Don’t make plans yet, here’s what’s on in Canberra this week
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If the ANZAC Day long weekend was your warm-up, consider this week the main event. Canberra isn’t slowing down – it’s shifting gears, with a week packed full of reasons to keep the momentum going.
From exhibitions and fresh theatre seasons to live music, food pop-ups and markets worth lingering at, the city is well and truly in its stride. If you’re wondering what’s on in Canberra this week, consider this your cue to lock in plans (and maybe a backup or two).
Don’t miss…
Canberra Girls Grammar School Open Day
A century of female-focused education is something worth experiencing firsthand, and Canberra Girls Grammar School opens its doors this Thursday for a whole-school Open Day across both the Senior Campus in Melbourne Avenue and the Junior and ELC Campus in Grey Street, Deakin. Tours run across both campuses, giving families the chance to speak with current students, meet the teachers and see for themselves what a school built around the strengths, interests and futures of girls actually looks and feels like. For families exploring secondary or primary options for 2026 and beyond, this is a morning well spent.
Thursday 30 April, 9 am–12.30 pm | Senior Campus, 48 Melbourne Avenue, Deakin and Junior Campus, 24 Grey Street, Deakin | cggs.act.edu.au
Lose to Win
From South Sudan to Egypt to the stage of The Q in Queanbeyan – the journey at the heart of Lose to Win is one of the most remarkable stories to grace the regional stage in recent memory. Mandela Mathia tells his own extraordinary story in this joyful, poignant solo show: a child who fled war, spent years searching for somewhere to belong and ultimately found his way to the theatre. Celebrating the South Sudanese community and the power of imagination, this is a modern Australian story of resilience, humanity and hope, told with a directness that’s impossible to look away from.
Saturday, 2 May, 7.30 pm | 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan | theq.net.au
The Autumn Art Fair at The Little Burley Markets
Autumn in Canberra is something rather special, and the return of The Autumn Art Fair on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin captures the season at its most golden. Held alongside the iconic Little Burley Market at Queen Elizabeth Terrace in Parkes, this vibrant gathering brings together a packed lineup of art and design stalls, delicious food and drink, live entertainment and hands-on workshops. With the National Cultural institutions just down the road and the lake shimmering under autumn light, it’s hard to imagine a more fitting backdrop for celebrating Canberra’s creative community.
Saturday 2 May | Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | thelittleburleymarket.com.au
Urban Wine Walk Canberra
Few afternoons in the Canberra social calendar are as reliably fun as the Urban Wine Walk, and with more than 300 fellow wine enthusiasts making their way through the city’s coolest venues, the energy is always excellent. The format is refreshingly simple: start at a chosen venue with a delicious bite, then wander at your own pace – glass in hand – through a stellar lineup of stops, meeting local winemakers and tasting some genuinely exceptional drops along the way. Self-guided and social in equal measure, it’s the perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon exploring the city from the inside out.
Saturday 2 May, 12 pm–4 pm | Multiple venues, Canberra | urbanwinewalk.com.au
Canberra International Music Festival
The 2026 Canberra International Music Festival is in full swing, and there’s still time to catch some of the season’s most extraordinary offerings. Spanish violinist Lina Tur Bonet brings fiery brilliance across both Baroque and contemporary programmes, while accordionist James Crabb journeys from Bach and Dvořák to nuevo tango before joining Switzerland’s Ensemble Contrechamps for the Australian premiere of the monumental Tales of Fragile Sensations. Masterworks including Strauss’s Four Last Songs and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring sit alongside bold new works from composer-in-residence Fiona Hill and Indigenous artist-in-residence Aaron Wyatt. An unmissable chapter in Canberra’s cultural calendar.
Until Sunday 3 May | Various locations, Canberra | cimf.org.au
Ausdance ACT 2026 Australian Dance Week
If there’s one week in Canberra’s calendar that proves the ACT has more dance talent per square kilometre than almost anywhere in the country, it’s Australian Dance Week. Ausdance ACT’s annual celebration (the biggest in Australia) opens on International Dance Day and runs with more than 20 events across the ACT and region, spanning ballet, contemporary, folk, hip-hop, inclusive dance and much more. Workshops, classes and performances are on offer for all ages and abilities, from seasoned professionals to first-timers who’ve always wanted to try. Check the full calendar online and find something to move you.
Until Tuesday 6 May | Various locations, Canberra | ausdanceact.org.au
Hallyu! The Korean Wave
An exhibition exploring Korea’s cultural journey to global influence through 250 objects from the V&A in London. The exhibition spans film, fashion, drama, beauty and music–from BTS to aespa, Squid Game to Parasite, glass skin to bibimbap. Visitors can discover the powerhouse behind Korea’s dramatic cultural transformation and the vibrant world of K-culture as it continues to sweep across the globe. The exhibition examines how creativity, collaboration and cultural ambition shaped Korea’s contemporary identity.
Until Sunday, 10 May | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula, Acton | nma.gov.au
Canberra and Region Heritage Festival
Canberra’s annual Heritage Festival returns in 2026 with a theme that feels particularly well-suited to a city shaped by bold ideas: Mid-Century–Innovation, Change and Optimism. Across a packed programme running through April and into May, the festival explores the visionary planning and mid-century architecture that defined Canberra’s emergence as the national capital, while celebrating the broader cultural, natural and historic heritage of the region. From walking tours to exhibitions and talks, there’s something to engage every kind of history enthusiast – whether architecture lovers, local historians or simply curious Canberrans wanting to see their city through fresh eyes.
Until Sunday 10 May | Various locations, Canberra | environment.act.gov.au
Special Events and Festivals
Wild Africa at the National Zoo and Aquarium
The National Zoo and Aquarium is celebrating African animals with Wild Africa, a month-long program of family-friendly activities running across weekends from late April to mid-May.
Each visit brings something different–from keeper talks and animal scavenger hunts to lawn games, roving entertainment with mascots and lion cub puppets, and new menu offerings at the Rhino Bistro. The program builds to a Wild Festival weekend on 16–17 May, filling the Viewing Park with entertainment and activities.
All Wild Africa activities are included with general admission or membership, making it an easy add-on to a zoo visit.
Friday 25 April–Sunday 17 May | National Zoo and Aquarium, Scrivener Dam, Yarralumla | nationalzoo.com.au
Canberra International Music Festival
Five days of performances unfold across Canberra as this major music festival returns. Featuring a mix of classical and contemporary works, it’s an opportunity to experience music in unique and unexpected settings.
Wednesday 29 April until Sunday, 3 May, Various times | Various locations | cimf.org.au
Swamplesque
After smashing box office records at Edinburgh Fringe in 2024 and 2025, the award-winning burlesque and drag parody inspired by everyone’s favourite ogre returns to Australia for one final season–and Canberra is on the map. Wickedly funny, fabulously camp and completely unafraid to get a little muddy, Swamplesque delivers a gloriously unhinged smorgasbord of performance styles that has earned standing ovations and sold-out seasons from Adelaide to Edinburgh. Whether a seasoned burlesque devotee or a first-timer looking for the most outrageously entertaining Wednesday night possible, this is Far Far Away’s greatest gift to Canberra.
