The Folkie, French films, & Juliet and way too much chocolate: welcome to Easter week in Canberra
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Chocolate is just the beginning, because Easter week in Canberra this year arrives with an extraordinary line-up of events that stretches well beyond the egg hunt and the hot cross bun.
The National Folk Festival transforms Exhibition Park into a five-day celebration of music and community, Greek Theatre Now stages Sophocles under the open sky at the Botanic Gardens, and the Alliance Française French Film Festival keeps the big screen at Palace Electric buzzing with 38 films from France and beyond. Families will find no shortage of adventure – from steam train rides through the Molonglo Gorge to Easter activities right across the city – while markets, Holy Week concerts, gallery exhibitions, and the opening night of & Juliet at The Q round out a week that is, frankly, a lot even by Canberra’s standards.
Here’s what’s happening in Canberra.
Don’t miss…
& Juliet
All the world’s a stage. This one’s yours. What if Juliet’s story didn’t end with Romeo? What if she had the chance to live, to love, and to write a new chapter – one that was truly hers?
Free-Rain Theatre Company presents & Juliet – the smash-hit musical that reimagines Shakespeare’s most famous heroine with a vibrant new future and a pop-powered twist. Set to an electrifying soundtrack of global anthems from legendary songwriter Max Martin, this award-winning production bursts with songs you already know and love, including… ‘Baby One More Time’, ‘Since U Been Gone’, ‘Roar’, ‘I Want It That Way’, ‘It’s My Life’, and ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling!’
With a witty and heart-filled script by Emmy®-winning writer David West Read (Schitt’s Creek), & Juliet is unapologetically theatrical and endlessly entertaining. Renaissance meets pop royalty, heartbreak meets empowerment, and Shakespeare shares the stage with Anne Hathaway. Don’t miss this explosive, feel-good sensation as Free-Rain Theatre Company brings one of the world’s most celebrated new musicals to Canberra!
Tuesday 31 March to 26 April | The Q, Queanbeyan | theq.net.au
National Folk Festival
For almost 60 years, the National Folk Festival has been Australia’s home and heart of folk culture, and this April it returns to Exhibition Park for five days of world-class music, community, and discovery. The Folkie brings together established and emerging artists, performers of every folk tradition imaginable, and thousands of passionate music lovers for an experience that has no real equivalent anywhere else in the country. The only event of its kind in Canberra, it’s a gathering that feels genuinely unlike the rest of the festival calendar – warm, participatory, and deeply connected to the music that carries stories across generations.
Thursday 2 until Monday 6 April | Exhibition Park in Canberra, Lyneham | folkfestival.org.au
Alliance Française French Film Festival Canberra
From psychological thrillers and coming-of-age dramas to timeless masterpieces and comedic interludes, 38 films showcase the richness and diversity of French storytelling in a programme that reflects the extraordinary vitality and diversity of French cinema.
The Festival remains deeply committed to championing women on screen and behind the camera, celebrating new talents alongside cinema legends, and offering films that move, surprise and inspire. More than ever, the festival is a celebration of French storytelling in all its richness, openness and emotion.
Until Wednesday 8 April | Palace Electric Cinema Canberra, Phillip Law Street, NewActon | To view the full program or to secure tickets, visit affrenchfilmfestival.org.
Special Events and Festivals
Drag Bingo at Verity Lane Market
There are good Wednesdays, and then there are Drag Bingo Wednesdays at Verity Lane Market. Taking over the Louie Louie stage on the first Wednesday of every month, this glittering, gloriously unhinged evening features five high-energy bingo games hosted by larger-than-life drag performers, complete with outrageous banter, crowd interaction, and moments that will absolutely be talked about the following morning. Arrive early to grab dinner from the Market Hall before the sparkle kicks off at 6:30 pm. Whether coming with a crew or flying solo, this is an inclusive, fabulous, and deeply fun night out.
