Cue the spotlight: Canberra’s Cabaret Festival returns for 2026

Posted on 18 February, 2026

Immerse yourself in the world of cabaret, encompassed by humour, talented vocalists, and heartfelt storytelling, at ACT Hubs Canberra Cabaret Festival.

After a brief interval following its opening season, the Canberra Cabaret Festival is returning with a lineup of three incredibly talented local vocalists, celebrating love, identity, connection and life. This heartfelt festival of storytelling, cheeky humour and prevailing vocals will run from Thursday 19 to Saturday 21 February at ACT Hub’s Causeway Hall in Kingston.

When the festival initially launched in 2023, a new world of bold, intimate and story-driven art was introduced to Canberra’s nightlife scene. This year, the Canberra Cabaret Festival spotlights local performers and invites audiences to experience storytelling through emotionally connecting music.

Created to celebrate cabaret as a bold, intimate and story-driven art form, the festival champions local performers and invites audiences to experience music and storytelling up close. After three years, the festival returns to once again spotlight Canberra artists and the powerful personal stories behind their songs.

This year, Deborah O’Toole, Janie Lawson, and Dave Collins take the stage to perform distinctly personal cabaret work that explores the unpredictability of life.

Deborah O’Toole is a versatile vocalist with a seasoned career of more than 30 years of experience across musical theatre, film, television, session work, and live performances.

Deborah will be presenting Matters of the Heart: A Show About Love, a cabaret centred on love in its many forms, performing each song with rich storytelling and emotional depth. Catch this powerful show on Thursday 19, and Friday 20 February.

Janie Lawson has been entertaining audiences for over three decades, performing in musicals, plays and cabarets both locally, interstate and in the USA. Accompanied by Callum Tolhurst-Close, Janie will be sharing the powerful story of DNA the Cabaret: A Journey of Identity, Discovery, and New Beginnings. Her performance shares the powerful and tender story of discovering a new family later in life. Watch Janie’s performance across three nights from Friday 20, to Saturday, 21 February.

Dave Collins has an illuminating career spanning television, stage, pantomime, and musical theatre on both local and international stages.

Dave will deliver Dave 101: An Introduction to Poor Life Choices, a sharp, self-aware cabaret that leans into missteps, hindsight, and how comedy can be found in bad decisions. Don’t miss his cheeky performance on Thursday 19 and Saturday 21 February.

Whether you’re drawn in by the promise of laughter, big ballads or heartfelt storytelling, the Canberra Cabaret Festival is exactly where you should spend your evening. Tell your friends, gather your partners, and let three of Canberra’s brightest voices remind you just how magical live performance can be.

 Feature image via Facebook.