Wednesday, 29 April, 8 pm–9 pm | Canberra Theatre Centre, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Autumn Courtyards Tour
Parliament House is spectacular in any season, but there’s something particularly satisfying about visiting in autumn when the private courtyards glow with rich reds, oranges and golds. This popular guided walking tour takes visitors through these remarkable spaces – each distinct from the next through sculpture, scale, plant selection and colour – with a knowledgeable guide sharing the stories behind the building’s extraordinary landscape design. Don’t miss the rare chance to see the iconic Budget Tree in person, and consider adding the refreshment package for a freshly baked Parliament House scone and hot drink. Accessible tours run at a more leisurely pace on select dates.
Friday 1 and Saturday 2 May | Australian Parliament House, 1 Parliament Drive, Canberra | parliamenthouse.respax.com
Curtin Autumn Fair
Curtin’s Autumn Fair is on again, with stalls selling a wide range of handmade crafts, books, plants, jewellery and jams. We’ll have gifts for Mothers Day, babies and children, and for pets as well. Come along to hear Junior, the popular singer, then have lunch or coffee at one of Curtin’s many cafes.
The fair is organised by a group of two, Ann and Sue, on behalf of the Curtin Residents Association. The fair began in 2017 and is now a fixture in residents’ and local Canberrans’ calendars.
Saturday 2 May, 10 am–2 pm | Curtin Square at Curtin shops, corner of Theodore & Carruthers Streets, Curtin
The Disappearing Diplomat
She Shapes History brings an evening of Cold War mystery and mid-century glamour to the elegant surrounds of Hyatt Hotel Canberra in Yarralumla. A distinguished diplomat has vanished without a trace from the hotel’s private reception rooms, and guests are charged with uncovering the truth amid an atmosphere of espionage, elegance and international intrigue. The evening includes a hosted mystery, a two-hour beverage package and canapés–and the dress code of cocktail with mid-century influence means this is an occasion to truly commit to the bit. Perfect for a group outing that’s as stylish as it is delightfully dramatic.
Friday 1 May, 7 pm–9 pm | Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Yarralumla | hyatt.com
Into The Dark – Emo Party
After last year’s huge debut, Into The Dark is back at Mooseheads in the city for another full-venue dive into the songs that defined a generation of black-clad, eyeliner-wearing music lovers. My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, Blink-182, All Time Low and many more fill the night with the kind of emotional anthems that somehow feel just as urgent now as they did the first time around. Black-themed outfits are encouraged, the nostalgia is heavy and the energy is guaranteed to be extraordinary.
Friday 1 May, 9.30 pm–11.59 pm | Mooseheads Pub, City| mooseheads.com.au
Braidwood Museum Open Day
Heritage-listed Braidwood is one of the most beautifully preserved towns in the region, and its Museum and Heritage Centre opens its doors for a free community day as part of the Australian Heritage Festival. Live music from local performers sets a warm tone, while traditional signwriting and apple cider pressing demonstrations bring a touch of old-world craft to the morning. A free zine-making workshop hosted by Southern Tablelands Arts adds a creative edge, food vendors and local stallholders fill the grounds and Braidwood FM broadcasts live throughout. Entry is by gold coin donation–a very easy yes for a weekend drive out of the city.
Saturday 2 May, 10 am–2 pm | Braidwood Museum and Heritage Centre, 186 Wallace Street, Braidwood | braidwoodmuseum.org.au
Canberra Made series: matcha pouring bowl–hand-building in clay with The Ceramic Studio
The Canberra Made workshop series at the Canberra and Region Visitors Centre continues with a relaxed ceramics session led by The Ceramic Studio. Participants learn hand-building techniques to create a functional matcha pouring bowl, a small handmade tea cup and a miniature matcha bowl charm to keep as a keyring or keepsake. The workshop suits all skill levels, with step-by-step guidance covering clay shaping, form refining and functional ceramic design. All materials, tools and firing are included, with finished pieces ready for collection from the Visitors Centre or The Ceramic Studio in Mitchell approximately two weeks later.
Saturday 2 May, 10 am–12 pm | Canberra and Region Visitors Centre, Parkes | events.humanitix.com
Markets
For Purpose Markets
There are markets, and then there are markets that actually make a difference. For Purpose Markets, held on the first Saturday of each month at the DKB Community Hall in Dickson, brings together Canberra’s remarkable ecosystem of social enterprise and for-purpose businesses in one vibrant space. Every purchase supports meaningful work – whether that’s backing refugees and migrants, protecting the environment, strengthening mental health services or uplifting LGBTQI+ communities. It’s a Saturday morning outing that feels genuinely good in every sense, with a browse through stalls that prove Canberra’s community spirit is alive, well and very much worth supporting.
Saturday 2 May, 10 am–2 pm | DKB Community Hall, Dickson | forpurposemarkets.com.au
Harvest Stall
The National Arboretum’s Harvest Stall is one of those quietly wonderful Canberra rituals that deserves far more attention than it gets. Every jar of jam, preserve and chutney on offer has been grown, harvested and made by Arboretum volunteers using seasonal organic produce from the Kitchen Garden and fruits from the forests – and the results are exactly as delicious as that sounds. Seedlings are also available for those looking to take inspiration home to their own backyard. A cashless event with all proceeds supporting Friends of the Arboretum projects, this is a perfectly worthwhile way to spend a Saturday morning in Molonglo.
Saturday 2 May, 10 am–2 pm | National Arboretum Canberra, Molonglo | nationalarboretum.act.gov.au
Hartley Hall Markets
The first Sunday of the month belongs to the Hartley Hall Markets at Hall Showground in the village of Hall, and it’s well worth the drive. Stalls spread out beneath the trees offering a wonderful variety of locally grown vegetables and fresh produce, baked goods, plants, furniture, clothing, pottery, handmade gifts, children’s toys and arts and crafts. Live entertainment and children’s activities round out the morning, making it a lovely family-friendly outing. All proceeds support Hartley Lifecare’s vital work assisting people with disability across Canberra – a genuinely good reason to shop, browse and linger over lunch.
Sunday 3 May, 9 am–2 pm | Hall Showground, Hall | hartley.org.au
Pandoras Recycled Fashions O’Connor – Everything Half Price Sale
Pandoras recycles high-end designer clothes, shoes, handbags, hats & jewellery. Top quality fashions at reasonable prices Everything you need to refresh your wardrobe from casual, work, evening or wedding. As the season changes Pandoras is having a half price sale to make room for all the fabulous Winter clothes we have ready to go.
Pandoras is based at St Philip’s Church in O’Connor and proceeds support local Canberra charities.
Half price sale dates are for three weeks on Saturday 18 and 25 April and 2 May. This is followed by the Winter launch on Saturday 9 May.
Pandoras is open every Saturday, 10 am–1 pm | Lamerton Centre, St Philips Church, Cnr Moorhouse and Macpherson Streets | facebook.com
Capital Region Farmers Market
This farmers’ market is iconic for a reason.
Go along to sample the region’s freshest produce from over 100 stallholders who bring freshly picked, grown and hand-crafted goods to Canberra and speak directly with growers and learn cooking tips while supporting the Rotary Club of Hall’s community projects.
It will make you appreciate your Saturday morning shopping trip in a whole new way.
Saturdays, 7 am-11:30 am | Exhibition Park in Canberra, Mitchell | capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au
Old Bus Depot Markets
Lovers of fine hand-crafted wares, clothing collectors, food fanatics and jewellery junkies are just a few of the people who head to Canberra’s award-winning Old Bus Depot Markets every Sunday. In a fabulous old industrial building, you’ll experience the endless colour, tastes, sounds and atmosphere that is “Canberra’s Sunday Best”.