Wednesday, 1 April, 6.30 pm–9.30 pm | Verity Lane Market, Northbourne Avenue, City | veritylanemarket.com.au
Kids Month at Canberra Southern Cross Club
The Canberra Southern Cross Club is going all in for April with Kids Month – a month-long program of family activities across Woden, Tuggeranong, Jamison, and Stellar Canberra venues.
Highlights include Kids Eat Free every Monday to Wednesday with an adult meal, free glitter tattoos every Friday and Saturday evening, and Sunday Funday at Woden and Jamison with free arcade game access.
Keep an eye out for Kidtastic Workshops as details are released!
Wednesday 1 until Thursday 30 April | Various locations | cscc.com.au
Canberra Steam Train Rides
There’s something truly magical about travelling behind a restored steam locomotive, and this Easter weekend Canberrans have a rare opportunity to do exactly that. The heritage rail journey departs Canberra for Bungendore and back, passing through the spectacular Molonglo Gorge, travelling through three tunnels, and rolling through the kind of expansive country scenery that simply can’t be experienced from a car. Whether it’s a nostalgic treat for adults or a wide-eyed adventure for the kids, this is the sort of outing that feels genuinely special. Tickets are available online–booking in advance is highly recommended.
Friday 3 until Sunday 5 April | Canberra Railway Station, Kingston | picnictrain.com.au/canberra
$8 Collection Selection at the National Film and Sound Archive
Some of the most interesting films ever made are the ones that haven’t been seen in decades, and the NFSA’s $8 Collection Selection series is dedicated to changing that. Presented in partnership with the Friends of the NFSA, these special screenings feature films drawn from the archive’s remarkable collection, with a member of the Friends introducing the story behind each title before the screening and staying for a Q&A session afterwards. It’s cinema as discovery, as conversation, and as genuine shared experience–at a price that makes it genuinely accessible for all film lovers.
Saturday 4 April, 2 pm–4 pm | National Film and Sound Archive, Acton | tickets.nfsa.gov.au
School Holiday Workshops at Canberra Glassworks
The Canberra Glassworks always transform into a creative wonderland during school holidays, and this April is no exception.
Kids can make Leafy Lightcatchers using autumn-coloured glass scraps (a particularly lovely activity for the season) or create Mushroom Magnets by fusing colourful glass with kawaii murrini eyes for personality. The finished pieces make genuinely beautiful keepsakes.
Saturday 4 until Friday 17 April | 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | canberraglassworks.com
Easter
Easter at Canberra Outlet
From Wednesday 1 to Wednesday 8 April, the Easter Bunny is hopping into Canberra Outlet in Fyshwick, handing out Lindt chocolates and posing for photos with kids (and kids at heart).
There will also be a giant Easter Egg – an unmissable photo opportunity if ever there was one.
Wednesday 1 until Wed 8 April | 337 Canberra Avenue, Fyshwick | canberraoutlet.com.au
Easter Steam Train Rides
For something egg-stra special this Easter, The Picnic Train is offering heritage rail journeys behind a restored steam locomotive from Canberra to Bungendore and back.
Rides will run across the long weekend with multiple departure times, so there’s plenty of opportunity to secure a spot.
Friday 3, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April | Canberra Railway Station, Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | picnictrain.com.au/canberra
Easter Egg-Citement at Corin Forest
If the family is looking for an adventure that goes well beyond a standard egg hunt, Corin Forest’s Easter Egg-Citement package delivers in spades. The deal includes an hour on the Alpine Slide, an hour of pre-season snow play (toboggan hire included), and a 30-minute Easter Egg Hunt.
It’s basically the perfect Canberra Easter trifecta of chocolate, adrenaline, and spectacular scenery.
Friday 3 until Monday 6 April | 1268 Corin Dam Road, Paddys River | corinforest.com.au
The Great Mini Golf Easter Bunny Hunt
Mini Golf Federation Square in Nicholls has cooked up a delightful Easter activity: hidden Easter bunnies placed throughout the mini golf course, waiting to be found and photographed.
Once the game is done and the photos collected, head to the team to redeem your very own chocolate Easter eggs as a reward. It’s fun, and it’s the perfect excuse to finally try the mini golf.
