Who said winter is boring? Here are 180+ things to do in Canberra this August

Posted on 30 July, 2025

This August in Canberra is anything but sleepy.

From cosy indoor cultural experiences to crisp outdoor adventures, the nation’s capital comes alive with a vibrant mix of festivals, exhibitions, and entertainment that’ll warm you right up.

Whether you’re a culture enthusiast hunting for the latest gallery opening, a foodie seeking winter comfort at bustling markets, or a family looking for school holiday fun, August serves up something special for everyone. And with an impressive 180 events packed into the month, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Don’t Miss…

Mr Squiggle and Friends: The Creative World of Norman Hetherington

Meet beloved puppet Mr Squiggle and iconic characters in this free exhibition exploring 40 years of Australian children’s TV history and creative magic.

Until 13 October | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton | nma.gov.au

Light Up Lyneham

Don’t miss the seventh annual winter celebration of community! Featuring live music, entertainment, community stalls, and the highlight sunset lantern walk led by the brilliantly lit Canberra Mountain Lion to specially illuminated local wetlands, it’s full of community cheer with food, entertainment, and illuminated art installations to warm the coldest winter night.

Saturday 2 August | Lyneham shops, Wattle Place, Lyneham | lyneham.org.au

Fireside Festival

Your cosy winter wine escape is nearly here! Fireside Festival lights up the Canberra Wine District from 21 July to 3 August.

Head to the Canberra Wines website to discover all the events, experiences and special offers our region’s winemakers have lined up for you.

Until Sunday 3 August | various venues | canberrawines.com.au

Responsibility of Baristas with 2025 Australian Barista Champion

Join an exclusive industry event with Axil Coffee and Jack Simpson, the 2025 Australian Barista Champion! This unique experience explores the barista’s responsibility from bean sourcing to the final cup, perfect for baristas, café owners, and coffee enthusiasts.

Learn from the winning team behind three consecutive Australian Barista Championships (2023-2025) as they discuss the coffee industry, ethical sourcing, and what went into Jack’s championship victory. Taste championship-quality coffee including Jack’s exact competition drinks (espresso or milk), and enjoy a Q&A session with the champion and Axil team.

Limited availability for this coffee education experience featuring the exact coffee that won the 2025 title.

Tuesday 5 August, 5–7pm | Fox & Bow, 10 Duyfken Place, Red Hill | Tickets from eventbrite.com.au

Viral Food Festival

Prepare your tastebuds and clear your camera rolls for Canberra’s first-ever Viral Food Festival!

Experience the most talked-about, drool-worthy dishes that have taken social media by storm. Sink your teeth into legendary Cluckin Canes Dupe, indulgent Big Mac Tacos, cheese-stretching Rainbow Toasties, and cheeseburger spring rolls.

Sweet tooth? Indulge in decadent Dubai Bubble Waffles loaded with Kataifi and pistachio cream, Disney Churro dupes, and Dessert Sticks with Biscoff crumb.

Beyond the incredible food, enjoy rides including a Giant Ferris Wheel, carnival games, live DJ and band, wrestling ring action, and roving performers including life-size Optimus Prime and Blue the velociraptor!

Friday 8 to Sunday 10 August | Thoroughbred Park, 1 Randwick Road, Lyneham | Tickets from trybooking.com

Winter Festival

Embrace truffle season with bonfire nights, winter markets, truffle hunts, and showcases of cool-climate olive oils, wines and seasonal produce across three festival days.

Friday 8 until Sunday 10 August | The Vault at Dairy Road, Fyshwick | southernharvest.org.au

Oz Comic-Con Canberra

Step into the extraordinary world where creativity thrives and passion unites fans across generations. This two-day celebration of pop culture promises an immersive experience filled with adventure, laughter, and everything that makes fandom fantastic. Whether you’re a seasoned convention veteran or first-timer, expect action-packed days celebrating the diverse tapestry of pop culture. The adventure begins the moment you walk through the doors.

Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August | Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), Lyneham | ozcomiccon.com

National Science Week in Canberra

Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology takes over Canberra with more than 150 events across the ACT. From hands-on nature play explorations for families to the geology of bouldering, pub talks about frogs, and a science escape room, there’s something to spark everyone’s curiosity. This diverse program showcases the exciting world of science and technology in accessible, engaging ways for all ages and interests.

Saturday 9 until Sunday 17 August | Various locations | scienceweek.net.au

1975: Living in the Seventies

Step back 50 years and immerse yourself in the unforgettable year that was 1975! The National Library of Australia’s fascinating new exhibition explores what it was truly like to live in the seventies, from the dramatic political upheaval of Gough Whitlam’s dismissal to the cultural phenomena that defined the decade.

Discover iconic fashion like flared jeans and platform shoes, relive the magic of Countdown’s glam rockers Skyhooks and ABBA’s infectious pop, and explore groundbreaking Australian films like Picnic at Hanging Rock. This colourful celebration brings together objects exploring politics, conflicts, popular culture, food, fashion, and sport in iconic seventies design, revealing a complex story beyond Baby Boomer nostalgia.

Thursday 14 August 2025 to Saturday 1 February 2026 | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra | library.gov.au

Chaos Realm Volume II–Dark Beer Festival

Cypher Brewing Co. opens the gates to the Chaos Realm for three days of dark beer, fantasy lore and immersive chaos. This free festival features eight fearless breweries from NSW and the ACT pouring their boldest dark creations, from maple bourbon aged stouts to tiramisu imperial pastry stouts.

Explore two themed realms – the Chaos Realm taproom and Goblin Kingdom beer garden – while enjoying fire performances, live music, theatrical acts and family-friendly activities. Highlights include Head Brewer’s Hour with grazing platters, all-day DJ sets spinning vinyl rock classics, costume competitions for adults and kids, and enchanted forest family zones. A Chaos Realm Passport unlocks tastings of all 10 dark beers on tap across the weekend’s entertainment and performances.

Friday 15 to Sunday 17 August | Cypher Brewing Co., Gungahlin | cypherbrewing.com.au

Reclink Community Cup: 2025 Jersey Presentation Night

The annual Jersey Presentation Night for the Canberra Reclink Community Cup is back again! A huge evening of music to get around the teams ahead of the big game.

Pop along to see the excellent Gia Ransome, Spouse, Stella Eve and a special set by The Limestones All-Star Band.

Meet some players, buy some merch, get your photo with the cup, and help support Reclink ACT with this charity fundraiser.

Friday, 15 August, 7 pm | Dissent Café and Bar, 181 City Walk, Canberra City | events.humanitix.com

Kambah Turns 51

Celebrate Kambah’s 51st birthday with a special Christmas in July market in the village! This community celebration features amazing locally made creative stalls, sustainable upcycled goods, and preloved treasures. The family-friendly event includes live performances, buskers, and children’s activities throughout the day. A highlight is Young Talent Time, where kids aged  seven to 16 can showcase their singing, dancing, comedy or musical talents to win prizes. Local Kambah shops, cafes, bakery, Prospect Tavern and Kambah Takeaway will be serving coffee, snacks and lunch. A perfect opportunity to support local businesses, find unique treasures and enjoy community spirit.

Saturday 16 August | Kambah Village Shopping Centre, Kambah | facebook.com

Dirrum Dirrum Festival 2025

A vibrant, youth-centred celebration blending inspiring speakers, live music, food and stalls to amplify voices committed to positive change. This year’s theme “Tomorrow’s Promise” spotlights courage, empathy and integrity as foundations for a better future. Hear from renowned journalist Stan Grant, Plate It Forward founder Shaun Christie-David, and Gomeroi businesswoman Tash Kaiser from Wurrumay Collective.

Enjoy live music from 2023 Australian Idol winner Royston Noell and Radford College student musicians, plus a Welcome to Country by Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan. Browse vibrant stalls from Making Peas/ce, Wurrumay Collective, Chorus of Women and Dymocks Belconnen while enjoying hot food, coffee and refreshments. An event that recognises, inspires and leads for the common good.

Saturday 16 August, 4–8 pm | Morison Centre, Radford College | dirrumfestival.org

Podcast Club – CBR Gals Network

Discover a fresh way to build community and tackle loneliness through the power of podcasts! The CBR Gals Network launches Podcast Club, bringing together women and gender-diverse people of all ages to connect through curated podcast discussions. Each month, receive a themed playlist (1-4 hours of listening) to enjoy solo, then gather at Contentious Character for guided conversations that spark reflection and personal growth.

This innovative approach creates a truly intergenerational space where wisdom flows in both directions, whether you’re in your 20s or approaching your 80s. Perfect timing as Loneliness Awareness Week approaches – join this welcoming community tackling social isolation one conversation at a time.

Monthly meetings, next: Wednesday 21 August | Contentious Character, Fyshwick | cbrgals.com/events

Gem and Revs Live at Canberra Outlet – Bestie Brunch!

Join Gem and Revs from the hit podcast We Don’t Have Time For This for a live Bestie Brunch at Canberra Outlet! It’s the ultimate get-together for mums who need a break, a laugh, and a good chat about parenting, life, relationships and of course, shopping.

Connect with your besties. Meet the podcast stars in person. Enjoy exclusive outlet deals and treats.

Spaces are limited, so book your tickets now for this feel-good, fun-filled event made just for mums (and their besties!).

Brought to you by Canberra Outlet and Parker Coles Curtis.

Friday 22 August, 10.30 am | Canberra Outlet, Iron Knob Street, Fyshwick | canberraoutlet.com.au

Inferno by Mikaela Stafford at the NFSA

Preview the immersive installation by internationally recognised Australian artist Mikaela Stafford before it opens to the public. This free audiovisual experience blends monumental 3D motion graphics, kinetic sculpture and dynamic lighting with a powerful soundscape by composer Kate Durman. The sci-fi-infused world explores identity, memory and matter through a hyperreal journey anchored by a large-scale resin sculpture emerging from a 12-metre digital screen.

Opening Friday 22 August | NFSA Gallery & Courtyard | nfsa.gov.au

Light Source Performance Evening

Experience the phenomenological power of expanded cinema at this unique performance evening celebrating light, projection, and abstract film. In conjunction with the Drill Hall Gallery’s Light Source exhibition, four artists present short improvised performances exploring light’s ability to illuminate and abstract.

Friday 22 August, 6–7.30 pm | Drill Hall Gallery, Kingsley Street, Acton | dhg.anu.edu.au

High Tea for Karinya House

Genevieve Jacobs and Bernadette Bryant are raising funds for Karinya House as part of the 2025 Walk for Hope, supported by ByCath and Cuppacumbalong with a beautiful high tea in the historic Cuppacumbalong dining room. Enjoy five savoury bites, scones with homemade jam and five sweet treats served to your table with fresh flowers, white linen and barista service.

Your experience begins with sparkling on arrival, with barista-made tea and coffee throughout. BYO other refreshments welcome with no corkage (no additional drinks for purchase). Dietary requirements can be included in booking, with Cath doing her best to accommodate. The afternoon features guest speakers, raffles and time to explore the gardens. All proceeds support Karinya House’s vital work providing accommodation and support for pregnant women and mothers with babies experiencing homelessness.

Sunday 24 August, 11.30 am | Cuppacumbalong, 21 Naas Rd, Tharwa | bycath.com.au

Handmade Market Canberra

Don’t miss Australia’s award-winning indoor market showcasing over 260 Australian designers and producers. Discover unique Australian-made fashion, ceramics, handcrafted furniture, children’s items, original artworks, jewellery and accessories, plus an indoor gourmet food and wine pavilion. Features Low Sensory Hour (9 am-10 am on Sunday) and free entry with optional charity donations. Certified Retail Supporter of Australian Made Campaign with ample free parking and accessibility-friendly facilities.

Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 August | Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), Budawang, Coorong, and Parkes Pavilions, Lyneham | handmadecanberra.com.au

Special Events and Festivals

Lerida Estate Presents: Low & Slow

Lerida Estate invites you to an immersive winter evening celebrating Canberra’s food, wine and art scene. Set at Canberra Contemporary against Lake Burley Griffin, this multisensory experience features award-winning wines including new release Shiraz, Pinot Noir and Riesling, slow-smoked barbecue by Big Box Barbeque’s pit masters, curated vinyl tunes, and access to the gallery’s latest contemporary visual arts exhibition Paradise exploring Pasifika/Australian artists living between multiple worlds.

Friday 1 August | Canberra Contemporary, 44 Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | leridaestate.com.au

She Leads Conference

Step into your power at Canberra’s premier women’s leadership conference. She Leads Conference 2025 UNITE! celebrates the transformative power of diverse voices joining forces to create meaningful impact. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or emerging leader, you’ll leave with powerful tools, unshakeable confidence, and a network of ambitious peers who have your back.

Friday 1 August | Canberra Rex Hotel, 150 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon | sheleads.org.au

Quiet Mornings at the Mint

On the first Saturday of each month, the Mint opens its doors earlier than usual for a morning of peaceful exploration.