Not your average market, each week you’ll find over 200 stalls of exceptional quality, featuring items all hand-crafted by local and regional creatives. The sheer variety means you’ll discover something unexpected every visit, whether that’s a piece of pottery that speaks to you, a stunning necklace, or the perfect vintage find. There’s simply no better way to spend your Sunday in Canberra.
Sundays, 9.30 am – 2.30 pm | 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | obdm.com.au
Southside Farmers Markets
This village market is located at Canberra College, making it the perfect place to duck in to grab what you need (and maybe a few things you don’t). Order an egg and bacon roll to start the morning as you explore the best of fresh seasonal veggies, handmade pasta, pet treats and more.
Sunday 7 am -11.30 am | 2 Launceston Street, Phillip | facebook.com/SouthsideFarmersMarketCanberra
Haig Park Village Markets
Another local favourite, spend your Sunday morning browsing delicious cuisines, fresh produce, artisan products and locally handmade crafts while enjoying live music, an artists’ table and family-friendly activities.
It’s the kind of market where you can linger over breakfast, discover a new artist, and stock up on fresh produce all in one lovely morning, making it the perfect Sunday outing in leafy Braddon.
Sundays, 8 am – 2 pm | Haig Park, Girrahween Street, Braddon | haigparkvillagemarkets.com.au
Food and Drink
The Farm in Galong Gala Dinner
The Farm in Galong is doing vital, life-changing work–providing a place of restoration and recovery for women and children affected by substance abuse, with a deep belief that whatever has been lost in a person’s life can be restored. This year’s Gala Dinner at the Olympus Room of the Hellenic Club in Woden brings together supporters for a two-course dinner with entertainment and speakers sharing lived experience of the Farm’s transformative impact. It’s a meaningful and genuinely moving evening, and one that directly supports women and families on the path to long-term recovery. Early bird tickets available at 20 per cent discount with code EARLYBIRD.
Saturday 2 May | Hellenic Club, Woden | galongfarm.org
The Dressmaker High Tea at The Tea Lounge
Step into an afternoon of elegance, fiction and fashion at The Tea Lounge at Hyatt Hotel Canberra, where special guest Rosalie Ham – author of the internationally acclaimed novel The Dressmaker – joins a high tea experience like no other. Pastries, finger sandwiches and warm scones are thoughtfully inspired by the glamour and drama of the beloved novel, while Rosalie shares the stories behind Dungatar and its unforgettable characters in conversation with Canberra Writers Festival Artistic Director Andra Putnis. Whether devoted to the book, the film or simply a lover of fine tea and a beautifully told story, this is an occasion to dress up for.
Saturday 2 May, 11 am–1 pm | The Tea Lounge, Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Yarralumla | hyatt.com
Parrilla Masterclass Tuggeranong
Fire up your skills with Executive Chef Bradley Howden at this immersive parrilla cooking masterclass at the Canberra Southern Cross Club in Greenway. Parrilla – the traditional South American method of cooking over live fire – is an art form that rewards patience, intuition and a genuine love of flavour, and this hands-on session takes participants from the basics all the way through to a finished plate. Whether you’re a seasoned griller or simply curious about what fire can do to good ingredients, this is a relaxed, social and richly rewarding Saturday morning spent in excellent company with exceptional food.
Saturday 2 May, 11 am–2 pm | Canberra Southern Cross Club Tuggeranong, Greenway | cscc.com.au
The Brunch Club at Capitol Bar & Grill
Sunday mornings in Canberra just got a serious upgrade. Capitol Bar & Grill’s Brunch Club is an all-day, unapologetically indulgent affair built for those who believe weekends deserve better than a rushed coffee and toast. The menu runs from fluffy buttermilk pancakes and classic cheeseburgers with secret sauce to miso grilled salmon and a few cheeky surprises in between. The real centrepiece, though, is the Bloody Mary cart–a Ketel One Vodka partnership that lets guests load up with crispy bacon, blue cheese olives, dill pickles, mussels, chilli, and more, built tableside by the brunch bartenders. Running every Sunday until 30 August.
Every Sunday until 30 August | Capitol Bar & Grill, Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra | qthotels.com
Sport and Wellness
Go Girls Floorball series
Floorball ACT’s Go Girls series offers a free four-week come-and-try course for women and girls aged 12 and over. Running on Saturdays from 2–23 May at the Tuggeranong Archery Centre, the program introduces participants to floorball–a fast-paced indoor sport often described as ice hockey without the ice.
Sessions cover passing, shooting, positioning and goalie skills in a low-pressure, supportive environment. The series is designed and run by former Australian Women’s team representatives. Floorball ACT provides sticks and goalie equipment, so participants just need to bring comfortable clothes and a water bottle.
Saturdays 2–23 May | Tuggeranong Archery Centre | floorballact.org.au
Fitness in The Park
Fitness class for all levels of fitness for the whole community. Join Ginninderry local Vince as he takes you through a group fitness class in the fresh air at Paddys Park.
Every Wednesday, 7.30 am to 8.30 am, Paddys Park, Asimus Avenue, Strathnairn | Find out more here.
Yoga at Ginninderry
Get bendy on Thursday evenings at a yoga class! You don’t need any experience – just head along for the slow-flow class that will help melt away tension, build strength and mobility, and give you a chance to recharge. Take along a yoga mat, water bottle, and comfy clothes.
Every Thursday, 6.45 pm to 7.45 pm | The Link, 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn | More information here.
Relax in Nature–A Sensory Experience
Escape the hum of city life and step into the trees at WildBark’s free nature connection walk at Mulligans Flat in Throsby. This gentle, one-hour guided experience is designed to awaken the senses in the most unhurried of ways – through invitations to see, listen, touch and smell the natural world around you in fresh and often unexpected ways. The focus is on presence, curiosity and a genuine deepening of connection with the environment. Participants leave feeling grounded and refreshed in a way that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. Available on two May dates–perfect for a quiet morning reset.
Friday 1 May | WildBark at Mulligans Flat, Throsby | latitude55.com.au
Dragons Abreast Come and Try
Lake Burley Griffin is at its most beautiful in autumn, and there’s no better way to experience it than from the deck of a dragon boat surrounded by a community of remarkable women. Dragons Abreast Canberra–a dragon boating group for those recovering from breast cancer–invites women to a free Come and Try morning at Grevillea Park in Barton, offering a gentle, welcoming introduction to the sport and the sisterhood behind it. No prior experience is required, just curiosity and a willingness to try something new in an understanding and supportive environment. Come for the paddling, stay for the people.
Saturday 2 May, 9 am–11 am | Grevillea Park, Barton | comeandtry@dragonsabreastcanberra.org.au
World Pilates Day at Love Athletica
World Pilates Day is a perfect excuse to roll out a mat and try something new, and Love Athletica is making it very easy for Canberrans to do exactly that with free classes all afternoon at the Braddon studio. Known for its signature styles including Athletic Reformer, Hot Mat Pilates, Hot Functional Strength, Hot Flow Yoga and Warm Yin Yoga, this is a rare chance to experience the studio without commitment. .