Friday 3 until Monday 6 April | Shop 5a/18 O’Hanlon Place, Nicholls | minigolffedsqu.com.au
Easter Egg-citement
Corin Forest has the perfect antidote to a long weekend with nowhere to be. The Easter Egg-citement package combines three of the season’s great pleasures–an alpine slide session, pre-season snow play, and an Easter egg hunt–into one exhilarating adventure in the mountains south of Canberra. An hour on the alpine slide, an hour of snow play, and a 30-minute hunt through the trees makes for a full morning of the kind of outdoor fun that stays in the memory long after the chocolate has been eaten. Tickets are limited, so early booking is essential.
Friday 3 until Monday 6 April | Corin Forest, Paddy’s River | corin.com.au
Easter Seafood and Bottomless Sparkling Banquet
Easter long weekends were made for exactly this. Natural Nine at Casino Canberra is marking the occasion with a seafood-forward banquet paired with two hours of bottomless Hungerford Hill Dalliance sparkling from Tumbarumba–one of the Snowy Mountains region’s most celebrated cool-climate wines. Available across lunch and dinner sittings from Thursday to Sunday, it’s a genuinely elegant way to mark the long weekend without any of the usual rushing. Beautiful food, flowing bubbles, and absolutely no reason to be anywhere else in a hurry. Bookings are essential–visit the website to reserve a spot.
Friday 3 until Monday 6 April | Natural Nine, Casino Canberra, Binara Street, City | casinocanberra.com.au
The Little Burley Market Easter Egg Roll-a-thon
The Easter Egg Roll-a-thon is back for its second year at The Little Burley Market, and the lakeside setting could not be more perfect for this wonderfully wholesome competition. On Easter Saturday morning, participants are invited to roll their decorated Easter eggs down the hill–with a coveted prize for the egg that travels the furthest. It’s delightfully simple, entirely free, and the kind of activity that produces as much laughter from the spectators as from the competitors. Combine it with the full market experience, Easter Egg Painting, and the beautiful water views for a proper Easter Saturday.
Saturday, 4 April, 9 am–12 pm | Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | thelittleburleymarket.com.au
Hive Property Mega Easter Egg Hunt
Chocolate, chaos and community spirit – Hive Property’s Mega Easter Egg Hunt returns to Deakin this April, bringing families together for a morning of Easter fun. Kids can race to collect chocolate treasures when the hunt kicks off at 9.30 am sharp, with jumping castles, face painting and a special appearance from the Easter Bunny adding to the festivities.
There will also be a Giant Egg Giveaway, plenty of photo-worthy moments and breakfast burgers and coffee available on site. Entry is free, with attendees encouraged to bring a gold coin donation to support the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Saturday 4 April, from 8.30 am | Deakin Oval Playground, 80 Newdegate Street, Deakin | hiveproperty.co
Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets Easter Activities
The Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets are bringing some wonderful hands-on activities to the Easter season!
On Sunday 29 March, little ones can decorate their very own flowerpot and plant carrot seedlings to take home (a sweet reminder that Easter isn’t just about chocolate). Then on Saturday 4 April, the Easter Cookie Decorating session lets kids loose with colourful icing, sprinkles, and fun toppings to create their own edible masterpieces!
Saturday 4 April, 11 am – 2 pm | 36 Mildura Street, Fyshwick | fyshwickmarkets.com.au
Easter Egg Grabs & Night Trains
The Canberra Miniature Railway’s Easter Night Trains event is a magical experience! Rides start in the daylight and end under a canopy of lights after dark, and the two Easter egg hunts (one for ages five and under at 6 pm, one for ages six and above at 6.30 pm) feature a staggering 5000 Easter eggs up for grabs.
Get in quick – this one is sure to sell out fast.
Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 April | 501 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Symonston | trybooking.com
Hop Into Colour at IKEA
For a low-key, no-cost Easter activity that makes a great accompaniment to a family lunch, IKEA Canberra is offering free Easter placemat colouring in the restaurant from Saturday 4 April through to Tuesday 21 April.
