Adelaide Fringe’s 2025 poster revealed
The arts festival has revealed the winner of its annual poster competition for 2025.
The winning poster for the 2025 Adelaide Fringe. Image: supplied
Sheffield-based artist and printmaker John Pedder’s poster titled Are We Nearly There Yet was announced today as the winner of Adelaide Fringe’s 2025 poster competition.
The woodblock print, which will be displayed across the Adelaide Fringe and the city next year, depicts a range of characters of all ages and genders in bold colours.
John Pedder’s 2025 Adelaide Fringe poster Are We Nearly There Yet
Adelaide Fringe said the artwork “speaks well to Adelaide Fringe’s vision to become the most inclusive festival in the world”. It is also the first time a woodblock print has won the competition in its more than 60-year history, the Fringe said.
Pedder, born in Liverpool and trained in Hull, wins $10,000 in prize money and gets free registration to hold an exhibition at the 2025 Adelaide Fringe.
Adelaide Fringe CEO Heather Croall congratulated Pedder on his victory.
“We received a huge number of submissions from all over the world this year, and John’s design stood out as one that really captured the spirit of Fringe and one that would work well across the many platforms used to promote Fringe,” she said.
“The characters are super playful and it is especially exciting to have a hand-carved woodblock print as an Adelaide Fringe poster for the first time.
“We can’t wait to see this artwork take over the streets of Adelaide and South Australia to celebrate the upcoming season of Fringe.”
The competition brief for 2025 was “One for All and All For One”.
Pedder said he sent an open call out on Instagram asking for names of the characters after he completed his artwork.
“People sent through names and so much more; they also sent in stories behind the characters,” he told Adelaide Fringe in a Q&A.
John Pedder. Photo: supplied
“The project opened up a heartfelt dialogue with so many people and while the initial idea of the title was connected to the typical kids question in a car journey, it became much deeper with all the stories people sent in,” he said.
“‘Are We Nearly There Yet’ is the bigger picture of life and our life’s journey… are we ever nearly there?”
The 2025 Adelaide Fringe will be held from February 21 to March 23.