Quiet Mornings are specially designed for those who might have heightened sensory requirements. So pop on in, have a leisurely stroll around the Mint’s exhibition space, and enjoy the reduced noise and smaller crowds.

Saturday 2 August, 9 am – 10 am | Denison Street, Deakin | Book your spot here

Platy Party – Platypus Month Launch Event

This is a family-friendly celebration launching a month-long focus on Australia’s most iconic aquatic mammal. It features guided platypus walks, waterbug displays, live music, hands-on activities, and morning tea surrounded by wetlands habitat and is a unique opportunity to explore local waterways, discover fascinating wildlife, and connect with conservation in action.

Saturday 2 August | Jerrabomberra Wetlands, 2 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | act.waterwatch.org.au

21 Hearts: Vivian Bullwinkel and the Nurses of the Vyner Brooke

Witness a compelling true story celebrating women’s strength and hope through the eyes of a wartime atrocity’s only survivor.

In one of the most atrocious acts of war crimes in history, 22 nurses were forced to march into the sea where they were callously machine gunned. The only survivor and witness, Vivian spent the rest of the war in a prison camp before liberation, and her remaining years fighting for recognition of the bravery of her friends and colleagues; their strength and courage in the face of death sustaining her for the rest of her illustrious life.

Until Sunday 3 August | Australian War Memorial Theatre, Campbell | awm.gov.au

Wakakirri Performance Shows

This is Australia’s largest performing arts event for schools, engaging over 10,000 students annually in storytelling and dance. Students express their thoughts, ideas, and aspirations through captivating Story-Dances designed to promote engagement and well-being while inspiring positive social change through the art of performance.

Monday 4 until Wednesday 6 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

LOL Season

Comedy ACT’s LOL Season returns for 2025, featuring 10 comedy shows over three days. Catch encore performances from local comedians Tom Gibson, Carlo Ritchie, The Women’s Room, and The Unholy Trinity, plus fresh shows from national favourite Michael Hing. It’s the perfect opportunity to laugh with Canberra’s comedy talent all in one festival-style weekend.

Thursday 7 until Saturday 9 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Warm Trees at the Arboretum

The Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra are pleased to announce the return of Warm Trees, and this year, they are partnering with the Republic of Korea. Did you know the Arboretum is home to eight forests of trees native to Korea?

Pop along to see trees wrapped in vibrant scarves, bringing warmth and colour to the winter landscape. The Visitor Centre will also be adorned with beautiful decorations inspired by Korean heritage.

Plus, don’t miss the children’s activities hosted by the Korean Embassy, celebrating Korean culture through fun and creative workshops.

Until Sunday 10 August | National Arboretum Canberra, Forest Drive, Canberra | bit.ly/ArboretumWhatsOn

Science in the Centres

Discover exciting science while you shop! National Science Week brings hands-on activities to Westfield Belconnen, Westfield Woden, South Point Tuggeranong, Cooleman Court, Gungahlin Marketplace, Majura Park Shopping Centre, and Canberra Centre. Explore the fascinating world of reptiles, engineering, waterbugs, space, robotics, and environmental science through interactive displays and demonstrations across weekend sessions.

Saturday 9 until Sunday 17 August | Various shopping Centres across Canberra | facebook.com

Music for Canberra Open Days

Discover the joy of making music together at these free open days for young people at Ainslie Arts Centre! Whether your child is a beginner, returning player, or just curious, everyone is welcome to experience the sense of community that comes from making music.

The Canberra Children’s Choir Open Day (Thursday 14 August) offers musical games, movement, and group singing for ages 5-14 with sessions tailored to different age groups. Wind, brass, and percussion students in Years 6-12 can join the Canberra Youth Concert Band rehearsal (Tuesday 12 August), while string players aged 8-25 can bring a friend to try Saturday ensemble rehearsals ranging from beginner to advanced levels (Saturday 16 August).

Tuesday 12 August (Youth Concert Band 4–6 pm), Thursday 14 August (Children’s Choir 3:45–7 pm), Saturday 16 August (Youth Orchestras 9 am–12 pm) | Ainslie Arts Centre | musicforcanberra.org.au

Canberra CareersXpo

This is a major annual event featuring over 110 exhibitors from interstate and the ACT, incorporating six programs: CareersXpo, real skills for real careers, Indigenous Exhibition, School to Work, Innovation and Technology, and STEM Cell. Thursday features an inclusive employment focus from 12 pm to 2.30 pm and exhibitors include government departments, employer organisations, private colleges, apprenticeship centres, and businesses. Open to students and adults seeking career advice, entry is free.

Wednesday 13 August | Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), Corner Flemington Road and Northbourne Avenue, Mitchell | careersxpo.com.au

AFP X Questacon

Join the Australian Federal Police at Questacon for a science-meets-crime-fighting extravaganza perfect for families. Step into the shoes of an AFP STEM expert and uncover the science behind solving crimes through hands-on fingerprint matching, secret writing, decoding activities, AI demos, and interactive forensic science exhibits. Young visitors receive a ‘Junior Scientist Report Card’ to collect stamps while completing activities around Questacon.

Saturday 16 August | Questacon, The National Science and Technology Centre, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | questacon.edu.au

National Capital Orchestra Community Play Day

Experience the rare joy of playing with a full symphony orchestra! The National Capital Orchestra invites local musicians aged 16+ to join their annual Community Play Day at the historic Albert Hall. This unique opportunity allows amateur musicians to play alongside professionals under guest conductor Shilong Ye, performing Tchaikovsky’s thrilling 1812 Overture and Miriam Hyde’s Village Fair: A Ballet for Orchestra.

The day includes morning and afternoon rehearsals, culminating in a public concert at 4pm followed by an after-party reception. Last year over 100 musicians participated in this vibrant, joyful community event. Musicians must book by Friday 22 August, while audience members are welcome to attend the concert.

Sunday 24 August, 10 am–5 pm, concert 4 pm | Albert Hall, Canberra | Book at trybooking.com

National Triangle gems – Walking tour from National Archives to High Court

Explore two gems of the National Triangle on this unique walking tour. Begin at the National Archives in heritage-listed East Block, discovering the origins of Australia’s highest court and the original Constitution. Stroll through Constitution Place Gardens to the iconic High Court of Australia for a guided tour inside impressive courtrooms. Learn about the rich history, vital role and inner workings of the High Court. Bring comfortable shoes, hat and umbrella for this collaborative event with the High Court.

Friday 29 August | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue, Parkes | naa.gov.au

Turn Back Time at Lanyon Homestead

Celebrate Family History Month with a heritage day connecting you to Canberra’s past. Immerse yourself in traditional crafts, pastimes and trades while engaging with experts who bring history to life. Choose from workshops including family history research, hand-dipped beeswax candle making, conserving heirlooms, guided tours beyond the farm gate, historical knitting patterns, twilight tales with Tim the Yowie Man, and bush dancing under the stars. A perfect blend of learning, making and celebrating our regional heritage.

Saturday 30 August | Lanyon Homestead, Tharwa Drive, Tharwa | historicplaces.com.au

Food and Wine

Winter Wine Series

Warm up with complimentary fireside wine tastings every Friday in Hyatt Hotel Canberra’s historic Griffin’s lounge. Discover stories behind the vines while sipping incredible drops from Eden Road, Collector Wines, Nick O’Leary, Lark Hill and Bremerton Wines. Unwind, discover, and sip. No bookings required.

Every Friday | Hyatt Hotel Canberra, Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla | hyatt.com

Ginsights at Big River Distilling Co.

Big River Distilling Co. and Paperchain Bookstore collaborate for this monthly literary event showcasing local authors and their recent work. Enjoy intimate literary discussion with Q&A sessions while sipping cocktails or zero-alcohol alternatives. Each event features diverse writers including First Nations authors, women, gender diverse, culturally diverse and LGBTIQA+ community writers.

Thursday 7 August | Big River Distilling Co, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | bigriverdistilling.com.au

Wine for Gen Z

Learn to decode wine without the stuffiness! Wine educator Emma Shaw breaks down fundamentals, including acid, sugar, tannin, and alcohol identification, sustainability, value vs hype, and natural vs conventional production methods. Taste training wines to refine your palate before moving to delicious local Canberra drops. Perfect for asking wine questions in a relaxed, friendly space.

Sunday 10 August | Canberra and Region Visitors’ Centre, Parkes | canberracellardoor.com.au

Aalia x Med with Paul Farag

Chef of the Year Paul Farag brings his boundary-pushing Middle Eastern flavours from Sydney’s two-hatted AALIA to Med for an exclusive one-night kitchen takeover. Guests will enjoy an eight-course menu featuring signature AALIA dishes, paired with a complimentary cocktail on arrival. This rare opportunity showcases the innovative cuisine that has earned AALIA its prestigious reputation in Sydney’s competitive dining scene.

Thursday 14 August | 1/1 Burbury Close, Barton| sevenrooms.com

Truffle Degustation

Enliven your winter with an unforgettable six-course Truffle Degustation in the Members and Guests Dining Room at Parliament House. Each course blends the decadence of locally sourced Macenmist Black Truffles with unique native Australian ingredients. Executive Chef David Learmonth will share his creative inspirations and insight into the masterfully curated menu throughout this exclusive evening experience.

Friday 15 August | Australian Parliament House, 1 Parliament Drive, Canberra | events.humanitix.com

Foodie Fun Play! 

This is a fun, research-backed event for kids aged three to eight, combining storytelling, balloon art and tasting stations to explore fruits and vegetables. Presented by Twistyfic as part of National Science Week with support from the Australian and ACT Governments. Perfect for encouraging healthy eating habits through play.

Saturday 16 August | Chifley Community Room, 70 Maclaurin Crescent, Chifley | foodiefunplay-2025-chifley.eventbrite.com.au

Sunday Family Buffet Lunch

Gather friends and family for an all-you-can-eat feast on the third Sunday of the month. Enjoy a generous spread featuring fresh salads, premium cold cuts, hearty hot dishes, indulgent desserts and more in the Pavilion’s stunning Atrium. It’s the perfect way to spend a relaxed Sunday together with limited seats available.

Sunday 17 August | Pavilion on Northbourne, 242 Northbourne Avenue, Dickson | pavilioncanberra.com.au

High Tea in the Atrium

Enjoy an elegant afternoon in the leafy setting of the Pavilion’s Atrium. Sample delectable treats, bottomless prosecco and soothing teas in a beautiful afternoon experience. The perfect setting for a sophisticated catch-up with friends or special celebration.

Saturday 23 August | Atrium Restaurant and Bar, 242 Northbourne Avenue, Dickson | atriumrestaurantandbar.com.au

High Tea Buffet

Join a delightful afternoon hosted by the Marymead CatholicCare Auxiliary, where elegance meets generosity at our High Tea Buffet.

Enjoy a selection of fine teas, sweet and savoury treats, and warm company, all in support of a meaningful cause that makes a difference in our community.

Sunday 31 August, 2.30 pm start | Mercure Hotel Canberra, corner of Ainslie and Limestone Avenue, Braddon | Tickets from high-tea-buffet-2025.raiselysite.com. Bookings close on 15 August 2025.

Truffle Infused Winter Tastings at Mount Majura Vineyard

It’s truffle season again! And Mount Majura Vineyard knows the most delicious way to enjoy truffles is with their wines. Fresh truffle from neighbour Jayson at The Truffle Farm is used to infuse a deliciously rich triple-cream brie-style cheese. With this, they pour a flight of three 80ml glasses matched to the truffled brie. Hungry yet?

Until Sunday 31 August | Mount Majura Vineyard, 88 Lime Kiln Road, Majura | mountmajura.com.au

Bubbles with Bite

If you like your sips sparkly and snacks sophisticated, then pull up a seat for some knock-out Champagne pairings with Perrier-Jouët at QT Canberra. The refreshing crispness of Champagne combined with the rich lusciousness of caviar is pure indulgence, while the French fry crunch adds that perfect comfort food kicker. It’s the smart-casual snack your suit and sneaker combo demands – luxe and laid-back, just the way we like it. Choose from a glass of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut ($22), or go all out with bottles paired with fries and caviar. As always, QT promises to keep the posh playful.

Until Sunday 31 August | QT Canberra, 1 London Circuit, City | qthotels.com

Markets

The Little Burley Market

This Saturday waterside market favourite features beautifully curated gourmet food and artisan stalls with magnificent lake views. Head along to browse locally handmade goods, multicultural cuisines, chef-created desserts, smoked meats, fresh pastries, beautiful blooms, handmade jewellery, artisan pottery, children’s apparel, as well as stalls for furry friends! Plus, don’t miss the free arts and crafts activities for kids.

Saturday 2 August | Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | thelittleburleymarket.com.au

Hartley Hall Markets

At this family-friendly market, you’ll find everything from food to locally grown vegetables, baked goods, plants, furniture, clothing, pottery, children’s toys, arts and crafts, and unique gifts. Stroll among trees, enjoy lunch, fresh air, live entertainment, and children’s activities.