Available for children aged three to 12, it’s a simple and joyful activity that keeps little ones happily occupied while the grown-ups enjoy a Swedish meatball in peace.
Saturday 4 until Tuesday 21 April | 1030 Majura Road, Pialligo | ikea.com/au
Easter at the National Film and Sound Archive
Easter Sunday at the NFSA has all the hallmarks of a genuinely perfect day out. Before the screening of the beloved 1971 classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, children are invited to take part in a chocolate egg hunt through the archive’s beautiful heritage courtyard–a delightful way to build anticipation before settling in for one of cinema’s great confectionary adventures. Whether the kids have seen it a dozen times or it’s their very first visit to Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, this is an Easter Sunday treat that earns its place in the family calendar.
Sunday, 5 April | National Film and Sound Archive, Acton | tickets.nfsa.gov.au
Easter Family Fun Day at Weston Creek Labor Club
Weston Creek Labor Club is throwing a proper Easter Family Fun Day on Sunday 5 April, with a free egg hunt from 9 am, the Easter Bunny arriving at 10 am, a lucky door prize, and an Easter colouring competition.
There will also be a coffee van on-site (a detail parents will appreciate deeply) and entry is free, though booking tickets through the website is required.
Sunday 5 April | 4 Teesdale Place, Stirling | westoncreeklaborclub.com.au
Easter Market at Old Bus Depot Markets
The Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston are a Canberra institution, and the Easter Sunday edition is always a wonderful way to spend a morning.
Take a break from the chocolate and hot cross buns, fossick through an eclectic mix of treasures, and soak up the vibrant community atmosphere in one of the city’s most beloved heritage spaces.
Sunday 5 April | 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | obdm.com.au
Community Egg Hunt & Bake Sale
A lovely community event with a heart of gold: the Inner North Community Pantry is hosting a free morning of Easter fun at Finn Street Park in O’Connor.
There will be a bake sale from 10 am, an egg hunt at 11 am, autumn art and craft, and all proceeds go to funding the Inner North Community Pantries, so you’ll be doing good while having fun.
Sunday 5 April | Finn Street Park, O’Connor
Easter Sunday High Tea
Autumn afternoons in Canberra are made for lingering over a beautiful table, and the Tea Lounge at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra has created the ideal reason to do exactly that. The Easter Sunday High Tea features a three-tiered autumnal high tea stand alongside a curated patisserie display of house-made cakes–an elegant, relaxed way to mark the occasion with family or friends. Set within one of Yarralumla’s most gracious spaces, this is Easter dining that prioritises quality, ambience, and the quietly civilised pleasure of an unhurried afternoon. Reservations are essential.
Sunday 5 April, 11 am–4 pm | The Tea Lounge, Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla | canbe.dining@hyatt.com
Easter Scavenger Hunt at Haig Park Village Markets
Haig Park Village Markets is pulling out all the stops for Easter this year, and it sounds like an absolute delight for Canberra families. Alongside the usual vibrant array of market stalls and local food, the morning features a free Easter Scavenger Hunt sending little explorers on a playful search through the market–with prizes and surprises along the way, and a rumoured visit from the Easter Bunny. At 11 am, the inaugural Easter Hat Parade invites children to showcase their most creative bonnets and compete for special Easter goodies. Bring the kids, bring the hats.
Sunday 5 April, 8 am–2 pm | Haig Park, Braddon | haigparkvillagemarkets.com.au
Easter Extravaganza at Let’s Play Indoor Playground
Let’s Play Indoor Playground in Nicholls is pulling out all the Easter stops with an Extravaganza the little ones won’t forget. Egg hunts, Easter crafts, face painting, and free rein of the playground make for a seriously fun morning — and the special visit from the Easter Bunny himself at 11 am is sure to be a highlight. It’s the perfect way to burn off a little of that holiday chocolate energy.
