S’mores and stargazing, the final days of Winter in the City, and the Southern Harvest Winter Festival. Your perfect winter weekend awaits

Posted on 17 July, 2026

Is this the most wholesome weekend in Canberra this winter? We think so.

From the final days of Winter in the City lighting up City Walk to a three-day festival celebrating the region’s cold-climate produce, makers and growers, and s’mores and stargazing at Mount Stromlo, there’s plenty for the whole family to do.

Read on for your curated guide to what’s on this weekend in Canberra.

Don’t miss…

Winter in the City

Our city centre comes alive this winter season with fire, movement, and something new to discover around every single corner. Rug up and wander through City Walk to experience high-energy circus acts and spectacular fire performances lighting up the chilly night. A dynamic lineup of experiences will also be happening across our local businesses, making it the ideal excuse to stop in for a warm bite with friends or family. Settle in and stay a little longer as the vibrant street atmosphere builds beautifully into the evening for a perfect local winter outing.

Until Saturday, 18 July | City Walk, City | inthecity.com.au

Toasty with a Most-y

Does Canberra make the absolute best toasted sandwich in the country? Find out as Trust Club Cafe and You Are Here Canberra stage a no-holds-barred public “Thunderdome” of toasty-making. This one-day public competition will see Canberra’s top hospitality professionals square off against local home cooks and “People’s Champions” to determine who reigns supreme. Absolutely no ingredients are forbidden, meaning you can expect everything from minimalist, gourmet masterpieces to outrageous, multi-layered “Toastenstein” creations.

The high-stakes event will feature a punishing elimination bracket where contestants’ toasting skills, culinary vision, and creativity face the ultimate test. Best of all, audience members will be randomly selected on the day to join the panel of expert judges. Head down to City Walk to watch the drama unfold and see who gets chewed up and spat out.

Saturday, 18 July 2026 from 2.30 pm–6 pm | Trust Club Cafe, Level 1, 131 City Walk, Civic | youareherecanberra.com.au

Kerosene

From the acclaimed company that brought theatre lovers Never Closer comes an electric, heartfelt one-woman show exploring the complex, gritty symptoms of love. The story follows Millie, who yearns for acceptance but finds rejection at every turn, except from her grandfather and her best friend, Annie. When Annie turns up bruised on her doorstep, Millie sets out to honour their lifelong bond through a path of fierce revenge. This powerful drama serves as a gripping homage to loyalty and the realities of growing up quiet in modern Australia.

Until Sunday 19 July | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Southern Harvest Winter Festival

Southern Harvest’s annual Winter Festival returns to Canberra across three days in July, celebrating the region’s cold-climate produce, makers and growers. Friday’s Flames & Flavours Night Market at Dairy Road features food, wine, live music and fire. Saturday’s Winter Market, also at Dairy Road, brings together regional producers and artisans, with a Cellar Door wine market inside The Vault alongside farmers’ stalls and ready-to-eat food. Sunday is dedicated to workshops, farm tours, tastings and demonstrations across the region. The festival sits within Canberra’s truffle season, highlighting the region’s reputation as one of the few places where black truffles grow near an urban centre.

Until Sunday 19 July | Dairy Road Precinct, Fyshwick and activities around Canberra | southernharvest.org.au/winter-festivities

Rear Vision: The Holden Collection

Take a nostalgic drive through the history of an absolute Australian icon with Rear vision: the Holden collection at the National Archives. This fascinating exhibition traces Holden’s journey from a humble 19th-century saddlery to ‘Australia’s Own Car’ and its permanent impact on the nation’s economy, industrial landscape, and cultural identity. Visitors can explore historical archival records, rare artifacts, blueprints, and photographs that reveal the innovations, challenges, and people behind General Motors-Holden. Developed by the State Library of South Australia and expanded with national records, the exhibition also offers daily gallery talks.

Until Sunday 11 October | National Archives of Australia, Parkes | naa.gov.au

Antarctica

Explore the frozen continent at the National Museum of Australia through a fascinating exhibition sharing Australia’s enduring connection to the icy south. Visitors can discover over 100 years of Antarctic science, exploration, and survival through rare artefacts, historic equipment, and first-hand accounts from researchers. Immersive displays bring polar landscapes to life with blizzards and the aurora australis, teaching families about the region’s unique wildlife and environmental significance. It’s a captivating opportunity for curious minds of all ages to journey into an extreme environment right from the comfort of our capital.

