Hot air balloons, markets and more: 60+ of the best things to do in Canberra this weekend

Posted on 20 March, 2026

Up, up and don’t delay – the Canberra Balloon Spectacular is floating into its final days this weekend, and missing it would be a crime against your camera roll.

Then, once you’ve craned your neck at the sky, come back down to earth at the Handmade Market, where local makers are bringing their A-game (and you’ll definitely buy something you didn’t know you needed). And if that’s not enough, the Canberra Comedy Festival is in full swing – because honestly, what’s a weekend without a proper laugh?

Here’s your no-excuses guide to getting out and about in the capital.

Don’t Miss…

Aussie K-Poppers United Concert

Get ready for an electrifying night of K-pop energy with a high-impact dance showcase featuring incredible performances by local and interstate K-Pop Cover Dance crews. From dynamic choreography to fan-favourite tracks, experience the energy and talent of Australia’s K-pop community live on stage. Created in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Centre AU, the concert celebrates the global K-pop phenomenon through the lens of Australian performers who have embraced this vibrant musical and dance culture. The showcase demonstrates the technical skill and passion of local K-pop cover dance crews interpreting beloved tracks and choreography.

Saturday 21 March, 7 pm –8.30 pm | National Museum of Australia, Acton | nma.gov.au/hallyu/k-poppers-united-concert

Canberra Comedy Festival

Canberra Comedy Festival returns with a packed program of laughs across the capital. From the Gala and Clean Comedy Spectacular to Festival Club and headline sets from international, national and local acts, there’s something for every comedy fan. Expect sharp stand-up, clever storytelling and plenty of surprises across multiple venues. It’s a joyful celebration of live performance that brings Canberrans together for a good laugh as autumn begins to settle in.

Until Sunday, 22 March, various times | Various locations | canberracomedyfestival.com.au

Canberra Balloon Spectacular 2026

Autumn in Canberra means early alarms and awe-inspiring skies. The Canberra Balloon Spectacular sees colourful hot air balloons inflate and launch from Patrick White Lawns from around 6 am each morning. Rug up, grab a hot breakfast and watch as they drift across the city skyline. Free for spectators and entirely weather dependent, daily launch announcements are shared each morning. It’s a gentle, magical way to start the day and a seasonal ritual many locals wouldn’t miss.

Until Sunday, 22 March, from 6 am | Patrick White Lawns, Parkes | canberraballoonspectacular.com

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.

Thursday 5 March to 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

Handmade Market 

The award-winning indoor event showcases over 260 designers and producers at Exhibition Park. As a registered Retail Supporter of the Australian Made Campaign, each purchase is guaranteed Australian-made and designed. Discover handcrafted ceramics, sustainable fashion, original artworks, locally distilled spirits and freshly baked pastries in the gourmet food and wine pavilion. Low Sensory Hour runs 9 am until 10 am on Sunday morning. The venue offers accessibility-friendly facilities, ample free parking and a light-rail stop outside EPIC. Entry is free, with charity door greeters collecting optional donations for the ACT region.

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March | Exhibition Park, Budawang, Coorong and Parkes Pavilions, Lyneham | handmadecanberra.com.au

Harmony Day at South.Point

Celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Canberra at South.Point’s vibrant Harmony Day celebration. Transforming Centre Court into a colourful showcase of music, dance and culture, the free community event will feature performances from an African choir, Chinese dancers, Pacific Island performers, Greek and Indian traditional dancers, Nepalese dancers and the lively rhythms of Kokoloco.

Families can also join in hands-on craft activities including Chinese lantern making, Pacific Island garland making and Thai nylon flower making. The celebration will finish with a special finale and colourful parade through the centre celebrating community, connection and cultural diversity .

Saturday 21 March, 11 am–2 pm | South.Point Tuggeranong, Cnr Anketell and Reed Streets, Greenway | southpointcanberra.com.au

The National Zoo & Aquarium celebrates St Patrick’s Day

The Spirit of St. Patrick’s takes over our zoo with lawn games, roving entertainment, Irish music and delicious Irish food.

The weekend is extra special as it will also celebrate ‘Frogs & Bears’ in honour of World Frog Day and World Bear Day. The passionate conservation team NZACT will have an education stall with some hoppy friends for you to learn about!

There’s so much fun to be had at the National Zoo and Aquarium, Canberra’s ‘Centre of Adventure’.