Monday 6 April, 10.30 am–12.30 pm | 7/50 Curran Drive, Nicholls | letsplaycanberra.com.au
Markets
The Little Burley Market
Canberra’s most beautifully situated monthly market returns to the lakeside on the first Saturday of April, and it’s hard to think of a better way to spend a cool autumn morning. The Little Burley Market stretches along the water’s edge on Queen Elizabeth Terrace in Parkes, offering locally handmade stalls, fresh pastries, gourmet food, and live local music in an utterly relaxed setting. Bring the kids for free arts and crafts, or simply take a lap of the lake and let the morning unfold at its own pace. A true Canberra local favourite.
Saturday, 4 April, 9 am–2 pm | Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | thelittleburleymarket.com.au
Philatelic Society of Canberra Stamp Market
There’s genuine joy in the quiet, considered world of philately, and the Philatelic Society of Canberra’s Stamp Market at the Kingston Baptist Church Hall is the perfect place to discover or deepen that appreciation. Free entry welcomes enthusiasts and the curious alike to browse a diverse array of stamps, philatelic materials, coins, and presentation numismatic covers – with knowledgeable local and interstate dealers on hand for conversation, advice, and the occasional very exciting find. Whether adding to a long-standing collection or simply looking to understand what makes certain stamps special, the atmosphere here is relaxed and genuinely welcoming.
Saturday, 4 April, 9.30 am–2 pm | Baptist Church Hall, Currie Crescent, Kingston | canberrastamps.org
Hartley Hall Markets
The first Sunday of the month means one thing in Hall, and it’s well worth making the trip out of the city for. Hartley Hall Markets, held at the Hall Showground, brings together stalls offering fresh produce, locally grown vegetables, baked goods, plants, furniture, clothing, pottery, children’s toys, arts and crafts, and unique gifts–all in the beautiful cool-season air beneath the trees. There’s live entertainment, children’s activities, and plenty of good reasons to linger over lunch. Best of all, every dollar raised supports Hartley Lifecare’s work with people with disability in Canberra.
Sunday 5 April, 9 am–2 pm | Hall Showground, Victoria Street, Hall | hartley.org.au
Three Sixty Fashion Market
For Canberrans who believe that the most ethical wardrobe choices are also the most stylish, the Three Sixty Fashion Market at the Fitters’ Workshop in Kingston is a pilgrimage worth making. This sustainable fashion market is dedicated to quality vintage, retro, and pre-loved clothing–from Gucci and Dior to Country Road and Kookai–presented in a heritage-listed building that feels entirely appropriate for fashion that refuses to be thrown away. Free entry, free parking, and a fully indoor setting make for a supremely comfortable browse. Bring the gals, grab a coffee, and prepare to be pleasantly surprised.
Sunday, 5 April, 10 am–3 pm | Fitters’ Workshop, Kingston | canberramarkets.net.au
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
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
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
Sport and Wellness
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.
Puppy Yoga
A yoga session is already good for the body and the mind–but add a room full of puppies and the whole equation changes entirely. Yoga Paws brings its popular Puppy Yoga experience to Narrabundah for a session designed to help participants stretch, reset, and connect with an adorably distracting four-legged co-practitioner. Suitable for all levels and completely organised by the hosts (including, yes, the puppies), all that’s needed is the willingness to show up and have a very good time. Bookings are essential for this one–it’s exactly as popular as it sounds.
Saturday 4 April | Sanctuary Canberra, Brockman Street, Narrabundah | yogapawsbrisbane.com
Music
Two Step: Wesley Lunchtime Concert
Wednesday’s Wesley Lunchtime Concert series brings a genuinely rare musical combination to the intimate Forrest venue this week. ANU School of Music alumni Alexina Hawkins on viola and Justin Bullock on double bass reunite in Canberra–returning from Berlin and Brisbane respectively–to revive a duo collaboration first heard nearly 20 years ago. The program features works by Reinhold Glière, Australian composer Cathy Milliken, and J.S. Bach, showcasing a pairing of instruments that is as complementary as it is uncommon. Tickets are $15 and include the program and refreshments–a very civilised Wednesday lunch indeed.
