The Perth International Burlesque Festival (PIBF) is back for its 13th annual season this October. Its lineup stretches from Las Vegas headliners to proud First Nations performers, and from the city’s iconic stages to regional venues in Margaret River and Geraldton.
Curated by Festival Director Jessica Anne Gough (aka The Sugar Duchess), PIBF 2026 runs from 9 October to 24 October. Shows are spread across The Court Hotel, Heath Ledger State Theatre Centre, and Connections Nightclub in Perth. Regional stops include HEART Theatre in Margaret River and Queens Park Theatre in Geraldton.
Who’s performing at the Perth International Burlesque Festival
Three international and Australian headliners anchor the 2026 programme. Raquel Reed arrives from Las Vegas. She has performed in high-profile shows, including Absinthe at Caesars Palace and produces both The Jiggle Room and the Sin City Burlesque Festival — placing her consistently among the world’s top ten burlesque performers.
Kelly Ann Doll, reigning Miss Viva Las Vegas 2025 and a 2024 Burlesque Hall of Fame representative, is next. She brings close to two decades of high-tempo performance built on sharp musicality and rapid-fire footwork.
Lastly, Kitty Obsidian, a proud Wiradjuri/Gamilaroi trans performer, rounds out the headline trio. Mx First Nation Australia 2025 and ranked 33rd in the 21st Century Global Top 50 Burlesque Performers, she brings an award-winning blend of slow seduction, fetish performance, and activist stagecraft.
How the festival unfolds
The programme kicks off with a community showcase, Peep Show!, on Thursday 9 October at The Court, before the regional leg heads to Margaret River on 10 October and Geraldton on 17 October. The Perth central run opens Friday 23 October evening, followed by the Club Burlesque Gala and after-party on Saturday 24 October. All events are strictly 18+.
Tickets are on sale now through the Perth Burlesque Festival website.