Sunday 3 August | Hall Showground, Victoria Street, Hall | hartley.org.au

ACT Seasonal Antique and Collectable Fair

Search for treasures and one-of-a-kind items with up to 22 local and interstate dealers presenting antiques, old-world nostalgia, books, art, jewellery, pottery, silver, bronzes, furniture, linen, glassware, and gift ideas. Proceeds support the Early Morning Centre and other local charities through the Rotary Club of Murrumbidgee Canberra. There will be something for every discerning collector!

Friday 8 until Sunday 10 August | Albert Hall, 100 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla | mc-rotary.org

Portobello Road – Bus Depot Markets

Browse through high-quality antiques and collectables with treasures varying every time. Scour the many aisles for decorative art, fine silver, restored furniture, and eye-catching jewellery. Each Portobello Road event offers different possibilities, making every visit a unique treasure-hunting experience in the heart of Kingston.

Sunday 10 August | The Old Bus Depot Markets, 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | obdm.com.au

Capital Region Farmers Market

Sample the region’s freshest produce from over 100 stallholders who bring freshly picked, grown and hand-crafted goods to Canberra. Speak directly with growers and learn cooking tips while supporting the Rotary Club of Hall’s community projects.

Saturdays, 7 am-11:30 am | Exhibition Park in Canberra, Mitchell | capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au

Haig Park Village Markets

Browse delicious cuisines, fresh produce, artisan products and locally handmade crafts while enjoying live music, an artists’ table and family-friendly activities. It’s the perfect Sunday outing in leafy Braddon.

Sundays, 8 am – 2 pm | Haig Park, Girrahween Street, Braddon | haigparkvillagemarkets.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. 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

Stage and Screen

Marrow

Australian Dance Theatre’s muscular choreographic work sees the incredible ensemble tangle with smoke and light to disassemble dominant cultural narratives and reveal historical truths. Created by Daniel Riley with Kaurna/Ngarrindjeri Elder Uncle Moogy Sumner AM, this bracingly honest work imagines a new future acknowledging our present moment.

Until Friday 1 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Consent

Experience Nina Raine’s acclaimed modern classic “Consent” in this powerful, provocative production by Mockingbird Theatre Company. When friends Ed and Tim take opposing sides in a sexual assault case, their own lives begin to unravel as every version of truth is challenged. This intricately constructed play explores questions of consent—sexual and personal—probing the murky moral terrain of courtrooms and marriages while putting Justice herself on trial.

Directed by Steph Evans, this “sparkling intelligence” work has been hailed as one of the most important plays of recent years, combining wit, humanity, and theatrical brilliance in an unforgettable theatrical experience.

Until Saturday 2 August | Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au/consent

Asian Film Archive: Reciprocal

Film buffs will love this collaborative film program spotlighting archival collections exploring identity, love, resistance, and cultural change. Highlights include the Malaysian drama Maryam, the Singaporean film Be With Me, the disco-infused Forever Fever, the documentary Sementara, and the once-banned martial arts cult classic Ring of Fury. Some screenings followed by audience participation events, including karaoke.

Friday 1 until Sunday 3 August | National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton | tickets.nfsa.gov.au

Explorers – The Age of Discovery – with James May – Live on Stage

British television presenter James May premieres his landmark live theatre show, bringing to life extraordinary explorers who traversed deserts, scaled mountains, and sailed into the unknown. From Ice Age migrations to space travel, combining theatrical techniques with charismatic storytelling for compelling intellectual entertainment.

Saturday 2 August | Llewellyn Hall- ANU, Building 100, William Herbert Place | lateralevents.com

Ballet International Gala: BIG VI

Ballet’s biggest international stars from the Royal Ballet, Australian Ballet, and more perform in what’s widely regarded as ballet’s event of the year. Following a sell-out debut season, don’t miss this opportunity to experience ballet at its absolute best.

Saturday 2 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Julius Caesar

Shakespeare’s bloodiest political tragedy storms into Canberra with chilling contemporary relevance. Chaika Theatre’s gender-blind production reimagines the assassination of Caesar in modern dress, transforming suits for togas and placing audiences in the heart of Rome’s political machinations.

With Canberra’s corridors of power just beyond the theatre doors, this stripped-back adaptation finds eerie resonance as it explores themes of manipulation, democratic crisis, and the brutal cost of political ambition. Director Caitlin Baker leads a dynamic cast of 11, including Michael Sparks as Caesar and Lachlan Ruffy as the conflicted Brutus, in a production that reflects our turbulent political landscape.

Until Saturday 2 August, various times | ACT Hub, Kingston | acthub.com.au

It’s the Vibe! The Castle Film Screening

Celebrate the Constitution’s spirit by watching Australia’s 1997 comedy-drama classic, following the Kerrigan family’s fight against eviction. After the film, tour the ‘Voices/Dhuniai: Federation, democracy and the Constitution’ gallery to see Australia’s original Constitution signed by Queen Victoria.

Tuesday 5 August | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue, Parkes | naa.gov.au

Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour 

Two and a half hours of heart-pounding action featuring six extraordinary short films showcasing fearless female adventurers? We’ll see you there. From Alpine mountaineering to cave diving with Jill Heinerth, mountain biking with Robin Goomes, and BASE jumping in the Canadian Rockies. One screening only – powerful testaments to human potential suitable for all ages.

Tuesday 5 August | National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit | gutsygirlsadventurefilmtour.com.au

Canberra Comedy Club featuring Frankie McNair

Frankie McNair headlines this month’s comedy night, fresh from Channel 10’s Thank God You’re Here and Just for Laughs Sydney. The 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Best Newcomer winner brings their mix of standup, sketch, and queer vibes. The show will feature Carlo Ritchie as MC plus Felix McCarthy, Anneli Cole, Icky and Billie Miles.

Wednesday 6 August | Fun Time Pony, 122 Alinga Street, City | comedyact.com.au

Cinema & Sips at Verity Lane Market

This is a free monthly movie screening featuring fan-favourite films on the first Thursday of each month. Enjoy dinner from Market Hall vendors, fresh buttered popcorn, themed cocktails from the in-venue bar, and a cozy community atmosphere. Bookings available but walk-ins welcome – follow their socials for film announcements.

Thursday 7 August | Verity Lane Market, 50 Northbourne Avenue | veritylanemarket.com.au

Jeremy Smith – ImMature

Jeremy returns with an encore performance asking where life went wrong and how to finally grow up. A hilarious exploration of maturity, or lack thereof, from one of Canberra’s comedy talents in this intimate theatre setting.

Thursday 7 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Sarah Ison – You Laugh, Therefore I Am

Sarah turns from Tumblr wisdom to classical philosophy, exploring hundreds of years of thinking from Plato to Pavlov in this uproarious stand-up sketch show. Despite all efforts to “live, laugh, love” her way out of existential dread, she’s still searching for life’s point. Spoiler: there isn’t one.

Thursday 7 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Nick Starkey & Charlotte Kuruc – The Marketplace of Bad Ideas

From the authors of Homer’s Odyssey comes “something else” entirely. With the world collapsing, maybe good ideas aren’t working – so what about bad ideas? Charlotte and Nick only have bad ideas, but that might just work in this quirky comedy performance.

Thursday 7 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

The Unholy Trinity of Music, Death and Politics

Three unlikely performers tackle life’s darkest realities with humor. Death doula Stell Muses finds comedy in life’s end, aspiring politician Seany Boy delivers government absurdities, and IT nerd Nathan combines tech geekery with musical comedy. No topic is off-limits in this wildly entertaining show.

Friday 8 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Pizza & Pyjamas at the NFSA

Family-friendly Friday night screening in your comfiest PJs? Yes, please! Bring teddy bears and blankets for this cosy cinema experience with pizza included on arrival. It’s perfect for families wanting a relaxed movie night in a unique venue setting.

Friday 8 August | National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton | tickets.nfsa.gov.au

The Women’s Room – Underestimated

The third iteration of The Women’s Room breaks the ‘threequel’ curse as Trish Hurley, Tan Losanno and Jacqui Richards return with brand new material. These queens of comedy draw on their busy lives as women of a certain age, proving there’s good reason the queen is the most powerful piece on the chessboard.

Friday 8 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Positive Space & Science Themed Film Festival

Experience a one-of-a-kind celebration of indie filmmaking that inspires hope, unity, and the boundless possibilities of a better future. This National Science Week event features an incredible lineup of award-winning futuristic sci-fi and documentary short films from talented filmmakers who dare to dream big. Champions optimism and creativity in storytelling while spotlighting an underrated yet profoundly uplifting genre. Family discounts available.

Saturday 9 August | Dendy Cinemas Canberra, 148 Bunda Street, City | sfcfilms.com

Tom Gibson – Bored & Scared

Tom Gibson explores the age-old debate about which generation had it best through hilarious stories about youth’s pitfalls and adulthood’s frustrations. Filled with contradictions, clichés, and historical rewrites, this show appeals to anyone who’s argued their childhood was the best or worst. An hour of fun and nostalgia with trivial observations and silly jokes in the most unnecessarily animated ways possible.

Saturday 9 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Pirates of the Caribbean Trio at the NFSA

From a 15-minute Disney theme-park ride to a swashbuckling film franchise that captivated global audiences, you can’t deny the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Experience the cunning, theatrical Captain Jack Sparrow alongside compelling performances from Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush, and Bill Nighy in the first three films: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Dead Man’s Chest, and At World’s End. A treasure-trove of pirate-themed adventure awaits.

Saturday 9 until Saturday 23 August | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton | tickets.nfsa.gov.au

The Chosen Vessel By Dylan Van Den Berg

Award-winning Palawa playwright Dylan Van Berg presents this bold reimagining of Barbara Baynton’s Australian classic. A young Aboriginal woman living in the bush faces her fears when a white Swagman arrives seeking food and water. This gothic horror, directed by Kalkadoon woman Abbie-lee Lewis and featuring Meriam/Badulaig woman Laila Thaker and Craig Alexander, asks audiences to reflect on what they choose to see and wilfully ignore. Content Warning: Mature themes including domestic violence, sexual assault, racism, colonial violence.

Saturday 9 until Sunday 24 August | The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, City | thestreet.org.au

Midwife Crisis – LOL Season

Seasoned midwife Sarah Stewart is back on the stage to reflect on 40 years of birthing babies, corralling a hopeless husband, and wondering where her kids disappeared to this time. Now past 60, she’s trading delivery rooms for bucket lists and swapping forceps for funeral plans. Special guest Jelin Palm, aka “Jellybean Comedy,” joins this hilarious exploration of life, love, and the Labour Ward from a midwife who’s seen it all.

Saturday 9 August | The Courtyard, Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Tommy Little – I’m Not Proud

Comedic powerhouse Tommy Little brings his brand-new hour of stand-up focusing on life’s less successful moments. The beloved radio co-host of Network Drive’s Carrie & Tommy delivers sharp wit, hilarious banter, and engaging storytelling guaranteed to keep audiences laughing from beginning to end. Winner of the Weekly Award at Adelaide Fringe 2024, Tommy’s high-energy performance features outrageous tales and non-stop entertainment.

Saturday 9 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

2025 Hurtigruten Scandinavian Film Festival

Discover the best of Nordic cinema at the 2025 Hurtigruten Scandinavian Film Festival, featuring diverse films from across Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Iceland. The festival’s unmissable centrepiece is SENTIMENTAL VALUE, this year’s Cannes Grand Prix winner starring Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgård.

From gripping wartime drama NUMBER 24 to Iceland’s black comedy hit GRAND FINALE, there’s something for every taste. Highlights include visually stunning THE MOUNTAIN featuring Björk’s daughter, compelling healthcare drama SECOND VICTIMS, and the 25th anniversary screening of beloved romantic comedy JALLA! JALLA!

Experience authentic Nordic storytelling from Scandinavia’s most exciting contemporary filmmakers.

Until Sunday 10 August | Palace Electric Cinema, 2 Phillip Law Street, Acton | scandinavianfilmfestival.com

Sooshi Mango – Home Made Encore

These comedy superstars return with encore performances after 39 sold-out shows last year. Joe Salanitri, Carlo Salanitri, and Andrew Manfre deliver outrageousness, characters, skits, and musical numbers inspired by their beloved family. See classic characters Johnny, Vince, and Sam, plus favourite mums Carmela, Angela, and Giuseppina, before they retreat for pizza, pasta, and wine hibernation.

Sunday 10 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Daniel Connell: Box-Headed Manbaby

This Aussie comedian is known for delivering affable, lovable, and hilarious observational comedy. Daniel Connell’s dry, often unanticipated humour has taken him to stages all over Australia, with his unique comedic style combining relatability with unexpected twists, making for an entertaining evening of stand-up comedy that showcases the best of Australian humour.

