Since 1891, the Royal South Street Society has delivered Australia’s premier eisteddfod through the RSSS Ballarat Eisteddfod — building confidence, creativity and lifelong pathways in the performing arts.
Royal South Street Society Ballarat Eisteddfod
For more than 135 years, the Royal South Street Society (RSSS) has created stages where confidence grows, talent is nurtured and creative futures begin. Since 1891, generations of young Australians have stepped forward through the RSSS Ballarat Eisteddfod, discovering their voice, refining their craft and building lifelong connections to the performing arts.
What began as a community initiative has grown into Australia’s oldest and longest-running eisteddfod and the delivery platform for Victoria’s largest youth performing arts pathway. More than one million performers — from first-time participants to future leaders in the arts and public life — have shared in this journey.
Today, the Royal South Street Society continues to honour its legacy while investing in the next generation, strengthening communities and sustaining essential cultural and educational infrastructure for regional Victoria and beyond.
2026
2026 Season - Entries Open on 01 March
2026 Dates & Venues
September
| 1–4 | All Abilities – Farm Campus |
| 16–30 | Energetiks Dance – Her Majesty's Theatre |
October
| 1–3 | Energetiks Dance – Her Majesty's Theatre |
| 2 | Dance for Life |
| 4–25 | Calisthenics |
| 9–10 | Solo Finals (Calisthenics and Graceful) – Her Majesty's Theatre |
| 25 | RSSS 2026 Showcase – Her Majesty's Theatre |
Perform....Then Explore! Find Ballarat locals' favourite places
A Royal Arrival: A Grand Piano To Elevate Ballarat’s Music Scene
Exciting News for Ballarat
Ballarat has welcomed a world-class musical treasure with the arrival of the Royal South Street Society (RSSS) Margaret Schofield OAM Memorial Piano. The arrival of the stunning Schimmel Konzert Grand K195 piano, marks a major milestone in the city’s artistic legacy.
Our sincere thanks to the wonderful community who helped us make this happen and will forever be remembered for their support of the performing arts. Special thanks to Andrew Cochrane and Cochrane family, Bernie Capicchiano and Bernies Music Land for their remarkable support. Thank you to our RSSSS community, and the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute for providing us with a stunning new home for our Pianoforte, Vocal, Chopin and Aria competitions.
News
History
Explore our history through the decades
The Royal South Street Society Ballarat Eisteddfod stands as Australia’s premier eisteddfod, boasting an illustrious heritage of delivering outstanding performance opportunities for over a century. Since 1891 our enduring commitment to fostering and showcasing talent places us at the pinnacle of the Australian cultural and artistic landscape.
Stories
Find out more about the various disciplines and stories from Royal South Street Society. These stories are collated from interviews, biographies, archives, media and news.