Saturday 2 May, from 1 pm | Love Athletica, Braddon | loveathletica.com.au
Feel the Forests
Canberra Tree Week takes root at the National Arboretum in Molonglo with Feel the Forests, a free sensory experience that brings the wonders of the Arboretum’s extraordinary living collections directly to visitors. Pods, leaves, bark, fronds and flowers collected from across the Arboretum’s forests and gardens are laid out for visitors to touch, smell, see and explore – all within the warmth of the Village Centre. Knowledgeable volunteers are on hand throughout to share stories and insights about the remarkable variety and ingenuity of trees. Accessible and suitable for all ages, it’s a genuinely lovely way to connect with nature without braving the autumn chill.
Saturday 2 until Sunday 10 May | National Arboretum Canberra, Molonglo | nationalarboretum.act.gov.au
Tree Week: Tales & Trails
Canberra Tree Week offers a rare opportunity to slow down and truly see the city’s trees, and the guided Tales & Trails walks at the National Arboretum in Molonglo are among the most rewarding ways to do it. Led by passionate volunteer guides over an hour-long route through the Arboretum’s ever-changing forests, these walks weave together the history, stories and science behind some remarkable specimens. Each species offers something new to appreciate, and the guides’ infectious enthusiasm for their subject makes the whole experience feel like a genuine discovery. Running daily throughout Tree Week–free and open to all.
Saturday 2 until Sunday 10 May | National Arboretum Canberra, Molonglo | nationalarboretum.act.gov.au
Canberra MS Walk Run and Roll
Every step, roll or stride at this year’s Canberra MS Walk Run and Roll makes a difference. Gathering at Rond Terrace in Acton, Canberrans are invited to participate in a 5km or 10km course – on foot, in a wheelchair, or with a pram – in solidarity with Australians living with multiple sclerosis, a lifelong condition for which there is still no cure. Sign up solo, bring a mate, rope in the whole team or even bring the dog. Staggered start times across the morning make it accessible for all paces and abilities. A genuinely moving community event worth getting out of bed for.
Sunday 3 May, 8 am–2 pm | Rond Terrace, Acton | mswalk.org.au
Music
Woden Valley Youth Choir Open Day
For more than 55 years, Woden Valley Youth Choir has been one of Canberra’s most beloved youth music programmes, nurturing singers aged 7 to 21 into confident, joyful performers. This open day at Charles Weston Primary School invites curious young singers–and their families–to come and experience the choir for themselves, with sessions tailored across different age groups and voice types. Leonis Voices welcomes primary school singers, Australis Voices is designed for high school trebles, and the supportive Centauri Voices programme offers a dedicated space for young people with changing voices. No experience needed–just a love of singing and a warm welcome waiting.
Tuesday 28 April, 4.30 pm–8 pm | Charles Weston Primary School, 80 Woodberry Avenue, Coombs | musicforcanberra.org.au
From Vienna to Venice
The Wesley Lunchtime Concert series brings a delightful midweek musical escape to Forrest on Wednesday, with clarinetist Ollie Wong and pianist Hilda Visser-Scott performing a programme that travels from the elegance of Mozart’s Vienna to the festive spirit of Venice. The pair perform Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto and his deeply expressive Fantasia in D minor for solo piano, before closing with Giampieri’s dazzling Carnival of Venice–a showpiece that lets Wong’s clarinet truly shine. At just $15 including programme and refreshments, the Wesley Lunchtime Concert series remains one of Canberra’s best-value musical experiences, and this one is particularly charming.
Wednesday 29 April, 12.40 pm–1.20 pm | Wesley Music Centre, Forrest | trybooking.com/DIJJK
Playlunch Sex Ed Regional Tour
Expect high-energy nostalgia and a packed dancefloor as Playlunch bring their playful live show to Canberra.
Thursday 30 April, 7 pm–11 pm | UC Refectory, Bruce | moshtix.com.au
Luminescence and the Machine
This world premiere blends choral performance with cutting-edge technology, creating an immersive and experimental sound experience.
Thursday 30 April, 8 pm–9 pm | The Street Theatre, City | luminescence.org.au
The King of Pop Show–Michael Jackson Live Concert Experience
TJ Cappola’s breathtaking portrayal of Michael Jackson has been selling out venues across Australia and Asia, and now The King of Pop Show arrives at Canberra Theatre Centre for a night that captures the full magic of the legend in concert. From the electric opening bars of Billie Jean to the iconic choreography of Thriller and Beat It, Cappola delivers the moves, the voice and the presence with extraordinary authenticity. Backed by a live band, professional dancers, replica costumes and a state-of-the-art light show, this is a genuinely transporting tribute to one of music’s most extraordinary careers.
Friday 1 May, 7.30 pm–10 pm | Canberra Theatre Centre, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au
The Detonators
Melbourne’s kings of bar room blues and roots rock ‘n’ roll return to headline the Zeppelin Room at Narrabundah’s Harmonie German Club, and they’re bringing Canberra’s own Divine Devilles along for support. The Detonators are exactly the kind of band that makes live music feel like it matters–raw, energetic and utterly committed to a great night. With a full evening of blues and roots music ahead and the bar ready and waiting, this is a proper night out for those who appreciate music made with real craft and even realer feeling. An experience worth making time for.
Friday 1 May, 6 pm–11 pm | The Zeppelin Room, Narrabundah | events.humanitix.com
Schubert & Syrah
Does the mineral depth of a biodynamic wine change how you hear a Schubert sonata? Virtuoso pianist and wine lover Kristian Chong thinks so, and Schubert & Syrah – presented as part of the Canberra International Music Festival – is his invitation to find out. In an intimate, multisensory concert experience, Chong performs Schubert’s final piano sonata – the great Piano Sonata in B-flat major D960–while a curated selection of characterful Australian wines, from Cullen’s biodynamic Grace Madeline to Clonakilla’s iconic Canberra District Shiraz Viognier, is served to accompany each movement. Music and wine have always spoken the same language; this is proof.
Friday 1 May | Gandel Hall, National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place | cimf.org.au
Canberra Youth Orchestra Open Day
For dedicated young musicians ready to take their playing to the next level, the Canberra Youth Orchestra’s Open Day at Ainslie Arts Centre in Braddon is the perfect introduction to what full ensemble playing actually feels like. Advanced string, wind, brass and percussion players – typically of high school age and above – are invited to sit in on a relaxed open rehearsal, play alongside fellow musicians and meet the conductors in a warm, welcoming environment. There are no auditions and no pressure, just the pure, exhilarating sound of a large orchestra working through exciting repertoire together. Come and hear what’s possible.
Saturday 2 May, 9 am–12 pm | Ainslie Arts Centre, Braddon | musicforcanberra.org.au
MOSSO: Music in Motion
The National Film and Sound Archive in Acton becomes a vibrant, all-day festival hub for MOSSO: Music in Motion, a dynamic celebration of contemporary music, moving image and spatial sound. Leading Australian composers, improvisers and performers take over galleries, cinemas and performance spaces across the venue, creating a richly textured day of multimedia experiences to roam through at leisure. With access to the café, courtyard and permanent exhibitions included, this is the kind of event that rewards curiosity–visitors can move through the programme at their own pace, finding something unexpected around every corner. One for the adventurous and the open-eared.
