Beyond the wall: The Killing of Canberra launches a massive free street art exhibition

Posted on 29 September, 2026

Don’t be surprised if the smell of spray paint is in the air this October as 80 of Australia’s best graffiti artists gather in Canberra to paint the nation’s longest continuous graffiti wall.

Transforming the 520-metre section of the Woden drains – also known as the longest legal graffiti site in the Southern Hemisphere – this year marks the second time the Killing of Canberra jam has taken place.

After holding the inaugural jam in October 2025, which saw over 70 artists paint the iconic spot over two days, founder Lindsay Westphal wanted to celebrate graffiti culture while respecting the people and place that make it possible.

He says the ultimate aim was for the event to become an annual celebration of Australia’s incredible talent.

And on Saturday 3 October 2026, they’re doing it all again.

“Originally the jam was supposed to be in Perth, Western Australia,” explains Lindsay.

“The energy on the day was great as it was good to see so many of old friends and new friends roll up…there was so much love and unity between people and families walking past, admiring the amount of people painting and seeing it done live.”

Completely self-funded and free for the public to see, the 2026 event will be an even bigger celebration with launch of the free exhibition, The Killing of Canberra.

Taking the project beyond the wall by partnering with We Are Here, the exhibition will feature almost 200 square metres of original graffiti artwork, available for the public to view and purchase.

“I have wanted to get something together for a few artists that would turn artwork they have made into an exhibition of self-reflection,” says Lindsay.

“Some people will do canvases, prints, sculptures, drawings, lightboxes, and other mediums they feel they can express their thoughts and their creativity. It’s just another way of doing what we do with spray paint in other mediums, and the public gets to see what we can do after the jam inside an exhibition.”

For exhibition curator, artist, and photographer Marilyn Tuna, the event gives artists like her a chance to network and show their skills.

“It also lets us show works to the wider public that tell a story style that is in all rights incredible and extremely meaningful in today’s culture,” she says.

Taking place from 6 pm, the exhibition will feature a local DJ providing the soundtrack for the evening. Many of the artists painting the Woden drains will also be attending, giving the public a unique opportunity to meet the artists behind the work and experience one of Australia’s biggest gatherings of graffiti artists.

This year’s Killing of Canberra theme is ‘Cartoons in Crime’, inspired by a piece Lindsay did with a friend in 2002.

Fusing together popular cartoons with 1920s themes – think: gangsters – Marilyn says it will have an element of nostalgia that all ages will love.

“I will be bringing my 13-year-old daughter this year and we expect other artists to bring family and friends to enjoy seeing the artworks take shape,” she says.

“I love the idea of my daughter seeing a collection of people come together to share styles, skills and stories to create a shared finished work – not for financial gain but simply because artists are deeply passionate about their work and how they choose to express it.”

“I believe it’s important in these times that we show the young people that something great can come from passion and a shared expression.”

Free and open to all ages, The Killing of Canberra is ultimately about celebrating community, passion, and street culture.

“There is a lot of room for it to grow into something bigger and maybe create a funded festival without restricting people’s creativity and the way they paint,” says Lindsay.

“Bigger is always better.”

Images supplied Marilyn Tuna.