthies love their beer and munchies. It’s no surprise, then, that Oktoberfest is so beloved here. From Beer Corner‘s selection of German beers and pilsners to Oktoberfest in the Gardens at Langley Park, expect many beer events in October. Some other ones we’re looking forward to are at Anzac Corner and The Decoy in South Perth, along with Little Creatures Fremantle.

The musical comedy from the creators of South Park and Robert Lopez returns to Perth. The production follows the misadventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries on assignment far from home in Salt Lake City. Expect sharp satire and catchy numbers as the nine-time Tony Award-winning show takes over the Crown Theatre stage for its upcoming run. Book your tickets now!

The biggest jazz event returns to Perth in October. Acts from the USA, UK, and Japan, alongside local Aussie talent, will dazzle audiences across a series of free and ticketed concerts. With the program spread across city venues, choose which ones you want to attend from the huge list.

Bollywood playback singer Sonu Nigam brings his Revolution Tour to Perth’s Riverside Theatre. The concert features a setlist spanning his extensive career, moving from classic Bollywood tracks to contemporary hits. Focusing on the music that has defined generations of Indian cinema, the performance is an opportunity to hear his sprawling catalogue live on stage. Book it here.

For an October day with a rev-head twist, add Perth’s largest monthly automotive meetup to your calendar. Classic Cars and Coffee—supporting the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia—brings together classic, vintage, and rare modern sports cars. You can browse luxury vehicles and motorcycles, check out a dedicated Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) showcase, and refuel with local coffee and food vendors.

The rain forced Fremantle’s FREE WA Day Festival to be pushed to October, but that just means we get to celebrate the state in spring instead! The iconic Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour and Bathers Beach come to life with live entertainment, cultural performances, family fun and plenty of surprises. From mermaids and carnival performers to live music, multicultural performances and a spectacular sunset finale, something is happening around every corner.

The Perth International Burlesque Festival returns for its 13th annual season with performances across Perth as well as regional shows in Margaret River and Geraldton. The programme features international headliners from Las Vegas alongside First Nations and Australian performers.

Perthies know how to throw a Halloween bash like no one else. Expect many terrifying concerts, horror movie screenings, and parties in October. Whether you want to take your kids and family to a tamer market outing or prefer to hop from one bar to another, the city has something to offer you. Read all about what’s happening during Halloween here!