An intimate evening with one of Australia’s most celebrated entertainers comes to the 2026 Peter Allen Festival
The organisers of the Peter Allen Festival, in partnership with the Tenterfield Autumn Festival, are thrilled to announce that award-winning Australian performer Todd McKenney will appear at the Tenterfield School of Arts on Saturday, 3 October 2026, for one very special performance celebrating the extraordinary life, music and legacy of Peter Allen.
For one night only, audiences will have the opportunity to experience an intimate evening with Todd McKenney in the town where Peter Allen’s remarkable story began.
Few Australian performers have a connection to Peter Allen as powerful or enduring as Todd McKenney.
Todd became one of the country’s most acclaimed musical theatre performers through his legendary portrayal of Peter Allen in the Australian production of The Boy From Oz. He performed the role in more than 1,000 shows across Australia, helping to make the production one of the longest-running and most successful Australian musicals of all time.
Through that unforgettable performance, Todd introduced Peter Allen’s story, music, humour, flamboyance and uniquely Australian spirit to audiences across the nation.
Now, more than three decades into an extraordinary career on stage and screen, Todd will come to Tenterfield to celebrate the man whose music has become part of Australia’s cultural history.
The performance will be one of the signature events of the 2026 Peter Allen Festival celebration weekend, being held in Tenterfield from 2–4 October.
Set within the historic and intimate Tenterfield School of Arts, the evening promises to be a deeply personal celebration of Peter Allen’s life and music, presented by the performer who has become so closely associated with his story.
Festival organisers said securing Todd McKenney for the event was an incredibly exciting moment for both the Festival and the Tenterfield community.
“Peter Allen’s journey began in Tenterfield and eventually took him to stages around the world. Todd McKenney helped bring that extraordinary journey to life for Australian audiences through his unforgettable portrayal of Peter in The Boy From Oz.
“To have Todd perform in Tenterfield during a weekend dedicated to celebrating Peter’s life, music and legacy is enormously significant. This will be a very special night and a wonderful moment in the story of the Peter Allen Festival.”
Todd McKenney is one of Australia’s most versatile and recognisable entertainers. His career has spanned more than 30 years and includes major roles in Cats, 42nd Street, West Side Story, Crazy for You, Cabaret, Singin’ in the Rain, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Annie, Grease, The Rocky Horror Show, Barnum, Shrek, Hairspray, Cinderella, Wicked and The Odd Couple.
He is also well known to television audiences after serving as a judge across 20 seasons of Dancing With The Stars, as well as appearing in numerous television productions, films and radio programs.
However, it is his landmark portrayal of Peter Allen that remains one of the defining roles of his career.
Tickets for An Intimate Evening with Todd McKenney – Celebrating the Life of Peter Allen will go on sale this week.
Due to the limited capacity of the Tenterfield School of Arts, only a restricted number of tickets will be available, and strong demand is expected.
Further Festival performances and ticketing information will be announced shortly, together with details of the Tenterfield Spring Food & Wine Festival events being held in conjunction with the Peter Allen Festival.
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EVENT DETAILS
An Intimate Evening with Todd McKenney – Celebrating the Life of Peter Allen
Date: Saturday, 3 October 2026
Venue: Tenterfield School of Arts, Tenterfield, NSW
Festival: Peter Allen Festival, 2–4 October 2026
Tickets: On sale this week
Website: www.peterallenfestival.com.au