Saturday 2 May, 9 am–5 pm | National Film and Sound Archive, Acton | cimf.org.au
Louise Butler Strings Open Day
There’s no better time to discover the joy of playing in an orchestra than the very beginning, and the Louise Butler Strings Open Day at Ainslie Arts Centre in Braddon makes that first step feel wonderfully welcoming. Designed for beginner string players at around AMEB Open to Grade 2, this open rehearsal invites young musicians to sit within the ensemble, make music with others and experience what it feels like to be part of a collective orchestral sound from their earliest notes. No auditions, no pressure – just a warm, encouraging introduction to a musical world that’s ready for them.
Saturday 2 May, 9 am–10.30 am | Ainslie Arts Centre, Braddon | musicforcanberra.org.au
McCusker Strings Open Day
Intermediate string players looking for their next musical adventure are invited to the McCusker Strings Open Day at Ainslie Arts Centre in Braddon – an open rehearsal designed to give players at around AMEB Grade 3 to 5 (or equivalent) a taste of what ensemble playing is all about. Participants sit within the orchestra, work through repertoire and experience the particular energy that comes from making music as a group. It’s a warm, welcoming and entirely pressure-free morning with no auditions, no preparation required and plenty of collaborative joy on offer for those ready to take that next step.
Saturday 2 May, 9 am–12 pm | Ainslie Arts Centre, Braddon | musicforcanberra.org.au
Dr. Satinder Sartaaj’s Heritage Tour
One of the most respected voices in contemporary Punjabi music comes to Canberra’s Royal Theatre on Constitution Avenue for an evening of soul-stirring music, poetry and cultural brilliance. Dr Satinder Sartaaj’s Heritage Tour is a carefully curated concert experience celebrating Punjabi heritage through compositions that resonate across generations – heartfelt melodies, meaningful lyrics and powerful live performance delivered with elegance and authenticity. Presented by Creative Events Australia, this is a family-friendly evening for those who appreciate art, culture and the rare experience of witnessing a true scholar and storyteller at the height of their craft.
Saturday 2 May, 6.30 pm–10 pm | 31 Constitution Avenue, City | nccc.com.au
Passion and Resurrection
The Llewellyn Choir brings a truly special programme to the Anzac Memorial Chapel in Campbell for one night only. Passion and Resurrection features the East Coast premiere of Dr Lachlan Skipworth’s Mass for Easter Sunday – a significant moment for Canberra’s choral community – alongside beautiful and challenging works by Latvian composer Eriks Ešenvalds. Soprano soloist Sonia Anfiloff joins the choir alongside the ANU Symphony Brass and Llewellyn Vocal Quartet for an evening of music that promises to be as moving as it is musically ambitious. A genuinely unmissable night for anyone who loves choral music at its most powerful.
Saturday 2 May, 7 pm–9 pm | Anzac Memorial Chapel, Campbell | llewellynchoir.org.au
Canberra Big Band Collective presents Autumn Leaves: A Big Band Affair
The Canberra Big Band Collective kicks off their 2026 concert series with Autumn Leaves, a wonderful afternoon of hot jazz perfectly timed to welcome Canberra’s cool-night season. At the Belconnen Community Theatre, two of the city’s finest community jazz ensembles take the stage. In Full Swing – known for their love of classic swing for over 30 years – perform early Glenn Miller arrangements with vocalists James Kingsmill and Annaliesa Rose. TraXion Big Band, celebrating their 20th anniversary, bring a high-energy mix of new and familiar charts, featuring vocalist Lucy Ridge. A joyful, accessible afternoon for Canberrans who love their jazz live and loud.
Sunday 3 May, 4 pm–6 pm | Belconnen Community Theatre, 23 Swanson Court, Belconnen | events.humanitix.com
Stage and Screen
Drum Tao: Samurai of the Drum
A powerful performance blending traditional Japanese drumming with choreography and theatrical elements.
Tuesday 28 April, 7.30 pm–9.20 pm | Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra | canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Trophy Boys
A sharp and thought-provoking Australian play exploring identity, privilege and power through humour and satire.
Tuesday 28 April until Saturday, 2 May, 7 pm–8.10 pm | Canberra Theatre Centre, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Saturday Salon: Opera’s Bad Girl with Sarahlouise Owens and Lucas Allerton
Before Nellie Melba became a legend, there was Anna Bishop – opera’s original rebel – and Tuggeranong Arts Centre is the place to hear her extraordinary story. Sarahlouise Owens and Lucas Allerton bring this fearless Victorian woman to vivid life in Opera’s Bad Girl, a show that traces Bishop’s globe-spanning career as she defied polite society, charmed European royalty, survived shipwreck, tiger attack and epidemic, and sang to packed houses around the world alongside her genius harpist lover. Wildly entertaining, impeccably researched and performed with great flair, it’s an untold story that absolutely deserves telling.
Saturday 2 May, 1.30 pm–2.30 pm | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com
Neel Kolhatkar: Black Belt Comedy
Neel Kolhatkar arrives at The Street Theatre in Canberra with a genuinely inventive premise. If martial arts has a belt system to mark skill and experience, why shouldn’t comedy? Black Belt Comedy is Neel’s personal challenge to himself: to earn the right to say the hardest things in the funniest way, taking audiences on a journey from the easier edges of observational humour to the more complex territory of cultural quirks, relationships and modern social dynamics. Delivered with his signature impressions, infectious energy and considerable wit, it’s an hour that makes the case for comedy as a genuine discipline.
Saturday 2 May, 7.30 pm–9 pm | The Street Theatre, City | thestreet.org.au
Nazeem Hussain: I’d Like to Tell to You About Some Jokes
Fresh from his biggest-selling tour ever across Australia, New Zealand and London, Nazeem Hussain is back with a brand-new show and not a single sign of a filter in sight. I’d Like to Tell to You About Some Jokes promises wild stories, unhinged characters and the kind of comedy that keeps Nazeem firmly among Australia’s most compelling and unpredictable performers. After a run of sell-out successes at Canberra Theatre Centre, this is an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys stand-up that’s genuinely alive – funny in ways you can’t quite anticipate and delivered with real confidence and wit.
Saturday 2 May, 7.30 pm–9 pm | Canberra Theatre Centre, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Pointe: Dancing on a Knife’s Edge
A powerful documentary arrives at the National Film and Sound Archive in Acton, and it’s not one to miss. Pointe: Dancing on a Knife’s Edge follows Floeur Alder – daughter of ballet luminaries Lucette Aldous and Alan Alder – as she navigates the aftermath of a violent attack and the deeply personal journey back to herself through dance. Praised as a poetic, unflinching portrait of resilience, the film pulls back the curtain on the physical and emotional demands of elite ballet, exploring trauma and the transformative power of creativity. A Q&A with Floeur Alder follows, moderated by Ausdance ACT’s Dr Cathy Adamek.
Sunday 3 May | National Film and Sound Archive, Acton | tickets.nfsa.gov.au
NFSA’s Autumn Film Series
Reality meets imagination this season at the National Film and Sound Archive. The Autumn Film Series presents powerful storytelling and big-screen spectacle, inviting audiences to question reality, explore new perspectives and enjoy cinema that lingers after credits roll. Magic realism, social realism and Cinema Verité explore the tension between fantasy and reality. Community-focused festivals and partnerships include the Sign on Screen Film Festival presenting sign language cinema, Upstaging Canberra screenings, Trans Day of Visibility with Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Book Club at NFSA, First Nations stories, CLIPPED Music Video Festival, documentaries, Science.Art.Film series and Cult Classics. Varied dates throughout autumn.