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March, 9:30 am to 5 pm | National Zoo & Aquarium | nationalzoo.com.au

Matinee: Over 30’s Clubbing Experience

Back by overwhelming demand following multiple sold-out events, Canberra’s favourite over-30s day club party returns for another round of nostalgia-fuelled fun. Get Loose, At Moose, Go Snooze offers a throwback celebration of the 90s, 00s and 10s with DJs who lived through the golden era of Canberra clubbing, themed cocktails inspired by iconic venues of the past and the legendary Mooseheads atmosphere—just with an earlier bedtime. It proves you can still dance all night and be home by ten. While this is an over-30s event, guests aged 25-plus are welcome. Tickets are on sale now.

Saturday 21 March, 4 pm–10pm | Mooseheads, 105 London Circuit, Canberra | moshtix.com.au

Ainslie IGA fundraiser for ACT Rescue and Foster

Canberrans already know that the cheese aisle at Ainslie IGA is a destination in its own right, but this Saturday there’s even more reason to make the trip to Edgar Street. The beloved local supermarket is hosting a fundraiser for ACT Rescue and Foster, supporting animals in need right here in our city. From 10.30 am, there’ll be a sausage sizzle and a bake sale of sweet and savoury treats outside the store, with every dollar raised going directly to help vulnerable animals find their footing.

Go hungry, come often, and bring the whole family.

Saturday, 21 March, 10.30 am–3 pm | Ainslie IGA, Edgar Street, Ainslie | ainslieiga.com.au

Canberra Craft Beer & Cider Festival

Australia’s premier craft beer, cider and distillery festival features over 40 exhibitors from around the country in the grounds of Mercure Canberra and adjacent streets. The festival showcases beer, cider, seltzers and now includes distilleries presenting gin, vodka and premium spirits. Live entertainment runs throughout the day, alongside high-quality food and family-friendly activities. Advance tickets include entry, five drink tokens, access to all breweries and distilleries, gourmet food vendors, live music and festival activities. Children under 18 enter free. Special accommodation packages are available at Mercure Canberra.

Saturday 21 March, 11 am–6pm | Mercure Canberra, 39 Limestone Avenue, Braddon | canberrabeerfest.com.au

Harvest Day Out at Lanyon Homestead

This free autumn festival at Lanyon Homestead celebrates growing, preserving and sustainable living within one of Canberra’s most significant rural heritage sites. Visitors can explore the historic homestead and gardens, participate in workshops and demonstrations, and discover practical ideas for everyday life. Activities range from gardening and food preservation to craft, music and nature-based experiences. The event highlights local producers, makers and organisations, creating a showcase of regional skills and knowledge. With sweeping views to the Brindabellas, it offers a relaxed way to experience Lanyon as a living landscape.

Saturday 21 March, 10 am–3 pm | Lanyon Homestead, Tharwa Drive, Tharwa | historicplaces.com.au

St Monica’s School Fete 

School fetes don’t get much better than this. St Monica’s Primary School in Evatt is throwing open the gates for a full afternoon of family fun, with something genuinely on offer for every age. Browse the white elephant stall, stock up on plants and books, and treat yourself at the cake stall and Devonshire tea café. The kids will love the petting zoo, pony rides, laser tag, trampolines and face painting, while grown-ups can try their luck at the chocolate wheel, tombola jars and a major raffle with over $2,000 in prizes. A proper community celebration.

Saturday, 21 March, 11 am–3 pm | St Monica’s Primary School, Evatt | stmonicas.act.edu.au

A Bucking Good Time – Mechanical Bull Challenge at South.Point

Think you can last eight seconds? South.Point Tuggeranong is bringing a little rodeo spirit to Canberra with a lively mechanical bull challenge in Centre Court. Visitors aged 18+ can test their balance and bravery by attempting to stay on the bucking bull, with the first 50 participants receiving a $25 voucher for The Stable Door.

Hosted by professional rodeo MC Tash Aileen, the free event will also feature demonstrations from a seasoned rider and a chance to win a family pass to the Yass Rodeo for anyone who conquers the full eight seconds .