Thursday 14 August | The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, City | alist.com.au

The Big Bike Film Night

A mission bringing the world’s best short cycling films together! Cycle through two and a half hours of thrilling, moving bike-related films with action, drama, humour and inspiration. From northern Pakistan to Scottish Highlands, experience exotic locations and captivating stories designed for two-wheel devotees. Plus, win a Great Rides of New Zealand holiday!

Monday 18 August | Kambri at ANU, Tangney Road, Cultural Centre Building 153, Acton | bigbikefilmnight.nz

$8 Collection Selection at Arc Cinema

The NFSA’s accessible film series showcases compelling Australian films Petersen and Blessed from the national collection. Experience significant works from Australian cinema history at an affordable price point this winter.

Thursday 21 August | National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton | tickets.nfsa.gov.au

The Drawer Boy – Mockingbird Theatre Company

Experience Canada’s multi-award winning modern classic in this brilliantly touching and often hilarious production. When young city actor Miles moves in with aging bachelor farmers Morgan and Angus to research a new play, he discovers more than he bargained for.

Intrigued by Angus, who suffered brain damage during WWII, and gently tormented by Morgan for his rural ignorance, Miles attempts farm life with varying success. But when he includes an overheard story in his play, he unwittingly breaks open the fragile pattern of the farmers’ lives. This elegant testimony to fiction’s transcendent nature and truth’s healing power has earned rave reviews and major awards including the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama.

Thursday 21 to Saturday 30 August, 7:30 pm (plus Saturday 2 pm matinee) | Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank | belcoarts.com.au/drawer-boy

We Don’t Have Time For This: Who Is She?

After two sold-out tours, the hit podcast girls return with an all-new musical comedy show. Gem and Revz deliver high-energy comedy, music and audience interaction exploring millennial motherhood, relationships and womanhood in 2025. Expect big laughs, raw honesty and signature no-filter chats about life with kids, friendships and partner drama.

Saturday 23 August| Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Shakenspeare: Faketh till you maketh

You’ve never seen The Bard like this before. Lightbulb Improv returns to Canberra Theatre Centre with their beloved comedy show that creates two fully improvised Shakespearean masterpieces based on a single audience suggestion. Nothing is planned or written in advance–all dialogue is devised on the spot and characters created as you watch. Each performance opens with a classic comedy of love and lightness before ending with a tragedy that inevitably slides into side-splitting comedy.

Created by Shakespearean actor and director Heidi Silberman, this spontaneous theatre showcases timeless storytelling fundamentals with modern flair. Expect the unexpected as Canberra’s premier improv troupe delivers comedy gold through the unpredictable art of “faketh till you maketh”.

22–24 August, various times | Courtyard Studio, Canberra Theatre Centre | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Der Rosenkavalier

The National Opera presents a fast-paced, thoughtfully condensed version of Richard Strauss’s beloved opera in under 90 minutes. This accessible adaptation features a poignant love triangle between the worldly Marschallin, young Octavian, and innocent Sophie. Experience the charm, emotional nuance and elegance of this enduring work, exploring themes of time, passion, and letting go.

Saturday 23 until Sunday 31 August | The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, City | thestreet.org.au

Crowns & Chaos: A Royal Court of Hearts & Shadows

One night only–a decadent cabaret convenes Canberra’s thespian royalty donning masks, madness and monarchy alongside the fools who claim the crown. This formidable cast steps into the Queen’s Royal Court as players possessed by their masks in a sly meditation on power, performance and the fragile line between identity and role. A masquerade of music, absurdity and theatre where laughter and terror dance hand-in-hand, beauty and madness blur, and every act toys with a deeper question: are we playing the character, or has the character taken possession of us?

This decadent theatre-cabaret sees music, clowning, tragedy and spectacle collide as shadows spill across velvet and laughter cracks into unease. Arrive early for feasting and atmosphere before the Trial of Chaos unfolds in this transportive night of revelry, tomfoolery, heartbreak and theatrical mischief.

Friday 29 August, doors 7.30pm/show 8.30pm | Dissent Bar & Café | events.humanitix.com

Top Dog Film Festival

Calling all dog lovers! This is a heartwarming celebration of canine connections featuring touching stories of remarkable dogs and their humans. This two-plus-hour cinematic experience showcases short films from independent filmmakers worldwide, capturing the joy, loyalty and unconditional love that make dogs our treasured companions. One screening only with unallocated seating – arrive early for best seats.

Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 August | National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton | topdogfilmfestival.com.au

Luke Kidgell – Good Intentions

Luke kicks off his World Tour in Australia with his brand-new show. Known for viral crowd-work interactions leading to hilarious encounters, Luke insists he means well despite impulsive thoughts. After touring US, Canada, NZ and Europe, he returns home to prove he really does have good intentions. By entering, you agree to filming for promotional purposes.

Thursday 28 August | Llewellyn Hall, 100 William Herbert Place, ANU, Acton | llewellynhall.com.au

Cult Classics with Venus Mantrap: To Die For

The Warped Winter mini-series features live performances by drag artist and culture warrior Venus Mantrap. This screening of the 1995 film To Die For combines classic cinema with drag performance, offering audiences a unique cultural experience that blends film appreciation with live entertainment in the distinctive Venus Mantrap style.

Friday 29 August| National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton |tickets.nfsa.gov.au

Romeo & Juliet

Shakespeare’s greatest love story is portrayed with elegance and clarity for first-timers and aficionados alike in this stage show by Bell Shakespeare. After a chance meeting, intense but forbidden love ignites between Romeo and Juliet despite their families’ violent feud. This raw, critically acclaimed production by Peter Evans features Madeline Li as Juliet and Ryan Hodson as Romeo in an exquisite portrayal of passion, intensity and heartbreak.

Friday 29 August until Sunday 7 September | Canberra Theatre Centre, 180 London Circuit, City | bellshakespeare.com.au

God of Carnage – Echo Theatre

Experience Yasmina Reza’s brilliant “comedy of manners, without the manners” as Echo Theatre’s critically acclaimed production returns! When two couples meet to discuss a playground incident between their eleven-year-old sons, what begins amicably quickly deteriorates into accusations, recriminations, jealousy, and rage.

Set in Canberra with a vibrant new twist, this fast-paced comedy features ageing parents, drug side effects, abandoned hamsters, drinking, fighting, projectile vomiting, and the destruction of some rather lovely tulips. Director Jordan Best asks: “Boys will be boys, but can the grown-ups be grown up enough?”

Friday 29 – Sunday 31 August 2025 | The Q, Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre | Book at theq.net.au

Music

Illy – The Good-er Life Tour

Following Illy’s 3rd ARIA number one album “Good Life”, the explosive live show brings high octane energy with certified classics and new hits. The mammoth 27-date party tour features the band delivering their litany of hits to stages nationwide this August. Catch them in Canberra on Friday 1 August.

Friday 1 August | University of Canberra, UC Hub, 1 Kirinari Street, Bruce | Book here.

International Blues Music Day

Seven hours of live blues music celebrating International Blues Music Day? Don’t miss this special event featuring with brilliant local and interstate musicians, including Barrow of Fiends, Don Morrison, Jesse Redwing Band, Roshani, and Checkerboard Lounge. As John Lee Hooker said, “The Blues tells a story. Every line of the Blues has a meaning.”

Saturday 2 August | Harmonie German Club, 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah | facebook.com

Hollywood’s Greatest Songs

Art Song Canberra welcomes back soprano Lorina Gore and tenor Andrew Goodwin in Tea for Two, featuring songs and duets from the Golden Age of Hollywood. The award-winning performers present classic numbers from the American Songbook, including duets from Kiss Me Kate, Oklahoma and West Side Story, plus Cole Porter’s Tea For Tea immortalised by Doris Day. Accompanied by Anthony Smith, this collaboration showcases Gore’s exquisite soprano and Goodwin’s crystalline tenor.

Sunday 3 August| Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest | trybooking.com

The Subject Tonight is Love

This promises to be an inspiring evening combining Persian poetry and music, exploring human existence and love. Drawing from 12th-13th century poets Rumi, Sa’adi, Khayam and Hafez, plus modern poems by Dr Zahra Taheri, accompanied by the Jazmourian Ensemble performing Persian setar, kamancheh and voice.

Monday 4 August | Larry Sitsky Recital Room, ANU School of Music, 100 William Herbert Place | music.cass.anu.edu.au

Musical Theatre Songs – A Journey

The Wesley Music Centre Wednesday Lunchtime series presents soprano Madeline Anderson and pianist Hilda Visser-Scott in a delightful program featuring classic songs from musical theatre. This intimate performance will transport audiences through some of the most enjoyable moments in musical theatre history, showcasing beloved songs in the beautiful acoustics of Wesley Music Centre.

Wednesday 6 August | Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest | trybooking.com

The Simon & Garfunkel Story

Go along to see the fascinating tale of how two boys from Queens became the world’s most successful music duo. From 50s rock’n’roll duo Tom & Jerry through their dramatic split to the legendary 1981 Central Park reunion concert, it will feature all the hits, including Mrs Robinson, Bridge Over Troubled Water, and The Sound of Silence with full band.

Friday 8 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Teeny Tiny Stevies’ Brain Fart Tour

Bring the whole family for the most wholesome live gig around! Teeny Tiny Stevies delight littlies and bring LOLs for parents, making the old feel young and young feel like grown-ups. Everyone meets in the middle for a rocking good time featuring the biggest hits and new tunes from their album ‘Brain Fart’. Expect dancing, sing-alongs, and ridiculous collective joy.

Saturday 9 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | teenytinystevies.com

Kenny Rogers and Friends Tribute Show

Graham Toole brings 25 years of tribute performance experience to this celebration of Kenny Rogers’ music. After performing with Las Vegas Legends at Crown Casino, Graham showcases his passion for country music greats including Glen Campbell and John Denver. Winner of the 2004 Frank Ifield International Spur Award, Graham’s musical journey began at age 12 and has included supporting John Williamson in his Old Man Emu days.

Saturday 9 August | Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden, 92-96 Corinna Street, Woden | premier.ticketek.com.au

Cool Music: Hot Brass!

ConneXion and Blamey Street Big Bands unite for the Canberra Big Band Collective at the Polish Club. Enjoy a pleasant afternoon of swing, jazz standards, and contemporary arrangements performed by some of Canberra’s finest brass musicians. A perfect way to spend Sunday afternoon with friends, good music, and great atmosphere.

Sunday 10 August | Polish White Eagle Club in Turner, 38 David Street, Turner | facebook.com

Bach & Beyond

The Wesley Wednesday Lunchtime series welcomes back the accomplished organist Callum Tolhurst-Close in a recital inspired by the great J. S. Bach.

Wednesday 13 August, 12.40–1.20 pm | Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest | trybooking.com/CYREM

Second World War Memorial Concert – ‘Greater Love’

Commemorate 80 years since the Pacific peace declaration with a multi-sensory concert narrated by John Bell AO OBE. Features Canberra Symphony Orchestra, ADF musicians, guest soloists, and choirs performing specially composed music honouring women, Indigenous Australians, medical services, and all branches of military service. One night only emotional tribute to those who served.

Friday 15 August | Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music, Building 100, Acton | flowersofpeace.com.au

Ruby Fields “Half the Laugh” Tour

Ruby Fields celebrates her latest release with The Beefs as support. Expect to hear tracks from ‘Half The Laugh’ plus new songs in this energetic tour stop. Known for her authentic indie rock sound and engaging live performances, Ruby promises an unforgettable night of music with her best mates providing the perfect warm-up.

Friday 15 August | University of Canberra, 1 Kirinari Street, UC Hub, Bruce | ucx.canberra.edu.au

Takács Quartet & Angie Milliken 

The renowned Takács Quartet, formed in 1975, celebrates 50 years with Haydn’s ‘Rider’ Quartet and Beethoven’s third ‘Razumovsky’ Quartet. Features a major new work for string quartet and spoken voice by Australian composer Cathy Milliken, inspired by Bertolt Brecht’s American poetry, performed with actor Angie Milliken. Timeless chamber music meets contemporary storytelling.

Saturday 16 August | Llewellyn Hall, ANU, William Herbert Place, Building 100, Acton | musicaviva.com.au

Claire Edwardes: Joyful Melodies

Australia’s percussion sorceress showcases marimba and vibraphone talents in solo music ranging from Bach to contemporary Australian composers. Features works by Elena Kats-Chernin written for Claire’s daughters, Ross Edwards’ classic Marimba Dances, and collaborations with Ella Macens and Kate Moore. Includes waterphone demonstrations in this unique concert experience.

Saturday 16 August | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street North, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com

Hottest Hot August Night – Hits of Diamond & Olivia NJ

One of music history’s biggest concert events becomes one of the biggest tributes honouring Neil Diamond and Olivia Newton-John! Michael Zammit delivers Diamond’s hits as if at the Greek Theatre, while Jenn Allas captures Olivia’s melodious trademark sound. Classic hits include Sweet Caroline, Physical, I Honestly Love You, and songs from Grease and Xanadu.

