Cirque Magnifique delivers a night of pure magic: Reliving the 2026 Educators’ Ball!
What a night! On Saturday evening, the Adelaide Convention Centre was transformed into a dazzling, high-energy big top as we welcomed around 700 educators, leaders, and education supporters for Cirque Magnifique – the 2026 Educators’ Ball.
From the moment guests stepped through the doors, the atmosphere was electric. Between tarot readings, a bustling Wine Wall, jaw-dropping pop-up performances, and a dancefloor that was packed before the main course even hit the tables, it was truly a feast for the senses and an unforgettable celebration of South Australia’s hardworking education community.
As Lisa-Jane O’Connor, President of Educators SA, put it:
“Thanks for being here to celebrate the joy and power of being a contributor to the education community in SA. Tonight, we choose to celebrate educators and the joy that being an educator can bring. It’s time to laugh, connect, party and dance as an education community, both educators themselves and those who support them.”
Honoured guests & leadership across the sector
We were particularly privileged to be joined by key leaders from across government and South Australia’s education ecosystem.
It was a special honour to welcome the Hon. Lucy Hood MP, Minister for Education, Training and Skills, marking the Educators’ Ball as one of her very first major official events with Educators SA. We were also delighted to host Shadow Minister Heidi Girolamo, alongside senior representatives from the Department for Education, the Teachers Registration Board (TRB), the Education Standards Board (ESB), and Adelaide University. Another special highlight for Educators SA was the first time attendance of educator colleagues from across the Skills and Training sector.
Having leaders from all levels and sectors of education celebrating side-by-side with frontline educators made the evening a true reflection of our unified community.
Unforgettable highlights from under the Big Top
This year’s ball raised the bar once again, blending world-class entertainment with meaningful community recognition. Standout moments that made the night so special included:
- Our Host with the Most: The legendary HANS brought his signature over-the-top charm, quick wit, and unstoppable energy, keeping the room laughing and engaged all night long.
- A Packed Dancefloor: Premier cover band The Cast alongside our incredible DJ set from HANS had the crowd on their feet from the very start. (We hear a few feet are still recovering!)
- A Feast for the Senses: Guests enjoyed an award-winning three-course dinner, a five-hour premium beverage package, custom cocktails and mocktails, and even fresh popcorn to keep the circus theme alive.
- A Touch of Mystery: For the very first time, guests added a little magic to their evening with personal tarot readings, creating a unique and memorable twist to the night.
- Making a Difference: Together, our community rallied to support our official charity partner, Operation Flinders Foundation. Through our live and silent auctions, $5 raffle tickets, and the popular Wine Wall, we raised funds to support young South Australians.
Standing ovation for our sponsors & supporters
An event of this scale simply isn’t possible without the generous backing of our corporate partners and donation supporters who invest directly back into the wellbeing of South Australia’s education sector.
A massive THANK YOU to each and every one of our 2026 sponsors:
- Platinum Sponsors: Credit Union SA, Department for Education (DfE), Adelaide University, and advancedlife
- Silver Sponsor: Compass Education
- Bronze Bespoke Sponsor: Office for Early Childhood Development (OECD)
- Wine Wall Sponsor: Alpha Box & Dice
- Bright Futures Sponsor: Baptist Care SA
- Bespoke Sponsor: Fiction Distilling
- Program Print Sponsor: Bowden Print
We also extend our deepest gratitude to every organisation and individual who donated items for our auctions and raffles. Your contributions made a massive impact!
Register Your Interest for 2027 now!
To every single educator, leader, corporate partner, and guest who brought their energy, fabulous costumes, and dancing shoes to Cirque Magnifique – thank you for making the 2026 Educators’ Ball our biggest and best yet.
Our team is taking a short moment to rest our feet (and take off our sparkly high heels!), but planning for next year is already underway. We can’t wait to top this one for you in 2027!
Register your interest for the Educators’ Ball 2027 here!