Sunday 22 March, 11 am–3 pm | South.Point Tuggeranong, Cnr Anketell and Reed Streets, Greenway | southpointcanberra.com.au

Sunflower Maze

The Majura Valley Farm Sunflower Maze sits just ten minutes from Canberra’s CBD on the grounds of Majura House, the ACT’s oldest working farm. Each autumn, guests can wander among vibrant sunflower plantings and enjoy a rural retreat close to the city. Although this year’s bloom is smaller due to dry conditions, the visit offers lawn games, up-close animal encounters and a sculpture walk through the paddocks. Afternoon music accompanies the experience, and as the sun drops behind the mountains, guests can enjoy local wines and beers. The daily farm gate shop offers farm-fresh produce and locally crafted goods, delivering an authentic paddock-to-plate experience.

Until Sunday 22 March | Majura Valley Farm, 728 Majura Road, Majura | majuravalleyfarm.com.au

Balloon Spectacular Boat Cruises

Hop aboard the Canberra Party Boat for a magical Balloon Spectacular Boat Cruise during the hot air balloon festival. Enjoy front-row views of the balloons, beautiful sunrises and a delightful cruise experience. This is a chance to gather with friends or family and experience the balloons from the lake during the Balloon Spectacular. The relaxing two-hour cruise around Lake Burley Griffin offers a unique vantage point for viewing the balloons as they float overhead. The combination of being on the water and watching the balloons creates a memorable morning experience.

Until Sunday 22 March | Canberra Party Boat, 8 Trevillian Quay, Jetty 4, Kingston | tickettailor.com

Leonardo da Vinci–500 Years of Genius

This immersive journey of discovery and wonder is created in collaboration with Museo Leonardo da Vinci in Rome. Located atop the old Federation Centenary Fountain adjacent to Parkes Place lawns, the experience brings history to life in a way that captivates audiences of all ages. Leonardo da Vinci–500 Years of Genius inspires curious minds with an exploration of the greatest genius who has ever lived. Falling during the Enlighten Festival as a featured event, the activation offers a unique cultural experience. Tickets are limited with strong numbers expected, so early booking is recommended to secure preferred times.

Until Sunday 29 March | Patrick White Lawns, Parkes Place West, Parkes | immmersedevents.com

UPSTAGEING 

Australia’s first large-scale creative ageing arts festival celebrates the artistic expression of older Canberrans across 10 days. The festival spans multiple venues throughout the city, featuring visual arts, theatre, dance, music, fashion, craft, storytelling and film. With performances, exhibitions, workshops and community-led events, UPSTAGEING challenges stereotypes and demonstrates that creativity, growth and connection continue at every age. The program showcases both artistic excellence and grassroots engagement, offering opportunities to participate or simply experience the vibrant contributions of the senior community.

Until Sunday 29 March | Various locations | cotaact.org.au

Markets

Balloon Spectacular at The Little Burley Markets

Pair your balloon viewing with a sunrise market by the lake. Held at Commonwealth Place, these special editions of The Little Burley Market offer gourmet breakfast bites, fresh coffee, artisan produce and handcrafted goods. After watching balloons rise from Patrick White Lawns, wander across to Queen Elizabeth Terrace and ease into the morning with lakeside views and local stallholders.

Saturday, 21 March, from 6 am | Commonwealth Place, Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | thelittleburleymarket.com.au

Canberra Rock Swap

Dealers and fossickers gather at Parrot Park selling jewellery, gemstones, fossils, rocks, mineral specimens and lapidary supplies. The two-day event offers family activities including lucky dips, sieving for sapphires and panning for gold. Food is available throughout the event. The rock swap caters to serious collectors, hobbyists and families interested in geology and earth sciences. It provides opportunities to purchase specimens, learn about minerals and rocks, and participate in hands-on activities. The informal atmosphere encourages browsing, conversation and discovery across the range of geological items on offer.

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 March | Parrot Park, EPIC, Flemington Road, Mitchell | canberralapidary.org.au

The Harmonie German Club German Autumn Markets

Step into a lively European atmosphere with authentic German groceries and deli treats in the Keller, German street food from the IMBISS Food Van, and imported German bier and schnapps at the bar. Market stalls showcase records, clothing, handmade treasures, jams, plants and unique finds. Live entertainment fills the Zeppelin Room while children enjoy the free jumping castle. The day offers browsing, shopping and relaxing with friends and family in a festive setting. This is a free community event with free entry and free parking, making it an accessible autumn day out.

Sunday, 22 March, 9 am–1 pm | The Zeppelin Room, 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah | harmonieclub.com.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.

