Revealing the secrets of this year’s Perth International Burlesque Festival program

The 13th annual Perth International Burlesque Festival returns in 2026, putting together a star-studded lineup of burlesque and cabaret from Thursday, October 9, to Saturday, October 24, with tickets on sale now. The festival will bring both international and Australian celebrated performers to stages across Perth and regional WA for a glamorous program, including top-10 voted performer in the world Raquel Reed, reigning Miss Viva Las Vegas Kelly Ann Doll, and Kitty Obsidian, who was ranked #33 in the 21st Century Global Top 50 Burlesque Performers. ABBY GREER sat down with Festival Director Jessica Gough (The Sugar Duchess) to find out what’s on the agenda this year. 

Congratulations on yet another year of the Perth International Burlesque Festival! This year’s program has some big names on the lineup. Which act are you most looking forward to? 

Thank you so much! It is genuinely impossible to pick just one because this year’s lineup is an absolute powerhouse. But what makes this festival so thrilling is that all of our incredible headliners, Raquel Reed, Kitty Obsidian, and Kelly Ann Dol, are bringing new custom-designed, one-of-a-kind performances created especially for the festival this year. Seeing these world-class artists debut bespoke work right here on our WA stages is going to be jaw-dropping and beyond exciting. I am counting down the days!

With all of your burlesque performance experience, how does it feel to host and spectate the shows?

Woof, when you look at the numbers: 17 years in this industry, 13 years of the festival, and eight years of ownership, it is wild in the best possible way! Each year, witnessing the festival unfold is both completely surreal and deeply moving. After spending so much time building the infrastructure and handling the logistics behind the scenes, getting to stand there and watch these artists tear up the stage is pure magic. I am beyond grateful to our community. Year after year, we keep pushing for true progression, unapologetic celebration and inclusivity, and seeing that come to life under the lights makes every single late-night email and website glitch worth it.

What makes the festival so rewarding each year, this festival being the 13th iteration? 

Reaching our 13th iteration feels deeply profound because live performance is inherently ephemeral… it lives, breathes, and vanishes as we leave the room, meaning it is quite simply never the same show, spectacle, or tour twice.

What makes it truly rewarding is the legacy we are building together: creating a living bridge between extraordinary international artists and our fiercely talented local community, and proudly putting Western Australia on the global burlesque map. But beneath the feathers, the glitter, and the razzle dazzle, the real magic is witnessing transformation, watching performers take brave risks, seeing audiences find radical acceptance, and sharing that rare, unfiltered human connection year after year.

As Festival Director, what kind of acts are you looking for when selecting the program? 

When curating the program, it’s a massive and loving balancing act! We are looking to build a vibrant tapestry of genres, backgrounds, and styles, so our goal is always to create a balanced, dynamic program. We are actively looking for artists who bring their absolute best work while also leaning into those distinct, wonderful quirks and personal styles that make them, well, beautifully them.

We’re also looking for performers who understand the burlesque scene, think strategically about how their unique art fits our different stages, and are ready to bring heart, soul, and boundary-pushing creativity to our audiences!

The festival is continuing its run of Regional Roadshows this year, heading to Geraldton and Margaret River. What makes bringing the festival beyond the city so special?

Having grown up in the regions myself, this is so close to my heart. I know firsthand how vital it is to bring that sense of love, diversity, and self-expression outside of the big smoke, where folks might not always have those spaces right on their doorstep. Plus, taking the festival on a regional roadshow is genuinely one of the highlights for the performers too. The road-trip bonding, the incredible hospitality, and the roaring, electric crowds in places like Geraldton and Margaret River make it absolute magic both on and off the stage!

The program also includes workshops for beginners and up. What would you say to someone thinking about taking their first step into the world of burlesque? 

You only have one life, and it is far too short to spend it in the shadows. Burlesque isn’t about fitting a mold or achieving some impossible standard of perfection. It is an act of self-reclamation and love. It’s about stripping away the expectations the world and society places on us and giving yourself absolute permission to step into the light and shine every single facet of the diamond you truly are.

Our workshops are designed to be a safe and joyful space where you can lay down your self-doubt, reconnect with your body and your power, and experience the profound freedom of simply taking up space and owning your own magic. Maybe even find more of your tribe. Take that first step… you might just find it changes everything.

The Perth International Burlesque Festival hits Perth, Geraldton and Margaret River from Thursday, October 9 to Saturday, October 24, 2026. Tickets are on sale now from perthburlesquefestival.com