Perth's Leederville is bracing for a serious heatwave this January, and it has nothing to do with the weather. The suburb is set to host the fiery return of Margaritaville, promising two weekends of spicy cocktails, Mexican-inspired food, and the notorious title of serving "Australia's Spiciest Margarita."
The Fiery Headliner: The Marga-Reaper
The undisputed star of the event is the Marga-Reaper, a margarita designed to challenge even the most hardened spice lovers. This scorching cocktail is a collaboration with North Fremantle's Dingo Sauce Co, featuring a limited-edition hot sauce crafted by the same team behind the infamous Widowmaker and The Psycho sauces.
These are the very sauces that have brought celebrities like Justin Timberlake, Margot Robbie, and Will Ferrell to tears on the viral YouTube series Hot Ones. Now, Perth locals can test their mettle with a creation from the same culinary mind, chef Leigh Nash, who famously enjoys the pained reactions his sauces elicit.
Event Details and Spicy Weekends
Margaritaville will take over The Leederville Precinct's Garden, Servo, and Leederville Hotel across two separate weekends: January 17-18 and January 24-25, 2026. While the Marga-Reaper is the main attraction for the brave, the event promises to cater to all palates with a range of spice levels, Mexican-inspired beers, and tasty bites.
The festival will also host several breakout events to satisfy different tastes, including:
- Margaritaville Adventure
- Buenas Tardes
- Eterno Fiesta
- Margaritaville Laneway Dinner
Tickets for the experiences start from $88.91.
A Taste of Fame (and Pain) in Perth
The connection to Hot Ones adds a layer of celebrity challenge to the local event. Chef Leigh Nash, who co-founded Dingo Sauce Co. in 2016 before selling it, told PerthNow in 2025 that he revels in the intense reactions. "I love the reaction that people are crying and swearing and going, 'Oh my god, what the hell have I just eaten?' In a good way," he said.
This means locals can essentially replicate the Hot Ones experience in their own neighbourhood, with far less pressure about how much dairy they might need on standby for relief.
With its blend of extreme heat, festival fun, and a touch of culinary notoriety, Margaritaville is poised to make Leederville the hottest destination in Perth this month, in every sense of the word.