Sunday 18 and 25 January, 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

Food and Wine

High Tea in Canberra at The Pavilion

The leafy setting of the Atrium at the Pavilion on Northbourne provides the backdrop for an afternoon of delectable treats, bottomless prosecco and soothing teas. The offerings are blended for a relaxed afternoon experience in comfortable surroundings. The high tea format combines traditional sweet and savoury items with the option of unlimited prosecco, creating an occasion that balances elegance with ease. The Atrium’s atmosphere and presentation make it suitable for special occasions or a refined weekend afternoon with friends or family.

Saturday 21 March, 12 pm –2 pm | Atrium Restaurant and Bar, 242 Northbourne Avenue, Dickson | atriumrestaurantandbar.com.au

Sport and Wellness

RUN-W-L’épi

WITH-ME, local bakery L’épi and Intersport are joining forces for a free community run and walk through the leafy streets of Yarralumla – one of Canberra’s most beautiful neighbourhoods for a morning out. Choose your pace with a 5km run or a relaxed 2.4km walk, then cool down with a fresh croissant straight from L’épi. Keen to try something new underfoot? Sign up for an exclusive New Balance wear test and road-trial the latest shoes – spots are limited, so register early. All fitness levels are welcome.

Saturday, 21 March, 8.15–9.15 am | L’épi, 45 Novar Street, Yarralumla | canberra.events

Breathwork & Sound Healing Journey

Join a transcendental healing journey melting away tension, stress and fatigue. The session starts with 15 minutes of relaxing breathwork using ancient and modern techniques, followed by a sound healing journey using native and meditative instruments including didgeridoo, crystal bowls, RavVast, Heaven & Earth Flute, shamanic drum, Tibetan bowls, crystal pyramid, harmonic healing chimes and Koshi chimes. Benefits include deep relaxation, boosted immune system, balanced nervous system, release of physical and emotional tension, improved focus and memory, improved sleep quality, aligned energy centres, pain reduction and activated limitless potential. Bring your mat, blanket, pillow and anything needed for comfort during the session.

Sunday, 22 March, 6 pm –7.15pm | Soma Woman’s Wellbeing, Suite 2/3, 3 Dickson Place, Dickson | lawenhealingrituals.com

WALK-W-ME 

Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest difference. WALK-W-ME, a community initiative delivered by charity WITH-ME, brings Canberrans together for a relaxed, judgment-free walking experience centred on genuine human connection. There’s no pressure to perform or share more than feels comfortable–just the quiet magic of conversation that happens naturally when you’re moving side by side. The community is refreshingly diverse and intergenerational, welcoming everyone from teenagers to older adults. Whether loneliness has been creeping in or you’re simply keen to meet some new faces, this is a genuinely lovely way to spend a Sunday morning on the lake.

Sunday, 22 March | Lake Burley Griffin, Parkes | with-me.co

Music

Dave Hole – Bluesman at The Zeppelin Room

Australia’s premier internationally renowned bluesman and highly acclaimed slide guitar virtuoso brings his explosive live show to the Harmonie German Club. Dave Hole burst onto the international scene when his first album Short Fuse Blues was picked up by Chicago-based Alligator Records. He has since released nine critically acclaimed albums and won an Australian ARIA award. Innumerable tours of the US and Europe have solidified his stature as one of the very best blues guitarists playing today, earning accolades from around the globe as a festival headliner across America and Europe.

Saturday 21 March, 8 pm –10 pm | Harmonie German Club, 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah | harmonieclub.com.au

Stage and Screen

Live Radio Play: The Dear Departed by Stanley Houghton

The Mill Theatre tries something deliciously different with a live radio play performed and recorded in front of an audience. The Dear Departed is a wickedly funny one-act comedy adapted for live radio performance. The play skewers middle-class respectability as two selfish sisters descend into chaos over inheritance, furniture and the convenient assumption that their elderly parent has become a burden. Sharp, absurd and gleefully unkind, this joyous comedy exposes how quickly moral values crumble when money is involved. It’s a rare chance to witness a radio play being made before your eyes.

Saturday 21 March | Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, Building 3.3, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | milltheatreatdairyroad.com

Graeme Connors… What Next?

Living legend Graeme Connors plays the intimate setting of the Belco Arts Theatre. In a career spanning 50 years and 20 albums, Graeme has never rested on his laurels. From his landmark 1988 release North through to his latest masterpiece What Next?, his career features hits and classics including A Little Further North Each Year, Let The Canefields Burn, The Road Less Traveled and The Ringer and the Princess. Following his sellout My Lyrical Life national tour, Graeme brings new music alongside career-defining favourites—another leap forward from the master of the unexpected.