Saturday 16 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City| canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Seb Sazabo

Seb Szabo is letting his guard down. The charming Melbourne songwriter shares heartfelt, cinematic fragments of his life for dreamers, road-trippers & everyday people.

Building a groundswell of loyal followers by performing in unique live spaces (backyards, warehouses), Szabo’s lyric-driven singalongs capture the colours of romance: dancing in the kitchen, crushing on strangers, exploring new cities, getting ghosted, and imagining then dashing entire futures over a cup of coffee.

Sunday 17 August, 4–6 pm, Smith’s Alternative Upstairs, 76 Alinga Street, Canberra | smithsalternative.com

The Kransky Sisters – Assorted Nuts

The strange but endearing musical sisters from Esk stir up a spicy, nutty mix of their hot hits. From ABBA, Sia, and P!nk to Daft Punk, Steppenwolf, and AC/DC, hear well-known songs reimagined on musical saw, tuba, old keyboard, and kitchen pots. This oddball trio’s bizarre and utterly funny show is described as “a cross between the Sugababes and the Adams Family.”

Sunday 17 August | The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, City | thestreet.org.au

ARC presents Pink Floyd

Australian Rock Collective supergroup – Kram (Spiderbait), Darren Middleton (Powderfinger), Mark Wilson (Jet) and Davey Lane (You Am I) – perform Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here and Dark Side of the Moon. Four living legends with a combined 33 ARIA Awards bring rabid fan enthusiasm with legacy skills and experience to one of Australia’s most successful supergroups.

Sunday 17 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

From Beethoven to the Beatles

The Wesley Music Centre Lunchtime Concert series welcomes talented young musicians from Canberra Girls Grammar School, who will perform music by Mozart, Beethoven, Shostakovich, Handel, Leavitt, McCartney and Bayer-Sager.

Wednesday 20 August| Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest |   trybooking.com/CYREM 

Edith Pageaud, Guitar Virtuoso

Child prodigy turned international star, Pageaud earned her Diplôme d’Études Musicales by age 14. Her program opens with Philip Glass and Heinrich Biber, features emotive Schubert arrangements, Messiaen’s transcendental soundscapes, virtuosic Scriabin and Rachmaninov, sultry Piazzolla tango, and concludes with Tansman’s rhythmic Passacaille. An evening of profound artistry and technical brilliance.

Wednesday 20 August | Albert Hall, Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla | concertsaustralia.com

Australian Haydn Ensemble presents Haydn’s Miracle

The Australian Haydn Ensemble performs Haydn, Beethoven and Mozart with convincing spirit and sophistication. This concert features Haydn’s Miracle Symphony and Fantasia Quartet alongside Schubert’s Rosamunde Quartet and Purcell’s Fantasia No. 8. All pieces are performed on period instruments, bringing audiences as close as possible to the sound-world the composers themselves knew and loved.

Thursday 21 August | Wesley Music Centre, 22 National Circuit, Forrest | australianhaydn.com.au

Russell Morris

Australian music icon Russell Morris embarks on his Farewell Tour in spectacular style with Australia’s finest musicians, lush strings and a smokin’ hot band. Hear all classic hits from The Real Thing and Sweet Sweet Love to his celebrated blues trilogy. This ultimate showcase of an incredible musical journey could be your last chance to see Russell perform these legendary songs live.

Thursday 21 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Haydn’s Miracle

The Australian Haydn Ensemble performs with “convincing spirit and sophistication,” featuring Haydn’s “Miracle” Symphony and “Fantasia” Quartet, Schubert’s “Rosamunde” Quartet and Purcell’s Fantasia No. 8. All played on period instruments, bringing you as close as possible to the sound-world the composers knew and loved.

Thursday 21 August | Wesley Music Centre, 22 National Circuit, Forrest | australianhaydn.com.au

Harmonic Currents

The Wesley Wednesday Lunchtime series introduces the talented young pianist May Li in a program of works by J.S. Bach, Mozart, Chopin and Miriam Hyde.

Wednesday 27 August, 12.40–1.20 pm | Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest | trybooking.com

Smiths at Belco: Tim Freedman

After the sold-out Love This City 25 Years tour, Tim Freedman strips things back for an intimate cabaret experience. Journey through his repertoire, hear untold stories about Whitlams songs genesis, and enjoy highlights from his nine-album catalogue including “Blow Up the Pokies” and “No Aphrodisiac,” plus recent country detours from The Whitlams Black Stump album.

Saturday 30 August | The Theatre, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.

The Complete Roll-Bag

The recorder (flauto dolce) is best known in modern times for being a terror in primary school classrooms; but in the Baroque period, it was one of the leading treble instruments. Like all the instruments of that age, it came in a variety of sizes for different pitches, ranging from the tiny sopranino through to the bass recorder.

Join Apeiron and special guest, Alana Blackburn, as they showcase the full gamut of recorders in the hands of a master player! Music by CPE Bach, Barbella, Fiorenza, Matteis, Pandolfi, Graupner and more.

Sunday, 31 August, 4:30 pm  |Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest | apeiron-baroque.com

Sounds of the East Children’s Concert

Pre-concert concert for young children and families.

30 minutes of music, and instrumental show and tell in a relaxed and informal setting. Perfect for young ones who are curious about music but might not have the attention to sit through the full main concert!

With guest artists Lily Eyland (Shakuhachi), Vaishnavi Muddam (Veena)

Sunday, 31 August, 3 pm  |Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest | apeiron-baroque.com

Exhibitions

Maree Clark: Seeing the Invisible

Showcasing supersized Reed Necklaces by Yorta Yorta/Wamba Wamba/Mutti Mutti/Boonwurrung artist Maree Clarke. These monumental works honour cultural strength while calling attention to beauty and deep loss. Clarke’s practice draws on extensive research into cultural materials, grounded in community, connection to Country, and cultural revival.

Saturday 2 August until Sunday 23 November | Canberra Museum + Gallery, 176 London Circuit, City | cmag.com.au

Wandering: Near & Far – Millie Black

Discover the profound connection between people and the natural world through emerging artist Millie Black’s captivating solo exhibition. Based on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, Black is a painter and textile artist whose multidisciplinary practice explores atmosphere and ground through painterly brushstrokes. Her works—at once quiet and monumental—reimagine landscapes both near and distant as sites of care, reverence, and shared belonging.

Hovering between the real and sublime, these pieces invite reflection on our relationship to wilderness, encouraging viewers to recognize these places not just as scenic, but as part of who we are. Join the artist for opening drinks and explore this research-led practice that blends environmental inquiry with poetic material expression.

Saturday 2 to Sunday 31 August – opening drinks Saturday 2 August, 3–5 pm | Suki & Hugh Gallery, 38A Gibraltar Street, Bungendore | sukihugh.com.au

INTO THE VOID

This presents surreal digital collages exploring physical, intellectual and emotional boundaries through imagined spaces featuring a common female figure caught between reality and fantasy, trauma and healing.

Until Sunday 3 August | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au

Inside the Outside

This showcases 30 years of natural environment paintings through oil paintings, charcoal drawings and mixed media studies encouraging appreciation of the Australian bush.

Until Sunday 3 August | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com

The Space and Time Continuum Project 

This exhibition unites long-time friends in their first collaborative exhibition, bridging distance through small paintings and sculptures and exploring connections across time and geography.

Until Sunday 3 August | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au

Under Stories

Nicola Dickson’s first solo exhibition with Grainger Gallery explores the complex histories of the Box Gum Grassy Woodland ecosystem on Ngunnawal Country. Inspired by daily walks through Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve, the exhibition features paintings of elusive woodland birds and their habitats, highlighting fragile biodiversity. The works examine shifting human interactions with the landscape, from Indigenous connections to European settlement impacts. Dickson juxtaposes native plants with weeds in drawings that become digitally printed wallpaper and fabrics, incorporated into installations that speak to colonial transformation of these woodlands. Some paintings re-ascribe Wiradjuri names to understorey plants, exploring alternate understandings of Country.

Until Sunday 3 August | Grainger Gallery, Building 3.3, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | graingergallery.com.au

holy arm gauntlet

Tom Campbell’s recent work positions embroidery as a location for disagreement, exploring how the act of disagreeing both forges and fractures connection. Through textiles and poetry, the Kadazan/Scottish artist traces muscle memories across his lineages, investigating how poetry might navigate the bodily sensation of being ‘in disagreement.’

Thursday 7 August until Wednesday 20 September | Craft + Design Canberra, 180 London Circuit, Level 1, North Building | craftanddesigncanberra.org

Material Transformations

Emma Bingham, Svenja Kratz and Sarah Stubbs explore how the body holds and sheds material memories through making. Working with paper, clay, thread, cell and surface, they investigate how physical matter can highlight emotional residues and deeply personal utterances, asking what transformation means to our physical and emotional bodies.

Thursday 7 August until Wednesday 20 September | Craft + Design Canberra, 180 London Circuit, Level 1, North Building | craftanddesigncanberra.org

BACKBONE

BACKBONE celebrates the creative work of ANU School of Art & Design’s technical staff – the quiet workforce behind the creative studios who share knowledge, ensure process integrity, and provide fundamental support for artistic exploration. This group exhibition features nine technical staff members who are makers, artists, and creatives in their own right.

The exhibition showcases work by Emma Beer, Estelle Briedis, Sean Booth, Chris ‘Walrus’ Dalzell, Louis Grant, John Hart, Mahala Hill, Catherine Newton, and Emeirely Nucifora-Ryan. These professional creative practitioners form the backbone of the School, supporting students and faculty while pursuing their own artistic practices.

BACKBONE highlights the often-overlooked contributions of technical staff who enable artistic education and research.

Until Friday 8 August | School of Art & Design Gallery, Corner Liversidge Street & Ellery Crescent, Acton | soad.cass.anu.edu.au

Landscapes of Motherhood

This is a solo exhibition of acrylic and mixed media paintings reflecting the ongoing experience of early parenthood. Kelsie White explores motherhood’s emotional and transformative nature through dreamlike landscapes, offering candid and resonant portrayal that invites viewers to contemplate their own emotional landscapes and experiences of change.

Friday 8 until Sunday 31 August | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com

In Awe

Daniel Allam draws inspiration from coastal regions and landscape life during daily walks around Eurobodalla Shire. Through painting, he invites viewers to share his awe as a reminder to embrace and be embraced by nature. This solo exhibition celebrates the natural world and our connection to it through artistic expression.

Friday 8 until Sunday 31 August | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com

Testamur 7

 The 7th annual exhibition presents artworks created in or inspired by CAW workshops, courses, and art groups. Featuring drawing, painting, pastel, mixed media, printmaking, and sculpture, Testamur 7 celebrates boundary-pushing artworks and showcases the educational journey of CAW artists. A diverse display of creative growth and artistic exploration.

Friday 8 until Sunday 31 August | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com

Australia’s Home Front: 1939-1945

Explore everyday Australians’ vital role during WWII on the home front, from “make do and mend” to war bonds and women’s auxiliary work. Features unique objects and stories from Canberra and beyond, including the city’s surprising Manhattan Project connection. Presents resilience, innovation, and quiet heroism of those who supported the war effort, marking 80 years since the conflict’s end.

Saturday 9 August until 1 February 2026 | Canberra Museum + Gallery, 176 London Circuit, Canberra | cmag.com.au

Canberra Contemporary Photographic Prize 2025

The opening of the Canberra Contemporary Photographic Prize 2025 celebrates the breadth of photo media practice in Australia. This annual exhibition and competition showcases works by 40 artists from across the country, offering a compelling window into the realities that have shaped our world over the past two years. The exhibition demonstrates the diverse forms and methods of contemporary photographic practice, from traditional techniques to cutting-edge digital approaches.

Until Saturday 9 August | photo access, 30 Manuka Circuit, Griffith | photoaccess.org.au

The Land Remembers

The Land Remembers celebrates the poetic bond shared with the earth through works by twelve artists including Alex Ash, Millie Black, Mariana Del Castillo, and Anna Fitzpatrick. Across mountains, valleys, deserts and gardens, the exhibition explores how land holds our footsteps, whispers and dreams long after we are gone. The artists translate the quiet power of landscape into works that invite viewers to slow down, breathe, and listen. Each piece serves as a love letter to place—capturing shifting light at dusk, gentle curves of distant hills, and endless horizons that stir something ancient within us. The exhibition invites reconnection with timeless memory and the romance of being part of something enduring.

Until Saturday 9 August | Grainger Gallery, Building 3.3, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | graingergallery.com.au

Wish You Were Here – Community Exhibition

Discover the beauty and uniqueness of Canberra’s South through this community exhibition curated from an open call for small works. Local artists reflect on the Tuggeranong Valley and South Canberra environment, sharing what makes their region special through diverse artistic expressions.

From everyday joys to memorable moments, this collection celebrates the things that bring delight to those who live, work, and visit this vibrant part of the capital. A heartfelt tribute to community connection and place, showcasing the artistic talent flourishing in Canberra’s southern suburbs.

