US pop superstar Katy Perry extends her Lifetimes Down Under tour to include Adelaide

Premier Peter Malinauskas waded through 100,000 people to find pop superstar Katy Perry and convince her to add SA to her tour. So what did he say?

The people have spoken. US pop superstar Katy Perry will roar into Adelaide next year, just days after leaving the city off her Australian tour.

The Firework singer confirmed exclusively to The Advertiser that she is extending her 2025 tour with an Adelaide Entertainment Centre concert on Thursday, June 26.

It’s a feat only made possible by the AFL Grand Final day efforts of South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, according to promoter Paul Dainty.

“It’s a funny one, I announced the dates and Adelaide wasn’t there because of several reasons,” said Perry, the Teenage Dreamhit maker.

“I heard so loud and so clearly from the fans there, and the community there, they were like ‘What, no way, oh my God, I can’t believe you’re not coming to Adelaide’.

“And so we had a conversation and we were like, ‘We’ve got to go to Adelaide’.

“So the people have spoken. We hear you and we deliver.”

Perry confirmed she will extend her Lifetimes Down Under tour next year to include Adelaide. Picture: Mark Stewart

The deal was done in a grandstand meeting room at the MCG on Saturday after Perry stunned at the pre-game show, with Mr Dainty saying he had never seen anything like it in all his years in the entertainment business.

The state government has not paid Perry directly to play in Adelaide, however a deal has been struck to reduce the fees associated with using the Adelaide Entertainment Centre for the concert.

“He (Mr Malinauskas) trekked half way across the oval, wading through 100,000 people to find us and eyeball Katy and myself,” Mr Dainty, the TEG Dainty president and chief executive, said.

“The energy and the enthusiasm from the Premier, really resonated with Katy.

“It’s great to see that passion, we don’t see a lot.”

Mr Dainty said it had been a massive logistical undertaking and 24 hours of meetings

“The show I promise you will be spectacular,” he said.

“By reputation Katy Perry doesn’t do a small show.

“We’re excited, I hope it means a lot to everyone in Adelaide, South Australia, we always want to try and bring our shows to Adelaide.

Promoter Paul Dainty said the decision to come to Adelaide was made possible by the efforts of Premier Peter Malinauskas. Picture: Gemma Jones

“It’s great we can do it this occasion when it looked unlikely.”

Mr Malinauskas was over the moon at the coup.

“Katy Perry is a global megastar, and as Australians who watched the AFL Grand Final well understand, she puts on a spectacular show,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“We know South Australians appreciate high quality events and performances, and we are thrilled to have played a part in convincing Katy to come to Adelaide.”

Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia questioned why a special deal was needed to lure Perry to Adelaide.

“Why is it one rule for Katy Perry and another rule for everyone else, by the looks of it?” he said.

“Whilst we understand that this will provide some economic stimulus here in Adelaide for a short period of time, what about all the other people who are missing out?”

He hit out at Mr Malinauskas, who he dubbed “Cali Mali”, over his priorities following recent job losses at the Whyalla Steelworks and due to the tomato virus outbreak.

“While we welcome these events and while we welcome Katy Perry coming to Adelaide, if only the Premier cared as much about South Australian jobs as he did about Katy Perry,” he said.

Perry’s show will be her first in Adelaide since she performed three gigs at the Entertainment Centre in July 2018 on her Witness Tour.

Perry, 39, announced last week she was embarking on a long-awaited Australian visit in June 2025, with shows planned for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth – but bypassing Adelaide.

She was the latest in a long line of international headline acts to skip SA, including punk rock heavyweights Green Day, singer Dua Lipa and The Killers.

Perry’s Lifetimes Down Under tour will kick off in Sydney on June 9, and was originally sceduled to end in Perth on June 22 before the Adelaide show was added.

Adelaide tickets go on sale at 11am on Tuesday.

The Adelaide decision comes after Perry stunned at the AFL grand final pre-game show before the Brisbane Lions defeated Sydney Swans at the MCG.

She opened up her set at 1.40pm with her song ‘Roar’, entering the arena on a silver reflective car before dominating a mirrored stage.

Playing her international hits ‘Teenage Dream’ and finale ‘Firework’ the crowd was absolutely on board for her dynamic performance.

Australian Tina Arena joined on stage for ‘I Kissed A Girl’ while the crowd did simmer when the American sung her new single ‘Gorgeous’.