Until Sunday 31 May | National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton | nfsa.gov.au
Talks
Fellowship presentation: Early Philippine Palaeontology
A lunchtime talk exploring the early foundations of palaeontology in the Philippines.
Thursday, 30 April, 12.30 pm–1.30 pm | National Library of Australia, Parkes | library.gov.au
Author talk: The Titanic Story of Evelyn by Lisa Wilkinson AM
A discussion exploring the story behind a remarkable Australian connected to the Titanic disaster.
Thursday, 30 April, 6 pm–7.30 pm | National Library of Australia, Parkes | library.gov.au
Author talk: Look After Your Feet by Rosalie Ham
Canberra Writers Festival brings beloved author Rosalie Ham to the National Library of Australia in Parkes for a special evening focused on her witty new book, Look After Your Feet. Best known for the international phenomenon that was The Dressmaker, Rosalie arrives with the sharp observations and signature warmth that have made her one of Australia’s most loved voices, joining The Canberra Times’ Sally Pryor for a conversation full of laughter, candour and the kind of wisdom that only comes from a long and brilliant writing life. Book signings in the foyer follow the discussion.
Friday 1 May, 6 pm–7 pm | National Library of Australia, Parkes | library.gov.au
Artists in conversation: Jennifer Adams, Jeanette Muirhead and Sarah Murray
Three artists, three exhibitions and one thought-provoking free talk in the Pivot Gallery at Belconnen Arts Centre. Jennifer Adams, Jeanette Muirhead and Sarah Murray gather to discuss their practices and the works on show in Mental Health and Nature, Witness and Stained with Light – each bringing a distinct perspective on themes that resonate deeply with the world we’re all navigating right now. These are the kinds of conversations that make visiting a gallery feel less like a passive experience and more like a genuine dialogue. Registrations are strongly encouraged; head to the Belco Arts website to book a spot.
Saturday 2 May, 12 pm–1 pm | Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre | belcoarts.com.au
Artists in conversation: Hilary Wardhaugh, David Manley and Annie Lok
Belconnen Arts Centre opens up its creative practice to visitors with this free artist talk in the West Gallery, where Hilary Wardhaugh, David Manley and Annie Lok come together to discuss the thinking behind their respective exhibitions Between What Remains and Chasing Alice. These are the kinds of conversations that transform the experience of looking at art – hearing directly from the artists about their ideas, processes and intentions brings a new depth to works that might otherwise only speak for themselves. Registrations are strongly encouraged. Go curious, leave with a far richer understanding of what’s on the walls.
Saturday 2 May, 2 pm–4 pm | West Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre | belcoarts.com.au
On Country Boat Tour with Richie Allan
Lake Burley Griffin is a familiar presence in the lives of Canberrans, but this On Country Boat Tour with Ngunnawal man Richie Allan offers a perspective that most have never experienced. Departing from the National Capital Exhibition in Parkes, Richie shares the deep First Nations history of the land and waterways – from important hunting and fishing locations to the precise sites where ochre and stone tools were once gathered. It’s a beautifully intimate 90-minute experience that reframes a beloved landmark through the lens of the Ngunnawal people who maintained this Country for generations.
Sunday 3 May, 9.30 am–11 am | National Capital Exhibition, Parkes | nca.gov.au
ACT EV Charge Up
Curious about electric vehicles but not sure where to start? The ACT EV Charge Up event at the Royal Australian Mint charging station in Deakin is a free, relaxed Sunday morning gathering designed to answer every question Canberrans might have about making the switch. AEVA volunteers run live demonstrations of how an EV is fast-charged, with practical information on managing charging for long-distance trips and everyday driving. Drinks and snacks served from EV-powered appliances add a fun touch to what promises to be an informative and genuinely accessible morning for anyone considering an electric future–no registration required.
Sunday 3 May, 11 am–2 pm | Royal Australian Mint, 62-114 Denison Street, Deakin | aeva.asn.au
Change in Motion: Walking tours of Braddon
Braddon is one of Canberra’s most fascinating suburbs–a place where industrial heritage and creative reinvention exist side by side–and this two-hour walking tour run by the Braddon Collective brings the whole story vividly to life. Enthusiastic local volunteers guide participants through Braddon’s beginnings as an industrial precinct, its mid-century evolution and its more recent transformation into one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods. Part of the Canberra and Region Heritage Festival, tours depart from outside the Telstra Exchange at 50 Mort Street. Check the website for available tour times on the day.
Sunday 3 May | 50 Mort Street, Braddon | braddoncollective.com
Exhibitions
BLAZE
BLAZE is an exciting group exhibition at Canberra Contemporary, featuring 8 emerging artists from the Kamberri/ Canberra region and beyond. Working across diverse mediums to address various themes ranging from identity and autonomy to the significance of today’s algorithmic culture and its effect on socialisation – the artists in BLAZE signal an exciting direction in contemporary visual arts practices today.
Saturday 2 May to Saturday 20 June | Canberra Contemporary, 44 Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | canberracontemporary.com.au
Extra Padding
‘Extra Padding’ is the third iteration of an ongoing project exploring quilting and textile art. In this exhibition, the threads of the quietly contemplative, the technically attentive, and the mysterious weave together with the radical, the interpersonal, and the exploratory.
Saturday 2 May to Sunday 24 May | Platform, 19 Furneaux Street, Forrest | canberracontemporary.com.au
Illustra: 50 Women for 50 Years
Illustra: 50 Women for 50 Years is a permanent portrait exhibition celebrating 50 years of women as residents at John XXIII College. Featuring fifty alumni, the exhibition pairs portraiture with personal reflections to capture the evolving experience of women across five decades. Photographed by ANU School of Art graduate Bronte Morel across Australia and internationally, each work is set in a location of personal significance. Together, the collection forms an intergenerational narrative of leadership, identity and community, recognising the enduring contribution of women to the College and beyond.
Permanent exhibition, open 9 am–5 pm daily | Front foyer, John XXIII College, 51 Daley Road, Australian National University, Canberra | johnxxiii.anu.edu.au
Taglietti: Life in Design
Discover the world of The Global Architect, Enrico Taglietti (1926–2019), a visionary whose design principles shaped modern Australian architecture and left an indelible imprint on Canberra, the city he and his wife Franca chose to call home. Celebrating the centenary of Taglietti’s birth, Taglietti: Life in Design explores the life, philosophy, and legacy of one of Australia’s most original architects.
Trace the compelling story of Taglietti’s arrival in Australia through the groundbreaking 1955 Italy in Australia exhibition at David Jones, Sydney, which introduced the latest Milanese design to a globally curious audience and demonstrated the soft power of design diplomacy. Encounter iconic projects from Canberra’s Cinema Center to Sydney’s St Antony’s Parish Church, and gain insight into some of his extraordinary residential designs. Highlighting his collaborative spirit, international acclaim, and significant contribution to Canberra’s architectural identity, Taglietti: Life in Design is a landmark exhibition celebrating a true visionary in architecture and design.