Wednesday, 1 April, 12.40 pm–1.20 pm | Wesley Music Centre, National Circuit, Forrest | trybooking.com/DIJJK
James Reyne–The Fall of Crawl Tour
Forty years on from the end of Australian Crawl, James Reyne is hitting the road to celebrate everything that band ever was. The Fall of Crawl tour takes the beloved songs out for a commemorative run around the country, with all the anthems, all the memories, and special guests Boom Crash Opera along for the ride. Australian Crawl ended in February 1986, but the music has never really stopped mattering–and a night with Reyne in full voice at the Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden is the perfect reminder of exactly why. Book ahead to avoid missing out.
Thursday 2 April, 8 pm–10 pm | Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden, Corinna Street, Phillip | cscc.com.au
Lamentations for Maundy Thursday
Holy Week at Wesley Music Centre continues with a short but deeply moving performance marking Maundy Thursday. Alto Maartje Sevenster, harpsichordist Ariana Odermatt, and viola da gamba player Rachel Walker perform Lamentations 2.12–2.15 by Neapolitan composer Nicola Antonio Porpora (1686–1768). Part of Wesley Music Centre’s annual Music for Holy Week initiative, these intimate evening concerts offer the Wesley congregation and the broader Canberra community an integrated and reflective space during one of the year’s most significant liturgical occasions. The concert is free, open to all, and promises to be quietly extraordinary.
Thursday 2 April, 6.30 pm–7 pm | Wesley Music Centre, National Circuit, Forrest | wesleymusiccanberra.org
Good Friday–Passiontide: Compassion and Gratitude
The Wesley Music Centre’s Holy Week series reaches its most poignant moment with a Good Friday performance of Passion Kantaten by Christoph Graupner (1683–1760). Soprano Greta Claringbould, alto Maartje Sevenster, bass Andrew Fysh, baroque violinist John Ma, and harpsichordist Marie Searles perform this beautifully composed work in the intimate setting of the Wesley Church in Forrest. Part of an annual initiative supporting both the congregation and the wider Canberra community with a thoughtful, integrated resource for Holy Week reflection, the concert is free, open to all, and promises to be quietly extraordinary.
Friday 3 April, 5 pm–6 pm | Wesley Music Centre, National Circuit, Forrest | wesleymusiccanberra.org
John Brack x Noel McKenna
Two of Australia’s most distinctive voices in painting come together this April in a major new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. John Brack x Noel McKenna: A face in the mirror brings together more than 90 works from artists who worked almost half a century apart, tracing the clear aesthetic and thematic lineages between them–their shared eye for the texture of modern life, figures in suburban interiors, and a dry, compassionate social commentary that’s as wry as it is warm. It’s a genuinely surprising dialogue between two artists who carved their own paths entirely outside the mainstream.
From Thursday 3 April, daily 10 am–5 pm | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | portrait.gov.au
Stage and Screen
Oedipus the King
There are few theatrical experiences more powerful than Greek tragedy performed outdoors, and award-winning Greek Theatre Now brings Sophocles’ masterpiece to the Burbidge Amphitheatre at the Australian National Botanic Gardens across the Easter long weekend. Andrew Mackenzie leads as Oedipus, with Kate Blackhurst as Jocasta and Owen Maycock as Creon, in a contemporary English translation directed by Michael J Smith. With stunning masks and props by Ben Smith Whatley and costumes by Priya Pandya, this open-air production in Acton’s beautiful gardens promises to be one of the most memorable theatrical experiences of the year. Run time is 100 minutes.
Wednesday 1 April–Monday, 6 April, various times | Burbidge Amphitheatre, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Acton | greektheatrenow.com.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
Workshops
Life drawing: Tipsy Sketching with Loz
Life drawing has a reputation for being intimidating, but Tipsy Sketching with Loz at Craft + Design Canberra is here to fix that entirely. Hosted by Loz–an experienced life model and the founder of this wonderfully social series–the session provides basic guidance, all essential materials, and a genuinely inviting atmosphere for curious beginners and practised artists alike. The models bring creativity and humour through imaginative poses, keeping things lively and decidedly unpretentious. Whether it’s a first foray into figure drawing or simply a fun evening out with friends and a drink in hand, this one delivers.