Until Saturday 9 August | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com

True: Kevin Gilbert (1933-1993)

Celebrate the life and legacy of Kevin Gilbert through this powerful exhibition of prints and poetry marking what would have been his 92nd year. Featuring images and poetry created during his lifetime alongside works edited for the first time, this tribute explores Gilbert’s core themes of spiritual presence and cultural survival.

Through lino prints, poetry, and photography, witness how Gilbert’s work enhanced the cultural survival of his people against colonial oppression. A moving testament to an artist, writer, and activist whose vision continues to inspire and educate.

Until Saturday 9 August | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com

From Country – Rechelle Turner & Megan Daley

Experience the deep-rooted connection to Country through this collaborative exhibition by Megan Daley (Ngunnawal/Wiradjuri) and Rechelle Turner (Wiradjuri). “From Country” explores timeless stories, heritage, and identity through the lens of their artistic partnership that also birthed their fashion label, Corella & Crow.

This celebration of Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri cultures invites audiences to experience layers of belonging, wisdom, and spirit that inspire their creative journey. Discover how landscapes, cultural knowledge, and ancestral connections shape and sustain contemporary Indigenous artistic practice.

Until Saturday 9 August | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com

Fulcrum

Discover powerful contemporary Indigenous art at Canberra Glassworks as Walgalu/Wiradjuri artist Aidan Hartshorn explores colonial disruptions to ancestral land connections. Raised in Tumut where the Murrumbidgee and Tumut Rivers converge, Hartshorn examines how the Snowy Hydro Scheme development in the 1960s restricted his family’s cultural connections.

Using industrial materials including glass, concrete, steel rebar, and water – all linked to hydro construction – he creates striking works where glass is symbolically pierced and severed by fluorescent tubes. This compelling exhibition investigates themes of disconnection, destruction, and degradation while showcasing Hartshorn’s journey of crafting cultural objects, building on his acclaimed work “These Violent Delights.”

Until Sunday 10 August | Canberra Glassworks Main Gallery | canberraglassworks.com

The Philosopher’s Stone by Michael Desmon

In The Philosopher’s Stone, Michael Desmond draws an analogy between the pursuits of ancient alchemists—who sought to transform base metals into gold—and the artist’s own practice: attempting to elevate humble materials, such as fabric and coloured muds, into something more enduring and meaningful.

Desmond’s paintings do not depict his personal philosophies literally, but rather approach them through parable, metaphor, and visual simile. Themes such as chance, existence, society, divinity, violence, and human nature thread through the works—not as declarations, but as contemplative gestures shaped by time, introspection, and the social fabric we share.

The resulting images function as talismans more than treatises: suggestive rather than didactic, and open-ended rather than definitive. While they engage with weighty subjects, their tone leans toward wit and charm over provocation or profundity. Emerging from questions raised during lockdown and its aftermath, these paintings are intimate in scale and framed in elaborately hand-painted borders that evoke devotional icons, domestic fetishes, or even stray thoughts made tangible.

Though Desmond eschews the role of philosopher, this body of work is a painter’s playful engagement with the alchemical potential of image-making—seeking, if not gold, then something enduringly reflective.

Until Sunday 10 August | Platform, 19 Furneaux Street, Manuka | canberracontemporary.com.au

The Camera Unrepair Shop

The Camera Unrepair Shop combines installation, cyanotype process and performance to reflect on the nature of photography, its evolution, and the unseen labour behind film-based imagery. UK Frederick dismantles cameras, creating blueprints of their anatomy, subverting the usual production-to-waste narrative. This experimental work provokes contemplation about the current state of photography amid emerging technologies.

Thursday 14 August to Saturday 13 September | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circuit, Griffith | photoaccess.org.au

The Texans 1972-73

Unseen for over fifty years, these photographs capture 1970s Texas, revealing the tenor of American life in its most quirky and telling moments. Shot on a 35mm Leica, they offer an early glimpse into the practice of a filmmaker who would go on to become a pioneer of observational documentary.

The images sometimes resemble movie stills, marked by a constant interplay between stillness and movement, between formal composition and an inquisitive, roving eye.

Judith MacDougall brought a fresh perspective to the lives of horse-fanciers, promoters, cowhands, diner workers, bodybuilders, conventioneers, and car enthusiasts across the state.

Thursday 14 August to Saturday 13 September | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circuit, Griffith | photoaccess.org.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

Veiled Reflections by Elise Stanley

Veiled Reflections is an introspective exhibition by early-career artist Elise Stanley and includes a series of drawings and screen prints exploring the tension between fragility and strength, visibility and concealment. Centring on self-portraiture, Elise reflects on evolving perceptions of the fat, female body, shaped by lived experience and personal memory. This body of work continues her broader exploration of femininity, vulnerability, and autonomy through printmaking and drawing.

In challenging dominant narratives around the body, the exhibition reclaims space for softness, scale, and self-representation outside of normative ideals. Through materially sensitive and emotionally honest processes, the artist’s body — veiled, mutable, and powerful — is witnessed on its own terms.

Friday 15 to Sunday 31 August | Platform, 19 Furneaux St, Manuka | canberracontemporary.com.au

Shining: James Lieutenant and Kate Vassallo

Discover the beautiful artistic partnership of James Lieutenant and Kate Vassallo, who have shared a studio since graduating from ANU School of Art in 2010. “Shining” brings together their individual practices, united by shared passions for conceptually rigorous abstraction, process-driven making, and contemporary art. Lieutenant’s paintings explore art historical approaches with honest experimentation, balancing creation and illusion, while Vassallo’s intricate coloured pencil drawings build composition through controlled material density and complex rule systems. Both artists embrace repetitious, slow-moving creative processes that reveal the beauty of colour, light, time, and materiality working in harmony.

Until Friday 15 August, 9 am-5 pm weekdays | COX Gallery, 1/19 Eastlake Parade, Kingston | coxarchitecture.com.au

Four New Exhibitions at Tuggeranong Arts Centre

Discover four compelling exhibitions exploring art, mental health, and creative expression opening at Tuggeranong Arts Centre. “Patternmakers” features Vivienne Binns, Richard Blackwell, Ham Darroch, and Al Munro investigating pattern as visual phenomena and cognitive tool for processing complex problems. EASS Award winner Melanie Olde presents “Forest Growth,” woven artworks exploring emergence through plant growth algorithms and human-technology connections. Hank Reynolds’ debut solo show “Remedies” (curated by Christian Sirois) showcases his creative process as catharsis and mental health management tool. Vijaya Sen’s “Presence of Mind” features therapeutic works on paper including poetry, watercolour, and drawings from memory and dreams supporting her mental health recovery journey.

Thursday 15 August to Saturday 11 October | Tuggeranong Arts Centre | tuggeranongarts.com

Intentos de procesar una(s) vida(s) – Attempts at processing a life(s)

Experience the deeply personal artistic journey of mid-career artist Zoya Godoroja-Prieckaerts in her powerful dual-titled exhibition, Intentos de procesar una(s) vida(s) – Attempts at processing a life(s). This compelling collection of drawings and gestural printmaking explores different moments and emotive phases from the artist’s life over the past three years.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness raw artistic expression that transforms personal experience into universal emotional resonance.

Until Saturday 16 August | Megalo Print Studio + Gallery,  21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | megalo.org

Light Source

Phenomenological experience of expanded cinema meets the immersive possibilities of light projection. The utopian opportunities opened up by Len Lye’s 1935 hand-painted film A Colour Box are taken up with gusto by a multi-generational pool of artists including Len Lye, Dirk de Bruyn, Mike Leggett, Joan Brassil, Taree Mackenzie, Deirdre Feeney, Ellis D Fogg, Pia van Gelder, Hannah Gason, Ross Manning, Nicci Haynes and Teaching and Learning Cinema.

Together these artists celebrate the role of light, projection and performance in connection to the history and continuity of abstract and expanded cinema.

Curated by Associate Professor Martyn Jolly and Tony Oates.

Friday 22 August to Sunday 19 October | Drill Hall Gallery, Kingsley Street, Acton | dhg.anu.edu.au

HARD/SOFT

Four artists to watch expand what we think about printmaking in this ground-breaking exhibition. Fergus Berney-Gibson, Annabelle McEwen, Linda Sok and Maddison Wandel showcase experimental approaches including 3D prints, textiles and clay, pewter casts of architectural details and image transfers onto athletic socks.

Curated by Sydney collective More Than Reproduction, the exhibition explores contradictions in printmaking, focusing on the interplay between materials and the tension when hardness and softness converge, repel and transform.

This latest exhibition offers Canberra audiences an exciting chance to engage with contemporary Australian printmaking that transcends traditional works on paper.

Opening Friday 22 August, 5.30 pm; curator talk Saturday 4 October, 2pm | Megalo Print Studio, 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | megalo.org

rising tide (marea crescent)

In conjunction with Light Source, the Riverbend Room will feature rising tide (marea crescente), by NOT.

In his 2025 installation rising tide (marea crescente), the coloured glass that has made Murano famous since the Renaissance is infused with uranium. When lit with blacklight, the work glows with a petrochemical luminosity suggesting something toxic at play beneath its watery surface.

The city of Venice is famously sinking. In its fluctuating lagoons is a world of human debris linking to the earliest examples of human settlement in the region – all forming the basis of rising tide. In blown fluorescent aqua vessels swirled with specks of bronze and Italian marble clinging to ancient forms, the artist dredges up memory and plumes of hope.

Friday 22 August to Sunday 19 October | Riverbend Room, Drill Hall Gallery, Kingsley Street, Acton | dhg.anu.edu.au

Exhibition: 10 years of NAIDOC in the North

Celebrates a decade of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture presentations, showcasing special moments captured through performance, creativity and community engagement.

Until Sunday 24 August | The Window Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre | belcoarts.com.au

Djinindira (Ginninderra) by Bradley Mapiva

This exhibition reflects the Ngunnawal meaning “sparkling ray of light”, capturing the cultural significance of Ginninderra through patterns echoing riverlines, pathways and shimmering reflections.

Until Sunday 24 August | West Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre | belcoarts.com.au

Footsteps Through Country by Wilay Designs

This exhibition celebrates connection, growth and cultural strength through personal and collective journeys shaped by Country, guided by Old People and inspired by lived experiences.

Until Sunday 24 August | Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre | belcoarts.com.au

Home by Dominika Cady, Shawnah Cady, Hannah Langford & Eva-Lee Williams

Explore the varied meanings of “home” through four aspiring CIT Cultural Arts students’ interpretations ranging from physical spaces to childhood memories.

Until Sunday 24 August | Generator Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre | belcoarts.com.au

In Harmony with Nature

Strathnairn Arts presents a vibrant exhibition by The Magic of Artistry Group—Canberra artists Irina Bastrakova and Galina Amelina. This heartfelt showcase explores emotional connections between people and nature through photography, painting, and intricate gemstone artworks. The duo captures fleeting moments of beauty, stillness, and transformation, inviting viewers to pause and reconnect with nature and themselves. From Irina’s serene landscapes to Galina’s shimmering jewelry crafted from raw minerals, the exhibition celebrates the subtle wonders of our environment and everyday joy.

Until Sunday 24 August | Strathnairn Arts, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt | More information here.

Whirlygig and the Book by Heidi Smith

This is an experimental project consolidating multiple aspects of Smith’s art making, generating interconnected textiles, drawings and sculptural objects. The exhibition resembles an uncanny loom weaving ideas, tatterdemalion costumes and expressing the experience of advanced illness and disability. Viewers consider creative pursuits’ benefits for wellbeing, mental health support and regenerative interactions through multidisciplinary making.

Friday 29 August until Sunday 12 October | The Window Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.

Rescue by Lisa Jose

Go along to see sensitive portraits celebrating the compassion of rescue organisations and individuals caring for vulnerable animals. Lisa’s lifelong experience with rescue dogs and cats informs this exploration of the complexities in human-animal relationships. The exhibition invites contemplation of animal resilience and enduring trust while honouring the generosity embodying humanity’s best qualities.

Friday 29 August until Sunday 12 October | The Nook, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.

Aware by Savanna Storm

In this exhibition, you’ll see unique jewellery telling environmental stories and the imperative to repair our Earth. It will inspire you to move beyond gemstones as mere aesthetics to consider layered meanings inviting social, political and ethical dialogue. Each piece carries titles evoking positive connotations while revealing deeper backstories. Acquiring a piece makes you a custodian – passing the story on honours our Earth.

Friday 29 August until Sunday 12 October | West Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.

Around the Shimmering Lake by Rowena Evans

EASS Award recipient Evans investigates Lake Ginninderra’s shore and parkland, sharing place through sounds, sights, ambiences and impressions. Her research involves walking the lakeshore, observing, listening, drawing and collecting. The artwork considers relationships between theories, observations, distant hills and the physical satisfaction of making art, using materials from sites to link artwork to places.

Friday 29 August until Sunday 12 October | Generator Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | More information here.