Until 3 May | Canberra Museum and Gallery, Canberra City | cmag.com.au
Ruwi (Country): Amanda Westley solo exhibition at GOST
South Australian artist Amanda Westley presents her first solo Canberra exhibition at the Gallery of Small Things (GOST), bringing nine acrylic paintings that explore Ngarrindjeri culture, country, and connection. Westley, a Ngarrindjeri woman from Victor Harbor, creates works centred on themes of land, food sources, and community — each accompanied by a written statement explaining the meaning behind the piece. The exhibition carries particular significance following the 2025 gifting of her painting Raukkun (Meeting Place) to Pope Leo XIV by the Australian Prime Minister. Artworks are unframed and available for purchase, with each sale including a collector’s provenance package.
Until Monday 4 May, 11 am–5 pm (Thursday–Monday) | Gallery of Small Things, Canberra | galleryofsmallthings.com/exhibition
Sentient | Elliott Fox
Following a spectacular debut exhibition on greyhound advocacy that raised over $8,000 for charity, emerging Canberra artist Elliott Fox returns to M16 Artspace with Sentient–a powerful new body of work examining the sentience of all non-human animals as deserving of the same care and protection as any family member. Working across impasto paintings, screen prints, and installation, Fox creates work that is as visually striking as it is ethically urgent. Opening alongside three other new exhibitions at M16: Shorelines, Bloom by Eggpicnic, and Partial Index by Dörte Conroy.
Until Sunday, 10 May | M16 Artspace, Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au
Bloom | Eggpicnic
In a world shaped by colonisation, conflict, and climate change, what does it mean for life to persist? Bloom, a new exhibition by Eggpicnic at M16 Artspace, brings together works centred on animals that survive within fragile and changing environments–honouring their lives while holding space for hope and examining the profound responsibility humans carry to protect the conditions for life to flourish. Rich, considered, and quietly urgent, Bloom opens alongside Sentient by Elliott Fox, Shorelines, and Partial Index by Dörte Conroy. Visit the M16 website for opening details.
Until Sunday, 10 May | M16 Artspace, Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au
Partial Index | Dörte Conroy
Dörte Conroy’s new body of work at M16 Artspace draws on a personal collection of documentary photography spanning the late nineteenth century through to the 1990s, removing images from their original contexts and combining them with vivid blocks of colour in large paper collages. The result is a layered surface where past and present, image and pigment coexist in quiet dialogue–historical fragments softened and interrupted by saturated colour, creating a subtle physical texture that invites slow looking. Opening alongside Sentient, Bloom, and Shorelines as part of M16’s April program.
Until Sunday, 10 May | M16 Artspace, Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au
Shorelines | Helen Brancatisano, Miriam Cullen, Trish Yates
Three artists. Two years. One stretch of NSW Central Coast coastline, observed across all its changing moods. Shorelines at M16 Artspace brings together works on paper by Helen Brancatisano, Miriam Cullen, and Trish Yates–linocuts, Mokuhanga, monotypes, ink drawings, artist books, and paper sculptures developed from preparatory drawings made on site. Three very different artistic responses to the same landscape, united by a shared attentiveness to what can be seen, heard, touched, and smelled at the shoreline. Opening alongside Sentient, Bloom, and Partial Index.
Until Sunday, 10 May | M16 Artspace, Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au
Between What Remains
Belconnen Arts Centre hosts this creative reunion between David Manley and Hilary Wardhaugh. Through photography and post-documentary urban landscapes, the exhibition explores trauma, memory and disconnection. Conceptually aligned yet distinct, their works invite quiet reflection on time, place and shared histories.
Until Sunday, 17 May | West Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
Witness
Reef and coastal ecosystems are environments of inspiration where many escape to rejuvenate, enveloped in the natural world. These teeter on the edge of flourish and destruction, resilience and fragility. Witness focuses on the pursuit to explore, experience and bear witness to these ecosystems undergoing critical change in the artist’s lifetime—with a wavering mix of awe, grief and hope. The exhibition examines environments that serve as sources of renewal while simultaneously facing unprecedented pressures. It documents the tension between beauty and vulnerability in marine and coastal landscapes.
Until Sunday, 17 May | The Nook, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
Chasing Alice
Annie Lok’s exhibition features the latest works in her ongoing Rabbit Holes series. Each piece features a female protagonist, the Alice, navigating carefully constructed compositions imbued with symmetry, balance, texture and colour theory. Using photo editing software, Lok manipulates personal and found imagery through filtering, warping, stretching and layering to invent a landscape for each Alice to discover. Influenced by academic interests tackling the human experience through social, political and art historical lenses, the work also serves as an escape from chronic pain following a 2021 workplace accident that left Lok with ruptured discs and neuropathy.
Until Sunday, 17 May | Window Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
Inhabiting Change
Fiona Heard’s exploration of impermanence invites viewers to see the present as the dynamic space between what was and what will be. Heard’s artistic process embraces the unpredictable nature of hand printing, accepting unexpected marks and reduced control to create initial imagery. The compositions are based on the landscape of southern NSW, reflecting Heard’s memory and ongoing relationship with this environment. Final artworks are built through configuration—tearing, combining and sewing images to produce the work. These pieces move beyond representation, evoking a feeling of abstracted familiarity that speaks to continuous becoming.
Until Sunday, 17 May | East Wall, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
Mental Health and Nature
Jennifer Adams challenges the narrow view of mental health treatment as a clinical activity within four walls, positioning experiences of nature as vital for mental health. This is Adams’s first solo exhibition in over ten years. Mental Health and Nature celebrates nature experienced locally in Canberra, nearby farmland returned to its natural environment and other Australian locations. Adams draws out shapes, adds vibrant colours and decorative elements to express her response to the natural world. Subjects include people participating in nature and their bonds with animals. The experiential exhibition wraps viewers in colours, designs and positive imagery.
Until Sunday, 17 May | Generator Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
Stained with Light
Sarah Murray brings together earlier work exploring embodied experiences of landscape with current work exploring the sublime, spirituality and sin. Murray has created a series of paintings in acrylic and oils that explore painterly dynamics of figuration versus representation, layering, shifting grounds, gestural mark-making and vibrant colour use. Using references to religious art-historical paintings as grounding, Murray creates vibrant, visceral compositions on traditional and non-traditional supports of sewn quilt-like canvases. Earlier work created embodied experiences of landscape through en-plein air painting, while current pieces translate themes of sublime versus grotesque and depictions of sin.
Until Sunday, 17 May | Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
In real life: inventors, innovators and opportunists
Celebrate Australian innovation at National Archives’ latest exhibition in Canberra, In real life: inventors, innovators and opportunists. Explore the history of Australian invention, from First Nations creativity to 150 years of patents, designs and trademark registrations.
See life-changing inventions, iconic designs and household brand names with original design drawings and trademarks from the national archival collection alongside their real-life counterparts.
Australians from all walks of life have pursued their ideas in the laboratory, at the drafting table and in the humble backyard shed. Learn about the innovators behind advances such as the baby capsule, spray-on skin and the stump-cam. Discover the origins of everyday products and national icons such as the Victa lawnmower, Hills Hoist and ‘goon bag’.
From pedestrian crossing buttons to dual flush toilets, see how the Australian Government played a vital role in supporting inventions and designs that you regularly see, hear, use – and flush. Spark your own imagination and be inspired by stories of bold dreams, determination and Australian ingenuity.