Wednesday 1 April, 6 pm–8 pm | Craft + Design Canberra, London Circuit, Canberra | craftanddesigncanberra.org
Exhibitions
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.
Saturday 4 April until Sunday, 11 October | National Library of Australia, Parkes | library.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/wangka-wakanutja
Flora – Ruth Ju-Shih Li
Grainger Gallery presents Flora, a new exhibition by Taiwanese-Australian artist Ruth Ju-Shih Li, whose sculptural works explore memory, transformation and the fragile beauty of the natural world. Working across materials including porcelain, wax and clay, Li creates intricate forms inspired by flowers, birds and organic structures, reflecting cycles of renewal, impermanence and cultural connection.
Visitors can join the artist for drinks and an artist talk at the opening event, offering insight into her practice and the ideas behind the exhibition’s delicate and meditative works .
Until Sunday 5 April 2026 | Grainger Gallery, 1/34 Geelong Street, Fyshwick | graingergallery.com.au
A Loving City: Queerberra Revisited
A Loving City: Queerberra Revisited explores love, identity and resilience within Canberra’s LGBTQIA+ community. In 2017, photographer Jane Duong and producer Victoria Firth-Smith created Queerberra to document queer Canberrans during the national postal vote on marriage equality. Over 100 portraits captured moments of pride, exhaustion, defiance and hope when love itself was publicly debated. Eight years later, this exhibition returns to those portraits to reflect on personal growth, community strength and the enduring power of love. The exhibition invites visitors to consider progress made and work remaining in the city that voted yes more strongly than any other in Australia.
Until Saturday, 5 April | Canberra Museum + Gallery, 176 London Circuit, Canberra | cmag.com.au
Traces
Tuggeranong Arts Centre presents work by five artists with connections to Ngunnawal and Ngambri land. Alexander Sarsfield, Bridget Baskerville, Clementine McIntosh, Gemma Brown and Sarah Murray work across ceramics, textiles, printmaking, drawing, weaving and community-based practices. The exhibition explores material processes and connections to place and people. Brown utilises experimental processes with industrial waste and commercial ceramic materials. Baskerville submerges metal plates in bodies of water to create corrosion marks. McIntosh uses site-responsive techniques including buried textiles and plant dyes. Sarsfield shares Māori culture through communal raranga weaving practices. Murray creates large-scale gestural paintings challenging colonial landscape ideals through embodied experiences of place.
Until Friday, 11 April | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street North, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com
Bean Soup
Canberra glass artist Bailey Donovan presents an immersive exhibition centred on recurring glass bean forms. The installation includes blown sculptures, wall-mounted works and colour compositions exploring relationships between domestic craft, queer identity and glass’s expressive nature. Donovan’s signature bean shapes embrace irregular silhouettes and uneven contours, offering alternatives to traditional glassblowing aesthetics focused on symmetry and technical refinement. The work references domestic textiles including gingham and crochet through cane work, colour overlays and patterning techniques. Bean clusters vary from small collectible-sized pieces to larger abstract blown forms arranged in compositions referencing kitchen jars and fabric scraps. The exhibition celebrates material exploration through humour and comfort.
Until Friday, 11 April | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street North, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com
The Long Look
Five printmakers who met at the Canberra School of Art Printmaking Workshop in the late 1990s reunite for an exhibition celebrating innovative practices. Cecile Galizzo, G.W. Bot, Lizzie Hall, Craig Cameron and John Pratt share material-based approaches where etching plates and woodblocks become artworks, metal becomes drawing, and repetition transforms into methodology. The exhibition references deep consideration needed during uncertain times, bringing together old friends to celebrate making art. Works in wood, metal and paper distil years of observing and inhabiting natural landscapes and internal landscapes of myth and memory. The exhibition functions as a conversation between artists reflecting their longstanding friendships.
Until Friday, 11 April | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street North, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com
DEEP END BY AMY CLAIRE MILLS
Deep End is an immersive sensory installation inviting exploration through touch, sight, and sound. The project explores the concept of accessible and adaptive ‘third spaces’. Third spaces, beyond home and work, are informal social environments that foster community and connection (Oldenburg, 1989).