Cézanne to Giacometti: Highlights from Museum Berggruen / Neue Nationalgalerie

Cézanne to Giacometti: Highlights from Museum Berggruen / Neue Nationalgalerie marks the first time works from this internationally significant collection will be seen in Australia. The exhibition presents a journey through the dynamic changes in European and Australian art in the twentieth century. Don’t miss it.

Until Saturday 21 September | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au

PARADISE*

This exhibition investigates the idea of the Pacific region still being thought of as a ‘paradise’, and the complex underbelly that actually exists. Through ceramics, painting, installation and photography, the artists included in this exhibition interrogate identity, queerness, connection, representation, and what it means to be Pasifika in today’s context of globalism, diaspora, migration and diversity. Ultimately, Paradise* is a vehicle for Pasifika/Australian artists to explore living between two (or three, or multiple) worlds, and is about (re)indiginisation, cultural revival, and strength in community.

Curated by Dan Toua and featuring work by Tivien Andrews-Homerang, Grace Hasu Dlabik, Sione Monū, Alexander Sarsfield, and Tearia Teaiwa Mortimer, Nicholas Mortimer & Katerina Teaiwa.

Until Sunday 4 October | Canberra Contemporary, 44 Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes | canberracontemporary.com.au

The Whole is Greater than the Sum of Her Parts

Play and create in The Whole is Greater than the Sum of Her Parts, a dedicated interactive space created by artist Sanné Mestrom. Building on artistic dialogues initiated by the exhibition Cézanne to Giacometti, Mestrom transforms abstract cubist forms into a playable adventure.

Until Saturday 21 September | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au

Mr Squiggle and Friends: The Creative World of Norman Hetherington

Meet beloved puppet Mr Squiggle and iconic characters in this free exhibition exploring 40 years of Australian children’s TV history and creative magic.

Until 13 October | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton | nma.gov.au

Camel trains to steel wheels

Explore a colourful chapter of Australia’s history at National Archives’ exhibition Camel trains to steel wheels: life on the Trans-Australian Railway.

This exhibition features fascinating archival records, photos and footage that captured the events and challenges from the railway’s first 60 years, including its impact on First Nations people.From the construction effort and its diverse workforce to the unique lives of communities that sprang up along the line, this is a must-see exhibition for those who revel in Australia’s railway history through time and place.

Until 19 October | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue,  Parkes | naa.gov.au

Outer Space: Stromlo to the Stars

Celebrating 100 years of Mount Stromlo Observatory, this interactive exhibition highlights groundbreaking astronomical discoveries and the vibrant community of scientists and families behind them. Features immersive installations, historical objects, and interactive activities perfect for all ages.

Until 16 November | Canberra Museum + Gallery, City | More information here.

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.

Until Sunday 22 February 2026 | Canberra Museum + Gallery, 176 London Circuit, City | cmag.com.au

A Total Work of Art: Sidney Nolan and the Stage

Celebrate 50 years of Nolan’s cultural legacy with the Canberra Museum and Gallery’s year-long program of exhibitions, concerts, talks, and a symposium. A Total Work of Art: Sidney Nolan and the Stage showcases Sidney Nolan’s dynamic stage designs for opera, ballet, and theatre. You’ll discover costumes, set designs, and the iconic “Lyrebird” costume from The Display, 1964.

Until 8 March 2026 | Canberra Museum + Gallery, City | More information here.

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

Reflection: 50 Years of the Australian Honours System

Discover the remarkable story of Australia’s honours system through a fascinating exhibition at the Royal Australian Mint. “Reflection” celebrates five decades of recognizing extraordinary Australians, featuring original medal sketches by Stuart Devlin, finished medals, and commemorative coins from the National Coin Collection.

Explore the journey from design concept to final recognition, including the 2003 Volunteers Fine Silver Proof Set, Afghanistan Medal displays, and stunning wattle-themed collectibles. This free exhibition honors over 500,000 Australians who have contributed to our nation’s spirit.

Now open | Royal Australian Mint, Deakin | Free entry | ramint.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

Sport and Wellness

Canberra MS Mega Swim

Register for this fun team relay event where swimmers freestyle, backstroke, butterfly or doggy-paddle for 24 hours while raising funds for people living with MS. Swimmers of all ages and abilities welcome – swim one lap or fifty, for ten minutes or four hours. Teams just need one swimmer in pool at all times.

Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 August 2025 | Australian Institute of Sport, 26 Leverrier Street, Bruce | msmegachallenge.org.au

InterPlay Canberra

This is a creative classes combining gentle voice and body warm-ups with step-by-step “forms” exploring movement, stories, and voice. Easy-to-learn activities involving interaction with others in safe, structured environments. Brings together body, mind, heart and spirit while looking for the good in everyday life.

Saturday 2 August | Uniting Church O’Connor Hall, Corner Brigalow and Schrivner Streets, O’Connor | interplayaus.com.au

Art for Wellbeing

Go along to this monthly program enhancing wellbeing and mental health through a creative journey. Combines discussion, artmaking and simple word exercises with poetic outcomes, responding to three artworks. Small groups enable conversation and collaboration. Facilitated by Gallery staff with health professional support.

Saturday 2 August | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au

Sound Healing for Men

Experience sacred masculine energy sharing and clearing through ancient sound healing instruments. Experience gongs, Medicine Drums, Didgeridoo, Native American Flutes, Crystal Bowls, and more to unlock stored emotions, relieve stress, and settle anxiety. Facilitated by intuitive practitioner Peter from HUM.

Sunday 3 August | Flow and Food Yoga & Ayurveda, 253 Northbourne Avenue, Lyneham | flowandfood.com.au

Premier League and Football Trivia Night

Get ready for the new football season with trivia night at The Durham Castle Arms. Great prizes on offer and guaranteed good times as you test your Premier League and football knowledge. Perfect for football fans wanting to celebrate the season’s start.

Thursday 7 August | The Durham Castle Arms, Kingston | thedurhampub.com.au

Raiders v Sea Eagles

Join Friday night excitement at GIO Stadium for Indigenous Round clash between Canberra Raiders and Manly Sea Eagles featuring Tom Trbojevic. This special evening celebrating NRL’s Indigenous Round promises thrilling rugby league action in the heart of the capital. Don’t miss this opportunity to support the Green Machine in their home fortress.

Friday 8 August | GIO Stadium Canberra, Battye Street, Bruce | More information here.

GIANTS v North Melbourne

Round 22 AFL action sees Greater Western Sydney GIANTS take on North Melbourne in a crucial match for both teams. With the season nearing its climax, the GIANTS will fight hard to keep finals aspirations alive. Expect fiercely contested football with both teams desperate for points in this potentially season-defining encounter at Manuka Oval.

Sunday 10 August | Manuka Oval, Manuka Circle, Griffith | gwsgiants.com.au

Raiders v Broncos

Don’t miss the NRLW Indigenous Round action as Canberra Raiders face Brisbane Broncos featuring Kiwi Internationals Mackenzie Wiki and Mele Hufanga clashing in the centres. This special round celebrates Indigenous culture and provides perfect backdrop for exciting women’s rugby league. It’s a game day experience celebrating both sport and cultural heritage you won’t want to miss!

Sunday 10 August | GIO Stadium Canberra, Battye Street, Bruce | More information here.

H.E.R. Dance Day

A full day celebrating dance, community and female empowerment with workshops, prizes and much more, Canberra’s newest girls dance community day celebrates everything about H.E.R.

Learn diverse dance styles in choreography-based workshops including Bachata Ladies Styling with Lana, Jazz Funk with Chloe, Salsa Ladies Styling with Maddie, Heels with Amelia, Femme Fusion with Tanima, and Zouk Ladies Styling with Bobbi and Valen.

All tickets include one raffle entry to win prizes from MoveMe Studios, Dance Til Dawn, and Kmotion Dance Studio, with the first 10 bookings receiving three free raffle entries.

Saturday 23 August, 11.45 am–6.45 pm | ilLustrious Dance, East Row | trybooking.com

Twilight Flow & Live Music Yoga

A unique 90-minute experience of strong, powerful movements with deep release and softness, Yang and Yin, closing in an immersive sound journey of crystal singing bowls. The movement and flow is accompanied by live musicians performing throughout the class, with a new guest artist featured each month. The current offering is held at Wildbark, overlooking Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve at sunset, where the back drop of this class is golden hour in the bush fading into night.

Twilight Flow is a physical and sensory journey where movement, music, and nature harmonise.

Sunday 31 August, 4.30 pm | Wildbark, Throsby | wildbarkatmulligansflat.rezdy.com

NBL Blitz Canberra

Get ready for five days of non-stop action as all 10 NBL teams make final preparations in the pre-season tournament. Professional men’s basketball returns to Australia’s capital for the first time since 2003, featuring five nights of double-headers and high-level competition as teams fine-tune for the season ahead.

Wednesday 27 until Sunday 31 August | AIS Arena, 26 Leverrier Street, Bruce | More information here.

Raiders v Tigers

Support the Canberra Raiders in their last home game of the 2025 season facing Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium. With Finals series approaching, plenty will be on the line as they farewell their NRL and NRLW sides in the final double header. NRLW kicks off at 12:45 pm, NRL at 3 pm.

Saturday 30 August | GIO Stadium Canberra, Battye Street, Bruce | More information here.

Day on The Dirt

Following a successful 2024 event, this holistic day offers skills coaching, social rides with optional shuttles, mechanical clinics and giveaways. Working with local organisations to challenge barriers to female sport participation, empowering women and GNC folk to increase skills and stoke on the dirt. Features Trek E-Bike demos, Juliana Bikes, special guest coaches, and accommodation packages encouraging weekend adventures.

Saturday 30 August | Stromlo Forest Park, Dave McInnes Road, Stromlo | tinyurl.com

Workshops

Crafternoons @ Café Stepping Stone

Crafternoons are the perfect escape into the world of arts and crafts. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or a curious beginner, this event is for you! Whether you’re keen on knitting, scrapbooking, painting, or DIY decor, there’s something for everyone. Feel free to bring your own project that you’re working on or start something new. Basic materials are provided, but please bring any additional materials you wish to use.

Sunday 3 and 31 August | Café Stepping Stone, Gullifer Street, Strathnairn | Register here.

Science Filmmaking Workshop

Discover stop-motion animation magic in this free National Science Week family event. Watch live demonstrations, get inspired by space wonders, and create mini space-themed animations using simple tools. Interactive experience suitable for kids, teens, adults, and anyone curious about frame-by-frame storytelling. Part of Space Faring Civilisation Film Festival, celebrating science and our shared stellar future.

Saturday 9 August | Canberra Centre, 148 Bunda Street, City | sfcfilms.com

The Art of Singing Together Workshop

Experience harmony and joy with renowned trio Lyhra as they share lush vocal blend techniques. Explore tone, timing, connection, vocal colour, and emotional expression in supportive space. Participants can join Lyhra on stage during their album launch concert. Whether seasoned vocalist or returning to singing, this workshop promises uplift, empowerment, and musical connection through collective voice.

Saturday 9 August | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street North, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com

Textile Transformations: Queer Threads

Transform fabric scraps into queer pride symbols through textile collage with artist Henry Shawcross. Learn accessible stitching techniques to design pride patches or badges using provided materials or home fabrics. Inspired by textiles’ historical significance in LGBT history, create powerful new accessories while exploring identity expression through craft. Suitable for adults and teenagers 12+.

Saturday 9 August | Craft + Design Canberra, 180 London Circuit, City | craftanddesigncanberra.org

EarthPlay: Embodied play for times of ecological crisis

Using InterPlay techniques, participants traverse Joanna Macy’s Despair and Empowerment Circle to explore our interconnected relationship with nature. This embodied workshop draws on Deep Ecology principles to examine what ecological awareness means for our place in the universe during times of environmental crisis. The experience aims to remind participants that recognising our connection to nature is crucial for the planet’s future.

Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August | Silver Wattle Quaker Centre, Lake George | allevents.in

Hand Colouring Darkroom Prints Workshop

Immerse yourself in a two-day creative journey where photography meets traditional artistry. Join artist and tutor Dr. James Rhodes for this exclusive workshop transforming black and white images into vibrant, hand-coloured masterpieces. This intensive program combines technical photography skills with artistic expression, perfect for photographers looking to explore new creative possibilities and learn traditional hand-colouring techniques.

Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 August | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | photoaccess.org.au

Make Art – Eat Cake

Award-winning artist and qualified visual art teacher Marianne Mettes leads this relaxing workshop exploring texture, colour and creativity while you enjoy a coffee and cake. Participants learn effective techniques to build depth and detail, walking away with a finished artwork ready for display. Designed for adults and young creatives aged 16+, the workshop provides two hours of professional tuition, all art materials, refreshments and a supportive creative atmosphere.

Sunday 10 August | The Front Cafe and Gallery, 84 Wattle Street, Lyneham | More information here.