Saturday 21 March, 7.30 pm – 9.50 pm | The Theatre, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au

Almost, Maine: A Luminous Celebration of Love

One of the most produced plays in the world comes to Belco Arts for a strictly limited season. Mockingbird Theatre Company presents Almost, Maine by John Cariani, directed by Zac Bridgman. On one unforgettable winter’s night beneath shimmering northern lights, residents of Almost, Maine find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected ways. In a town so remote it almost doesn’t exist, strangers become soulmates, long-time partners rediscover each other and broken hearts are mended in surprising, even magical fashion. Tender, funny, whimsical and quietly devastating, it’s a play about the courage to love boldly, missed chances and second chances, reminding us that even the smallest moment can alter the course of a life.

Until Saturday 28 March | The Mockingbird Studio, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au/almost-maine

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

Winner of the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, this wildly funny and touching musical has charmed audiences across the country. Six mid-pubescent spellers vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime, candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives as they spell their way through a series of potentially made-up words. Each contestant hopes to avoid the soul-crushing ding of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Featuring a fast-paced book by Rachel Sheinkin and vibrant score by William Finn, this riotous ride includes audience participation. Six spellers enter; one leaves a champion. At least the losers get a juice box. A delightful den of comedic genius and an instant theatre patron favourite.

Until Sunday 29 March, 7.30 pm | ACT Hub at Causeway Hall, 14 Spinifex Street, Kingston | acthub.littleboxoffice.com/events/142356

Workshops

Paint It Slow

Paint It Slow invites you to slow down and focus on one painting over four weeks, developing depth, intuition and your creative voice. Work on one major painting, allowing it to develop slowly and intuitively with guidance from tutor Eliott O’Dowd. This course focuses on depth rather than speed—refining composition, colour and detail while learning to trust the painting process and your own creative voice. All materials are supplied.

Saturday 21 March and 11 April, 3 pm–5.30 pm | Q Gallery, 13a Edgar Street, Ainslie | eventbrite.com.au/e/paint-it-slow-march-painting-course-tickets

Characters in Clay with Lee Nelms

Art meets character in this delightful pinch pot workshop led by ceramic artist Lee Nelms at Craft + Design Canberra. Participants explore character creation by hand-building simple pinch pots from air-dry clay, then sculpting distinctive facial features to bring unique personalities to life. Drawing on her deep fascination with human expression, Lee guides attendees through form, texture and gesture in a beginner-friendly, genuinely supportive environment. Presented as part of UPSTAGEING Canberra–Australia’s inaugural large-scale Creative Ageing Arts Festival–this welcoming session celebrates the vibrant creativity of older Canberrans. No experience necessary; just bring curiosity and a willingness to get your hands delightfully dirty.

Saturday, 21 March, 10:30 am–noon | Craft + Design Canberra, City | craftanddesigncanberra.org

Silent Book Club @ Café Stepping Stone

Taking place fortnightly on Sundays, this Silent Book Club is open to everyone, with no fees or age limits. You can engage with others as much or as little as you like! Unlike traditional book clubs, there’s no assigned reading or discussion, just a peaceful space to read your book among fellow book lovers.

Here’s how it works: arrive, settle in with a drink, and maybe share what you’re reading, spend a quiet, undisturbed hour reading, and then socialise (or continue reading if you prefer). Bring your current read, order your favourite beverage, and enjoy some uninterrupted reading time.

Saturday 21 March, 2 pm to 4 pm | Café Stepping Stone, Gullifer Street, Strathnairn | More information here.

Exhibitions

Meanwhile in Canberra

A collection of seven prints celebrates Canberra landmarks through lino, risograph and mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock) printmaking techniques. The exhibition features interpretations of Telstra Tower, Lake Burley Griffin and the Powerful Owl in visual styles inspired by Japanese ukiyo-e traditions. The prints respond to Canberra’s natural and built environment, drawing parallels with thematic print series such as Hokusai’s 100 Views of Mt Fuji. Each composition uses distinct printmaking methods to create connected works exploring the city’s character. The exhibition runs from early February through late March at Belconnen Arts Centre.

