Grab your satin slippers – the Jane Austen Ball is back for an evening of Regency-inspired revelry

Posted on 2 October, 2026

If you need a little Persuasion (sorry) to leave the house this October, an evening of dance, music and Regency-inspired revelry is taking over the Ainslie Arts Centre – and you’re invited.

Following the sell-out success of last year’s Jane Austen 250th Anniversary Ball, the Jane Austen Mystery Ball is inviting attendees to step once again into the elegant world of Jane Austen.

Known and loved for its sharp social observation, psychological insight, wit, and compelling love stories, Austen’s work endures to this day, with dozens of major film and television adaptations of her six novels (along with hundreds of modern retellings and spin-offs).

Organiser Antonella Salpietro says that the 250th Anniversary Ball was so successful not only due to the significance of the milestone, but because it brought together literature, wit, elegance, Regency music and dancing for a joyful and immersive experience.

“For Austen fans in particular, there is a special pleasure in stepping back in time and recreating, even for one evening, the world of balls and assemblies that is so familiar from her novels,” she says.

“I think guests loved being able to experience that world through music, movement, costumes and, above all, through sharing it with other people.”

The Jane Austen Mystery Ball will offer all that and more when it returns on Saturday 24 October.

The evening will begin with a series of short dance displays from overseas, with attendees then invited to the dance floor for live music and period dancing (no dance experience required!). The session will be led by Dance Master David Wanless – an internationally recognised dance leader whose repertoire spans everything from Regency to Balfolk, Klezmer, Contra, Irish and Scottish dancing as well as traditional Australian bush dances, Southern US Squares, and Renaissance dances.

Music will be provided by The Bard Band and performed on period-authentic instruments, and if that’s not enough to get your gloves in a twist, there will also be short readings and supper.

“It’s really an evening to experience the world of Austen rather than simply watch it,” explains Antonella.

“The ball pays tribute to the world Jane Austen so brilliantly brought to life in her novels – the hopes and dreams, love and friendship, loyalty, wit and conviviality that make her characters and stories so enduring.”

And because it’s not an Austen ball without a touch of drama, there will also be parlour games and amusement inspired by Austen’s world, along with a little mystery woven into the evening.

“We don’t want to give too much away and spoil the fun!” says Antonella.

“The best part is that participation is completely optional – you can join in and see where the mystery takes you, or simply sit back, enjoy the music and dancing, and soak up the atmosphere.”

Ideal for Austen enthusiasts, people who are curious about the Regency period, and those who may be discovering it all for the first time, Antonella is excited to bring back the ball for another year of elegance, romance, and Regency charm.

She says you don’t need to be an Austen expert – or even an Austen fan – to enjoy the evening.

“The ball is about experiencing the atmosphere of the Regency era: live music, period dancing, parlour entertainment, readings, and a little mystery. Jane Austen provides the inspiration, but the evening is for anyone who enjoys music, dancing, history, dressing up, or simply having a memorable night out,” explains Antonella.

“Whether you know every Austen novel by heart or have never read one, there’ll be something to enjoy.”

Don your best Regency outfit (or evening wear), channel your inner Elizabeth Bennet and get ready to celebrate one of the world’s most beloved novelists. As Sir William observed in Pride and Prejudice, “There is nothing like dancing, after all.”

Images supplied.