Long Pose in the Lounge

The Tipsy Sketching Club offers relaxing life drawing evening in Canberra’s highest cocktail bar. Two-hour session features timed poses from 2-30 minutes with breaks for drinks, food, sharing, and laughing. Drawing materials supplied, all mediums and abilities welcome. Perfect for curious beginners, experienced sketchers, or fun night out with friends.

Tuesday 12 August | QT Canberra, QT Lounge, Level 15, 1 London Circuit, City | tipsysketching.club

Free Botanical Drawing & Painting Workshops

Margaret Saul invites participants to develop true observational skills and uncover their inner artist through botanical illustration in this free workshop. Each workshop series comprises four to six classes focusing on a specific seasonal plant, accommodating both beginner and experienced levels. With over thirty years as a natural science illustrator and botanical artist, Margaret offers structured, step-by-step teaching including practical demonstrations, detailed class notes and guided exercises in this welcoming space where art and nature intertwine. Spots are limited and bookings are essential.

Wednesday 13 and 20 August | The Link, 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn | More information here.

Digital Photography Fundamentals – One Day Workshop

Gain practical understanding of aperture, shutter speed, ISO, manual focus techniques, and creative composition basics. Apply skills throughout the day with experienced photographer Julian Lumb’s guidance, feedback, and question opportunities. Perfect for absolute beginners with DSLR or mirrorless cameras wanting to understand digital photography principles and move beyond automatic settings.

Saturday 16 August | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | photoaccess.org.au

Young Rangers Program

Join ACT Parks Rangers for nature-based activities designed for young enthusiasts aged seven to 15. Develop knowledge and skills in the natural environment while exploring various topics, making friends and asking questions. Parents/guardians welcome to attend free of charge. Check website for upcoming activities and pricing.

Sunday 17 August | Jerrabomberra Wetlands Office, 2 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | actparks.bookeasy.com

Mosaic Art Classes Canberra: Turkish Lamp Workshop

Unleash your artistic potential in Australia’s first Turkish mosaic lamp workshop. Learn 500-year-old techniques, lay tiles with precision, create geometric patterns and craft your own Turkish mosaic lamp in just over two hours. Expert instructors guide you while enjoying Turkish tea service with homemade shortbread cookies. Gift vouchers available.

Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 August | Fitters’ Workshop, Printers Way, Kingston | artmasterclass.com.au

X-Ray Vision Photogram Workshop

Discover what’s inside your stuff! This hands-on workshop with 2025 photo access artist UK Frederick explores photograms – camera-less photographic prints made by placing objects on light-sensitive paper. Take apart small objects and reimagine them through X-ray-like images revealing hidden structures. Bring a small object (max 20cm) you’re happy to dismantle – no liquids, hazardous materials or seamless designs.

Saturday 30 August | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | photoaccess.org.au

Neon Sign Making Experience at Canberra Glassworks

Experience the art of neon sign-making in this hands-on workshop at the renowned Canberra Glassworks. Learn traditional techniques while creating your own unique neon sign piece.

Saturday 30  and Sunday 31 August | Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | canberraglassworks.com

Talks and Programs

Stella Day Out Canberra – Cher Tan

Join Cher Tan discussing her brilliant 2025 Stella longlisted book of essays Peripathetic, moderated by Zoya Patel. The highly commended Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards winner explores shit jobs, online identity, living on interstices, and resisting orthodoxies through luminous, inventive prose. Tan’s non-linear essays pay homage to outsider artists, punks and drop-outs while seeking answers that continually elude in this thought-provoking and deeply pleasurable read.

Saturday 2 August, 10-11am | Harry Hartog ANU Campus, Acton | events.humanitix.com

Stella Day Out Canberra – Jumaana Abdu

2025 Stella shortlisted author Jumaana Abdu discusses her debut novel Translations, moderated by Beejay Silcox. Winner of SMH Best Young Australian Novelists and shortlisted for NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, this story follows Aliyah and daughter Sakina as they retreat to rural NSW, hire Palestinian farmhand Shep, and navigate complex relationships while bushfires rage. Books will be available for purchase and signing at this accessible venue event.

Saturday 2 August | Harry Hartog ANU Campus, Acton | events.humanitix.com

Your Quantum Future – Dr Sol H. Jacobsen

Discover how physicists are harnessing electron “spin” to advance a new technological revolution beyond just using their charge. Dr Jacobsen shows how understanding spin is changing device construction from basic principles to state-of-the-art applications. Part of the Australian Institute of Physics’ 2025 Marie Curie Lecture series celebrating the International Year of Quantum Science.

Tuesday 5 August | Australian National University, Physics Auditorium, New Physics Building | aip.org.au

Deadly Dialogues: Bringing Them Home Oration with Kutcha Edwards

Kutcha Edwards delivers the inaugural Bringing Them Home Oration, commemorating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who shared their Stolen Generations stories in the Library’s oral history project (1998-2002). These intimate stories, held in the national collection, preserve experiences of laws and policies that created the Stolen Generations. Free entry, bookings essential.

Wednesday 6 August | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | library.gov.au

Conversations LIVE with Sarah Kanowski and Richard Fidler

Join the voices behind ABC’s most-loved podcast for a rare night on stage. Go behind the scenes and hear stories you didn’t hear on air, from the famous to the unknown. Celebrating 20 years of sharing stories, ideas and secrets with captivating tales, unexpected insights and special guests.

Thursday 7 August | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | cmdy.live

Gorgeous Books and Royal Annotations at the National Library

Professor Micheline White explores the marginalia left by King Henry VIII and Katherine Parr in their personal books. These annotations reveal how the royal couple used their books as tools of self-fashion, crafting images of piety and authority. For Katherine, performing the ideal Tudor queen role may have been key to survival.

Thursday 7 August | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | library.gov.au

Spotlight Conversations: Mr Squiggle and the legacy of Norman Hetherington

Examine the remarkable legacy of Norman Hetherington, creator of Mr Squiggle. Featuring his daughter Rebecca Hetherington, grandson Tom Hetherington-Welch, exhibition curator Danielle Cassar and Deputy Director Dr Sophie Jensen in conversation, followed by audience Q&A and exclusive exhibition viewing.

Thursday 7 August | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula, Acton | nma.gov.au

Skirt-suits and Suffragettes Walking Tour

Explore stories of significant women in Australia’s political history starting at the National Archives, then across the National Triangle. Learn about trailblazing women who fought for equality and representation through records and key Canberra sites. Bring a hat, comfortable shoes and an umbrella. Free for NAA members.

Thursday 7 August until Wednesday 29 October | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue, Parkes | naa.gov.au

Unconformity – National Science Week Geology tour at Parliament House

Join Geoscience Australia expert geologist exploring beneath Parliament House to discover ‘Unconformity’ – an ancient rock formation where masses made millions of years apart have joined. This fascinating geological puzzle helps understand Earth’s history in the Canberra region. Rare twice-yearly opportunity to see unique underground formations combining science with Australia’s political heart.

Friday 8 until Friday 15 August | Australian Parliament House, 1 Parliament Drive, Canberra | parliamenthouse.respax.com

STEM Careers of the Future Panel

This Questacon National Science Week panel explores careers in quantum, agriculture and food, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and sustainability. Hear from experts at the cutting edge of industries shaping tomorrow’s world. Perfect for students, early-career professionals, or STEM-curious individuals wanting insights into future job markets and pathways. Real guidance on where tomorrow’s careers are headed.

Monday 11 August | Questacon, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | questacon.edu.au

AI and our food

Australian Academy of Science presents cutting-edge speakers exploring AI’s role in sustainable agriculture. Associate Professor Sigfredo Fuentes discusses high-tech digital instruments for agriculture and wine, plus space food development. Dr Sarah Hartman shares deep learning AI agronomist development. Discover seed-planting farmbots, pest-detecting drones, and robotic noses evaluating wine and beer in food’s high-tech future.

Tuesday 12 August | Shine Dome, 15 Gordon Street, Acton | science.org.au

Curious Corner: Babies in Arms

Free monthly program for parents and carers with babies featuring National Gallery Curators discussing art and ideas. Babies play with tactile materials while caregivers connect through art exploration. Breastfeeding and bottle feeding welcome throughout gallery, with Parents Room available. Easy pram access and baby carrier friendly. Not suitable for walking babies or active crawlers.

Wednesday 13 August | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au

The environmental vision of Judith Wright with Prof John Morrissey

2025 National Library Fellow Professor John Morrissey discusses renowned poet Judith Wright’s environmental writing, exploring her archives to uncover writing on human life within wider ecosystems. Discover Wright’s inspiring efforts to communicate pathways toward ecologically responsible living through her literary works and environmental activism. Fascinating intersection of literature and environmental consciousness.

Thursday 14 August | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | library.gov.au

Public Lecture: Wattle in Coin Design

The Royal Australian Mint explores Golden Wattle’s significance in coin design through Stuart Devlin’s Australian Honours System medals. Dr Suzette Searle, Wattle Day Association President, presents the wattle’s numismatic history, followed by conversation in the new REFLECTION exhibition celebrating 50 Years of Australian Honours System. Essential bookings required for this unique botanical-numismatic journey.

Friday 15 August | Royal Australian Mint, 62 Denison Street, Deakin | ramint.gov.au

Preview Anzac Hall & Understand Australia’s Second World War

Memorial historians and curators commemorate 80 years since WWII’s end with symposium reflecting on Australia’s wartime significance. Preview new stories from forthcoming Anzac Hall exhibitions: Australians in Bomber Command, Sydney Harbour attack, and Milne Bay battle. Features presentations on women at war and First Nations stories. Free attendance with booking required.

Friday 15 August | Australian War Memorial Theatre, Fairbairn Avenue, Campbell | awm.gov.au

Jane Austen and her legacy – 250 glorious years at the National Library

Susannah Fullerton OAM, President of Jane Austen Society of Australia, delivers a lecture marking Jane Austen’s 250th birthday. Explore why her novels are globally adored, how she changed literary history, where to find Jane Austen societies worldwide, and why readers return to her books again and again. Perfect for admirers of the world’s favourite female novelist.

Wednesday 20 August | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | library.gov.au

Jane Caro delivers 2025 Dymphna Clark Lecture

Acclaimed author, feminist and social commentator Jane Caro AM delivers the 19th Dymphna Clark Lecture. The Walkley Award-winning columnist and bestselling novelist will explore critical intersections of education, civic responsibility, gender equity and the role of public discourse in shaping Australia’s future. This lecture continues the tradition of honouring Dymphna Clark’s legacy by inviting prominent Australians to reflect on ideas that enrich national dialogue.

Tuesday 26 August | University of Canberra, Bruce | trybooking.com

Creative Maker Business Skills with Lea Durie

Artist Lea Durie guides participants through the basic steps of launching or building a creative business over three evening sessions. The course covers building a maker business, market strategies, and opening a studio space. Participants can attend individual sessions or the complete series, learning to apply business skills and prepare for specialised events in the creative industries.

Session 1: Tuesday 27 August, Session 2: Tuesday 3 September, and Session 3: Tuesday 10 September | Craft + Design Canberra, 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, City | events.humanitix.com

What a Ripper! with Tim Ross and Mary Featherston at the National Library

Celebrate Tim Ross’s book “What a Ripper! 60 everyday objects that shaped Australia,” joined by featured designer Mary Featherston. After Tim’s presentation on favourite iconic designs, Mary discusses her life in design, creative partnership with late husband Grant, and passionate education space work. Rare opportunity to hear from one of Australia’s most celebrated designers, followed by book signing.

Saturday 30 August | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | library.gov.au

Winter Tales presents Professor Helen Ennis

Renowned writer and curator Professor Helen Ennis discusses her extensive research on the work of Australian women photographers. This Winter Tales presentation explores the contributions and stories of female photographers throughout Australian history, drawing on Ennis’s scholarly expertise and curatorial experience to illuminate often overlooked artistic voices.

Saturday 31 August | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | library.gov.au

Story Dogs on Sunday

The monthly reading program for children aged seven to 12  features Story Dogs volunteers and their adorable furry friends. This free community program encourages children’s literacy through the calming presence of therapy dogs, creating a relaxed and enjoyable environment for young readers to practice their skills and develop a love of books.

Saturday 31 August | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | library.gov.au

Winter Tales presents Professor Helen Ennis at the National Library

Professor Helen Ennis discusses her extensive writing on Australian women photographers. Held in association with National Foundation for Australian Women and Australian Women’s Archives Program, this Winter Tales event features a notable woman speaking about her life and work while raising funds for AWAP. Includes afternoon tea.

Saturday 31 August | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | library.gov.au

Culture and Creativity Seminar Series

Investigating the relationship between social culture and creative production through scholarly papers, artist talks and practitioner reports. Topics include architecture and time, AI-generated musicianship, Australia’s nuclear heritage, gender barriers in construction, and First Nations collaborative research. Can be attended in person or online.

Until Thursday 23 October | Theatrette 1A21, Mizzuna, 1A21, Bruce | canberra.edu.au

Feature image: Andrew Lee.