However, for many Disabled people, third spaces often default to medical environments like doctors’ waiting rooms and outpatient clinics. Public pools have long served as adaptive third spaces existing somewhere between the social and the medical. Deep End invites you to wade into a future in which care, access, and disability culture are embedded in the design from the very beginning.
Until Sunday 12 April | Canberra Contemporary, 44 Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | canberracontemporary.com.au/current
WATER BY HANDS ON STUDIO
The artworks in Water have been developed by artists from Hands On Studio, Canberra, whose practices foreground process, material engagement, and embodied ways of making.
Through diverse approaches and mediums, the artists examine water as a mutable substance that exists across multiple states — liquid, solid, and vapour — and across varied registers of meaning. Rain, sea, ice, and tap water are considered not only for their physical properties, but for the social, political, and environmental contexts in which they are encountered.
Until Sunday 12 April | Canberra Contemporary, 44 Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | canberracontemporary.com.au/current
Curator tours: National Library Treasures Gallery
Discover the stories behind key items in the Treasures Gallery with a curator-led tour.
Tuesday, 14 April and Tuesday, 28 April, Various times | National Library of Australia, Parkes | library.gov.au
In Bloom
In Bloom explores the beauty and symbolism of flowers. Featuring more than 50 portraits from the National Portrait Gallery collection, new acquisitions and selected loans, you will discover how flowers have long been used in art to express emotion and convey messages of personal, cultural and religious significance.
The show is a weird and wonderful floral extravaganza that includes much-loved and lesser-known works from the collection. See socialites, chefs, musicians, actors, doctors and politicians who are all unified by their accompanying floral markers.
Until Sunday 19 April 2026 | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | portrait.gov.au
Bilong Papua New Guinea: 50 years of Independence
Bilong Papua New Guinea marks the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence and the birth of a new nation on September 16, 1975. The National Gallery holds the largest collection of Papua New Guinea urban art outside the country. Each of the works selected for Bilong Papua New Guinea presents a story, reflecting on cultural heritage, historical moments, the influence of ancestors, Christianity, kastom, societal changes and new technologies.
Until Sunday 19 April | National Gallery, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au
5th National Indigenous Art Triennial
The National Indigenous Art Triennial brings together commissioned work by established and emerging First Nations artists from across Australia. Artistic Director Tony Albert (Girramay/Yidinji/Kuku-Yalanji peoples), one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists, leads this iteration. After the Rain presents new immersive projects resonating with ideas of rebirth and cycles of cleansing, celebrating inter-generational legacies and cultural warriors of past, present and future. Made possible through the continued generosity of Wesfarmers Arts and key philanthropic supporters, the Triennial creates an important platform for art and ideas. Following its Kamberri/Canerra presentation, After the Rain will tour nationally.
Until Sunday, 26 April 2026 | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au
THE WEATHER AND WHAT IS by Olive Burgess
This exhibition makes central a lesbian experience within a world shaped by dualisms—mind/body, nature/culture, windy/still, useful/redundant, productive/wasted, man/woman, hetero/not. Printmaking, photography and sculptural materials hold subject Burgess’ garden as kin, alongside her body.
Full, generous, focused, and sensual, The Weather and What Is opens space for a re-imagining of intimacy, ecology, history, and embodiment beyond dominant cultural frames.
Until Sunday, 26 April | Platform, 19 Furneaux Street, Forrest | canberracontemporary.com.au
The hidden world of the small – beautiful, powerful or vulnerable
The Hidden World of the Small examines the often overlooked. Seven artists from the Tin Shed Art Group pull focus onto the minute details of life, finding the power and beauty in tiny, quiet subjects.
Through a range of mediums, the group navigates the tension between beauty and power on a small scale, uncovering moments that usually stay hidden in plain sight.
See how the smallest subjects can tell the biggest stories.
Until Monday 27 April | Strathnairn Arts Association, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt | More information here.
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
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
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
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
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
