We’ve found Canberra’s hottest destination this summer. And it’s somewhere completely unexpected.
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Forget hazy nightclubs and clinical cinema chains, we’ve found the perfect combination of music, movies, food and more this summer – in a surprising location!
If your idea of a perfect summer evening is live local music under the stars, summer cocktails and charcuterie, and compelling cinema, your dreams are about to come to life. The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) is bringing Hot Summer Nights every Friday and Saturday between 9 January and 14 February!
Here’s the setup: rock up from 6 pm, grab a drink from Dom’s deli & bar, and settle into the NFSA’s heritage courtyard. The live music kicks off, the golden hour does its thing across Acton, and then at 8 pm, you wander into Arc Cinema for a film that’s been hand-picked to match the musical mood.
We can’t wait. Here’s why.
What’s on
The lineup spans sizzling romances, road trips, suspense, and proper nostalgia, and the curation of music and movies is chef’s kiss. There’s a fantastic lineup of local artists, thoughtfully matched to amplify each film’s emotional punch.
The Burley Griffin kicks things off with folk-infused Americana ahead of Michael Mann’s crime thriller Heat on 9 January. The Belco Jazz Band sets up the simmering tension of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on 10 January (Elizabeth Taylor and Paul Newman have never looked better).
Karisha & The FunKaars deliver cross-cultural fusion before Mira Nair’s vibrant Monsoon Wedding on 16 January, while Natalie Magee and Mamma Mia! make for a perfect girls’ night out on 17 January.
Indie rockers ARCHIE pump up the energy ahead of Heath Ledger’s Two Hands on 23 January, and Dollface sets the mood for glamorous golden-age musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes on 24 January.
Monica Engel leads into the Tennessee Williams classic A Streetcar Named Desire on 30 January, and James Southwell teams up with The Blues Brothers to round out the month with a cult classic on 31 January.
February kicks off with Wallabindi’s soul-stirring vocals as she sets the scene for Aussie fave The Sapphires on 6 February , while Mikelangelo does the magnetic “Balkan Elvis” thing ahead of Blue Hawaii on Saturday 7 February.
The last weekend is a banger, with the Belco Gypsy Jazz Band setting the scene for Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face on Friday 13 February, and Los Chavos bringing the vibes for Strictly Ballroom on Saturday 14 February. Best brush up on your Paso Doble.
Fuel for your frivolity
While the music and films are the stars of the show, the food and drink on offer is no bit player. The fabulous Dom’s will be dishing out local wines, cocktails, and charcuterie boxes. And yes, the whole thing – courtyard, music, film – comes in one ticket.
Fair warning though: tickets are limited, so why not do a very unCanberran thing and book well ahead? Past you will be grateful when it gets to January and you have your fave event safely sorted.
Whether you’re planning a date, rounding up your crew, or claiming some solo culture time, this is one summer activity you won’t want to miss.
THE ESSENTIALS
What: Hot Summer Nights at the NFSA
When: Every Friday and Saturday, 9 January – 14 February 2026, from 6 pm
Where: National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton
Web: nfsa.gov.au
Feature image: Meg Houghton.
