Christmas in July Festival is returning to Canberra for its biggest year yet

Posted on 15 May, 2026

Canberra’s cosiest winter tradition is officially making its return – and this year, it’s going back to where it all began.

From Wednesday 1 until Sunday 5 July, the Christmas in July Festival will once again transform the National Triangle into a glowing European-style winter village complete with mulled wine, melted raclette, fire pits, falling snow and twinkling lights.

But for 2026, there’s an extra layer of nostalgia attached.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, the festival is returning home to Parkes Place West beside Old Parliament House – the original location where Canberra first fell in love with the event back in 2021.

And after years of growing crowds, expanding programming and becoming something of a seasonal ritual for Canberrans, this year’s festival is also its biggest yet, stretching across five days for the very first time.

If you’ve never been before, expect the kind of winter atmosphere Canberra was made for – roaring fire pits, artisan market stalls, roaming entertainment and the smell of melted cheese and mulled wine drifting through the cold air.

Add snowfall moments, live music and immersive light installations, and it’s easy to see why thousands of people now make the pilgrimage every winter.

“This year feels incredibly emotional and symbolic for us,” says Vincent Hernandez.

“We are celebrating five years of Christmas in July, but also returning to where it all started.”

“Over time, the festival has become much bigger than an event. It has become a winter tradition people genuinely wait for each year.”

The 2026 edition will once again feature European food chalets, mulled wine bars, fire pit gardens, artisan winter markets, family-friendly activities and the festival’s signature Snow Lane.

And with the event landing over the first weekend of the school holidays, organisers are expecting another huge turnout from locals and interstate visitors chasing peak winter vibes.

More programming announcements and premium experiences are still to come – but if your ideal winter evening involves a raclette in one hand and mulled wine in the other, consider this your official save-the-date.