Until Sunday, 22 March | East Wall, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au

Over Seas II

Belconnen Arts Centre presents an open exhibition exploring migrant and refugee perspectives within the Canberra community. Displayed in the Generator Gallery, the exhibition ranges from political to personal narratives, offering diverse viewpoints on the migrant experience. Works examine themes of displacement, belonging, identity and cultural transition through various artistic mediums. The exhibition provides a platform for voices often underrepresented in mainstream arts spaces, celebrating the rich cultural diversity that shapes contemporary Canberra. From memory and loss to hope and resilience, the artworks reflect the complex realities of building new lives in Australia. Opening night reception occurs on Friday 6 February at 6 pm, with the exhibition continuing through 22 March, inviting community dialogue and understanding.

Until Sunday, 22 March | Belconnen Arts Centre | belcoarts.com.au

Seasons, Tides, and Lunar Cycles by Andrew Totman

Andrew Totman presents a fresh artistic direction in the Pivot Gallery, developed from memories of the natural world. The series demonstrates awareness of environmental influence, weather patterns and the unfathomable depth of galaxy. Works explore the interconnected rhythms governing natural phenomena, from seasonal changes to tidal movements and lunar phases. Totman’s practice reflects deep observation of cosmic and earthly cycles, translating these vast concepts into visual form. The exhibition invites contemplation of humanity’s place within larger natural systems. Opening night reception takes place Friday 6 February at 6 pm. An artist talk with Totman in conversation with Akky van Ogtrop, President of AU Print Council and Curator of Sydney Contemporary’s Paper Section, occurs 2 pm Saturday 28 February.

Until Sunday, 22 March | Belconnen Arts Centre | belcoarts.com.au

Lines of Landscape by Kym Brookes

Far South Coast fibre artist Kym Brookes presents a tactile exploration of place, memory and transformation in the West Gallery. Drawing deeply from textures, tones and rhythms of the landscape surrounding her, Brookes creates works that blur boundaries between textile art and landscape interpretation. The exhibition demonstrates sophisticated understanding of fibre as medium for expressing connection to country. Through weaving, stitching and material manipulation, the artist translates environmental experiences into tangible form. Works evoke weathered surfaces, organic patterns and the passage of time across land. The exhibition invites viewers to reconsider landscape representation beyond traditional painting and photography. Opening night reception occurs Friday 6 February at 6 pm, continuing through 22 March at Belconnen Arts Centre.

Until Sunday, 22 March | Belconnen Arts Centre | belcoarts.com.au

On Reimagined Wings

Beth Harcourt presents sculptural birds created from recycled and found objects at Belconnen Arts Centre. The exhibition explores character and personality through assemblages of disparate materials that would otherwise end up in landfill. Each bird sculpture combines sustainability themes with whimsical interpretations of native species. The works invite viewers to engage with wonder and introspection through Harcourt’s creative reuse of materials. The Window Gallery exhibition runs from early February through late March. The display demonstrates how art can transform waste materials into expressive sculptural forms.

Until Sunday, 22 March | Window Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au

Sculpted By Lifestyle

Craft + Design Canberra presents ceramic works by Lee Nelms reimagining the seven sins through an Australian cultural perspective. The exhibition features “before” and “after” pieces exploring how behaviour is shaped by experience, consequence and time. Hand-built and altered wheel-thrown ceramic forms incorporate expressive marks and creature-like features representing flaws, humour and vulnerability. Nelms works across various clay types fired in electric, oil and wood kilns. Her practice focuses on the human face and sculptural expression, translating emotional experiences into physical forms. The exhibition runs from mid-February through late March.

Until Saturday, 28 March, 2026 | Craft + Design Canberra, 180 London Circuit, Level 1, North Building, City| craftanddesigncanberra.org

Catherine Kingham | Light Journeys

Light Journeys is a reflective exhibition by Canberra-based artist Catherine Kingham, inspired by dawn walks through familiar suburban landscapes. Created during the quiet hours of early morning, the works explore light as a symbol of resilience, gratitude and renewal, shaped by lived experience of illness, loss and recovery. Blending place with inner emotional landscapes, the exhibition invites visitors to slow down and see the world afresh through moments of stillness and transformation. Kingham’s practice demonstrates how daily observation and personal experience can inform artistic expression, creating work that speaks to both specific and universal experiences of healing and noticing.

Until Sunday 29 March | Strathnairn Arts Homestead Gallery 2, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt | strathnairn.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 Sunday, 5 April | Canberra Museum + Gallery, 176 London Circuit, Canberra | cmag.com.au

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

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

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 Saturday, 26 April 2026 | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.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

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 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