Fire, Flips, and Flavour: a perfect day (and night) at Winter in the City

Posted on 6 July, 2026

Layer up, Canberra. From world-class circus acts to blazing pyrotechnics and hidden jazz bars, Winter in the City is turning up the heat this July.

Let’s be honest – when winter truly hits the capital, the temptation to hibernate is real. But from Wednesday 8 to Saturday 18 July, the City Renewal Authority is giving us a bunch of very good reasons to pull on our favourite trench coats, grab our friends, and head into the heart of the city.

Following a massive turnout last year, Winter in the City is returning to transform the CBD into a glowing, bustling winter festival. Centred around a massive 14-metre round stage at the intersection of Petrie Plaza (right next to our iconic Civic merry-go-round), the entire program is completely free to attend. Plus, there are lots of other activities to keep you booked and busy.

Whether you need to keep the kids entertained during the school holidays, want an electric atmosphere for a winter date night, or simply want to spice up your walk home from the office, here is your curated guide to making a full day out of it.

3:30 PM – FAMILY FUN WITH CIRCUS OZ

Kick off your afternoon right as the daily program comes alive with Circus Oz and their brand-new, fast-paced show, Here, There and Everywhere!. Making its Canberra debut, this 60-minute performance brings high-flying acrobatics, live music, and playful pandemonium to the street.

It’s entirely free and custom-built for a multigenerational good time – just get there early to secure a good viewing spot! (Note: Performers take a well-earned rest on Monday 13 July).

4:30 PM – WARM HANDS, WARM HEARTS

As the afternoon light shifts, make a pitstop for some crucial winter fuel at one of the on-site food and beverage providers and enjoy drinks and warm treats while watching the shows. Keep the chill at bay by grabbing a decadent hot chocolate and marshmallows from Centro Café, or settle in for some hearty food and drink options from the Central Social Club to power you through the evening ahead.

5:30 PM ONWARDS – SPARKS FLY WITH FLUX

As dark falls over Civic, the evening lights up. Flux Entertainment will be taking over the stage three times a night (5:30 pm, 6:30 pm, and 7:30 pm), with each show building on the last:

At 5:30 pm, Origins is billed as a raw, traditional fire-led performance with live flame effects. Then at 6:30 pm Surge.exe will deliver high-impact pyrotechnics, fast transitions, and precision pixel systems. The grand celebratory finale at 7:30 pm is Equilibrium, where fire, lights, and tech collide in a massive choreographed close.

KEEP THE NIGHT GOING

The main stage is just the beginning. Local businesses across the city centre are turning up the heat with dedicated winter activations. Make a night of it with food, drinks and local offers all within reach.

Dining, drinks & nightlife

The Winter Clover Collection (Wednesday 8 – 18 July)

Book an intimate dining experience at Clover Dining to celebrate Canberra’s cold-season culture with a beautifully curated seasonal winter menu.

Squeaky Clean’s Winter Series: Stripped Back (Thursdays, 9 & 16 July)

Head to Verity Lane where local punk, indie, and hip-hop artists turn down the distortion for unique, intimate acoustic sets from 7 pm onwards.

Jazida Burlesque at Bar Beirut (Fridays, 10 & 17 July)

Keep the heat alive after dark with a spectacular, high-energy performance from 8:30 pm featuring a captivating blend of classical burlesque and fire arts.

Bourbon Street – Sunday Night Jazz at Molly (Sunday 12 July)

Duck into the cosy, hidden depths of Molly from 6:30 PM to sip NOLA-themed cocktails alongside smooth live jazz tracks.

And lots more to discover here.

Concerts, Creative Workshops & Culture

If you want to keep the kids entertained during the school holidays, immerse yourself in local art, or sink your own teeth into a hands-on creative project, mark these dates on your calendar:

K-POP Icons

Head to Canberra Theatre Centre for a high-energy, family-friendly live concert celebrating Korea’s global music phenomenon. This world-exclusive experience features the UK’s first virtual K-Pop band performing as digital avatars, backed by a sensational live dance crew. Sessions run from 3–4:40 pm and 6:30–8:10 pm on Friday 10 July.

Shadow Puppet Making Workshop for Kids at CMAG

Perfect for the first Friday of the holidays, younger creatives can jump into a hands-on workshop from 1–2:30 pm on Friday 10 July to transform recycled materials into shadow-puppet art.

Flip & Flappin’ Bird Puppets at Blank Cultural Platform

Adults and older makers can get their hands dirty from 10 am–1 pm on Saturday 11 and 18 July in an imaginative workshop with local artist Tom Buckland, learning the mechanics of constructing moving bird puppets from cardboard.

Material Resonance at Blank Cultural Platform

For those looking to explore tactile arts, check out these specialised weekday workshops with Michele Grimston. Running 11 am– 2 pm from Tuesday 14  to Friday 17 July, they delve into thoughtful textile, quilting, and soft sculpture design.

Buzzz ACT | Dance at CMAG

Catch the award-winning, inclusive science–meets–dance experience by the Chamaeleon Collective from 11:30 am–12:30 pm on Saturday 18 July for a truly interactive afternoon performance.

Local exhibitions

Wander through Craft + Design Canberra from Tuesday to Saturday throughout the festival to take in Brenda Page’s glasswork sculpture exhibition Edge of Presence and Jessika Spencer’s multidisciplinary Wiradjuri textile exhibition, Reclamation.