Until Sunday 17 May | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue, Parkes | naa.gov.au
Good Neighbour
Belconnen Arts Centre presents an offsite group exhibition at SLA Display Village and Innovation Precinct, Whitlam, curated by Brooke McEachern. A printmaker, glass blower, ceramist, mark maker and knifemaker come together celebrating local makers and quiet creative lives unfolding around us. Estelle Briedis, Hugo Curtis, Jacky Lo, Isobel Rayson and Dan Venables live and work in our neighbourhoods as familiar dog-walkers, corner café regulars or simply good neighbours. Through functional objects and considered craftsmanship, the exhibition presents works feeling personal and lived-with, as though gathered over time from friends and neighbours. The collaboration highlights the creative talent existing within everyday community spaces, making visible the artistic practice happening in homes and studios throughout Canberra’s suburbs.
Until Sunday, 13 July | SLA Display Village, Whitlam | belcoarts.com.au
Ngura Puḻka–Epic Country
One of the most ambitious exhibitions to open at the National Gallery of Australia this year, Ngura Puḻka–Epic Country showcases major works by senior First Nations artists and collectives from the APY Lands, Coober Pedy, and Adelaide. These large-scale paintings depict Country while celebrating the powerful Tjukurpa–the law and cultural stories–that lies within, rendered sometimes in explosions of colour, sometimes in muted, contemplative palettes. From the beginning of the APY art movement, these artists have embraced monumental works as the ultimate expression of cultural freedom. The result is an exhibition that is genuinely epic in both scale and significance.
Until Sunday, 23 August | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes | nga.gov.au
Trent Parke: The Christmas tree bucket
Trent Parke’s photographic series The Christmas tree bucket 2006–09 is a tender and darkly humorous portrayal of his extended family coming together to celebrate Christmas. The series showcases Parke’s distinctive and acclaimed visual style and his skilful use of light and colour, to transcendent effect.The Christmas tree bucket is a candid, unsettling and often absurd portrait of family life—centred on the chaos, rituals and contradictions of the suburban Australian Christmas. It is a fond, insider’s view—sharp but affectionate—and one that the participants, after initial bemusement, actively embraced.
Parke draws from the legacy of postwar American photography while retaining a distinctly personal visual language, using light and colour to transform the everyday. The resulting photographs are both intimate and theatrical, sometimes hilarious, sometimes poetic and haunting. The exhibition also features a small selection of work from Parke’s black-and-white series Minutes to midnight 2003‒04 and a number of his handmade concertina photobooks, which he sees as a central part of his practice.
Until Sunday 6 September | National Gallery, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au
Wangka Wakaṉutja: the story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre
Between 1979 and 1990, the Papunya Literature Production Centre produced hundreds of illustrated bilingual books–funny, moving, extraordinary documents of Pintupi-Luritja language and culture, guided by community Elders who were also pioneers of the Western Desert art movement. Many of those books have been held in the National Library’s collections ever since, and this landmark new exhibition finally brings them to life. Featuring stories, drawings, photographs, manuscripts, and oral histories drawn from multiple collections, it’s a profoundly significant celebration of Aboriginal literary culture, collective creativity, and the remarkable human effort to keep language alive across generations.
Until Sunday, 11 October | National Library of Australia, Parkes | library.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/wangka-wakanutja
Hop In! an immersive world of play
Canberra Museum and Gallery launches one of its most delightful exhibitions this April–and it’s designed for the youngest visitors. Hop In! turns the familiar family home inside out, shifting rooms in scale and perspective to invite children aged 3–12 to move, build, crawl, splash, and imagine in surprising new ways. Stretch out beneath a sky of clouds, create secret worlds under oversized furniture, or wander through reimagined kitchens and backyards where creativity has completely taken over. At the heart of the experience is Bunny Dearest, a gentle guiding companion created by artist Beci Orpin.
Until Sunday, 11 October | Canberra Museum and Gallery, London Circuit, Canberra | cmag.com.au
Illuminate: How Science Comes to Light
Questacon presents an interactive exhibition exploring the science of light through 13 hands-on exhibits. Visitors can experiment with light refraction, colour blending, shadow manipulation and reflection across multiple activity stations. The exhibition demonstrates how light travels, reflects and refracts, alongside displays of tools humans have developed to harness light. Activities include bending light, using sensors to create music, and working with lenses. The exhibition is designed for hands-on engagement with scientific concepts. Illuminate: How Science Comes to Light is a Museums Victoria Touring Exhibition running until November 2026.
Until Sunday, 22 November | Questacon–The National Science and Technology Centre, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | questacon.edu.au
Behind the Lines 2025: ‘Are We Rolling?’
Behind the Lines 2025: ‘Are We Rolling?’ celebrates the year’s best political cartoons.
Featuring established and emerging cartoonists from across Australia, this exhibition highlights the significant contribution they make to cultural and political debates through witty, insightful and often poignant satirical drawings.
This year our Behind the Lines theme is the cinema, acknowledging that, like some of our favourite movies, 2025 has been full of thrills and spills, romance and heartbreak, with plenty of unexpected plot twists. Australia’s cartoonists and illustrators have tackled many of the issues that made news, including the federal election, the cost of living, energy policy, interest rates, housing security, the economy, climate change and stories from overseas.
Until December 2026 | Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House | moadoph.gov.au
Gurindji Freedom Banners
A powerful new exhibition commemorating the pivotal 1966 Wave Hill Walk-off opens at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Gurindji Freedom Banners: Mumkurla-nginyi-ma parrngalinyparla–From the darkness into the light unites all ten hand-painted banners for the first time in years, telling the story of when Gurindji and neighbouring peoples, led by Vincent Lingiari AM, walked off Wave Hill Station on 23 August 1966.
Their demands for fair working conditions and return of traditional lands sparked landmark change, leading to the first handback of Aboriginal land in 1975 and paving the way for the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976. The textile banners were created in 2000 by 35 Gurindji people, many walk-off participants, with one recently recreated after going missing.
Now showing until late 2026 | Museum of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House | moadoph.gov.au
Know My Name: Kee, Jackson and Delaunay
Know My Name: Kee, Jackson and Delaunay showcases two of Australia’s leading fashion designers: Linda Jackson and Jenny Kee, in conversation with international, multidisciplinary artist Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979).
The iconic and vibrant early designs of Kee and Jackson from the 1970s and early 1980s were directly inspired by the dynamic legacy of Delaunay, who was a member of the School of Paris and co-founder of Orphism, an art movement noted for its use of intense colours and abstract, geometric forms. As well as working in traditional mediums such as painting and printmaking, Delaunay’s practice also included textile, fashion, and theatre design.
For Jackson and Kee, who were beginning their shared journey in creating clothes as works of art, the discovery of Delaunay was revolutionary. This powerful display feature a rarely-seen collection of Kee and Jackson’s garments from their archives and are shown with the National Gallery’s collection of Delaunay’s prints, drawings, textiles and costumes.
Showing now | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au
National Library of Australia Treasures Gallery
The National Library has millions of books, and the Treasures Gallery answers the frequently asked question, ‘Where are they’. They also collect other items. From maps and manuscripts to photographs and paintings, the Treasures Gallery is where you can find highlights from their vast physical and digital collections. Behind-the-scenes videos, pages from William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice from the First Folio, a cedar bookcase carved by Dorothea Mackellar, photographs from the nation’s photo album, and a display of The Wiggles’ websites from 1997 to today from the Australian Web Archive are among the new additions.
Until December 2030 | National Library of Australia, Parkes | library.gov.au