Until Sunday 11 October | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton | nma.gov.au

Winter in the Woods

Step into a magical seasonal escape at the National Arboretum Canberra with the inaugural Winter in the Woods festival. This exciting new celebration brings together firelight, food, and forest adventures designed to warm the soul even on the crispest winter days. Visitors can explore a fantastic mix of free, self-guided activities, alongside a curated program of bookable workshops, guided tours, and First Nations-led experiences. It is the perfect excuse to rug up, gather around the crackling fire pits, and enjoy delicious treats from the outdoor food hub during the school holidays.

Until Sunday 9 August | National Arboretum Canberra, Forest Drive, Molonglo Valley | nationalarboretum.act.gov.au

Special Events and Festivals

Canberra Cause Club

ALLKND brings its Cause Club series to Canberra for the first time, hosting a community things swap in support of Lifeline. Attendees bring five pre-loved items in good condition – clothing, books, jewellery, kitchenware or small homewares – to swap, browse and take home something new-to-them. Any unclaimed items at the end of the event will be donated to a local Lifeline store.

The gathering doubles as an opportunity to meet other Canberrans while learning about Lifeline’s work supporting Australians experiencing distress. The event is open to those aged 16 and over.

Saturday 18 July, 2–3:30 pm | Salthouse Community Centre, Henty St, Braddon ACT 2612 | events.humanitix.com

S’mores and Stargazing with Mount Stromlo Observatory

Discover the wonders of the night sky with a unique winter family experience at the Hyatt Hotel in partnership with the Mount Stromlo Observatory. Set in the hotel’s beautiful Rose Courtyard, this intimate event invites you to join expert astronomers for a magical evening of storytelling and cosmic discovery. Guests will have the opportunity to peer through powerful telescopes to observe brilliant stars, planets, and distant wonders of the universe while learning fascinating insights about the cosmos.

As the evening unfolds, children and adults alike can gather around to enjoy complimentary toasted s’mores beneath the crisp winter sky. Grown-ups can also warm up from the inside out with delicious mulled wine and other seasonal beverages available to purchase from the bar. Designed exclusively for hotel guests or families dining at the hotel, each session is strictly limited to just 20 participants to ensure a personal, interactive, and memorable encounter with the stars.

Saturday 18 July  Rose Courtyard,  120 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla | trybooking.com

Pixar Family Trivia

Bring the whole family down to Henry’s at Jamison for a fun-filled afternoon of Pixar trivia! From Toy Story and Finding Nemo to Monsters, Inc. and The Incredibles, you can test your knowledge on all your favourite animated classics. It is completely free to play, making it the perfect weekend activity. Gather your ultimate team, enjoy great local food and drinks, and get ready for lots of laughs, friendly competition, and fantastic prizes. Bookings are absolutely essential to secure your table, so round up the kids and book today!

Saturday 18 July, 1 pm–3 pm | Canberra Southern Cross Club, Macquarie | cscc.com.au

Brindabella Winter Dance Weekend

Historic Dance Delights presents an enchanting weekend of dancing through the pages of history! Saturday’s creative workshops, festive feast, and Midwinter Ball will celebrate all things medieval, followed by a gorgeous Victorian-style Afternoon Tea Dance on Sunday. You will receive a warm welcome, whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned dancer, as every single dance will be taught on the day. Costumes are not required, but you are more than welcome to dress up if you feel inspired. Come along and keep warm through glorious music and movement!

Saturday 18 July, 10 am–9 pm | All Saints Anglican Church Hall, 9 Cowper Street, Ainslie | historicdancedelights.org.au

Geek Expo Canberra

Put the date in your diary and join the biggest pop-culture event in Canberra for a massive weekend that is perfect for the whole family! GEEK EXPO returns for two huge days at EPIC, marking their largest local event of the year. The spectacular mid-year celebration brings together an expanded lineup of artists, creators, illustrators, and pop-culture retailers. You can explore a treasure trove of comics, collectibles, and fandom gear, alongside interactive experiences and panels. Whether you attend one day or both, it is an absolute extravaganza for local fans.

Saturday 18 July, 9 am–5 pm | Exhibition Park in Canberra, Corner Flemington Road and Northbourne Avenue, Mitchell | geek-expo.com.au

Love & Forgetting – Tales from a Young Mixer

RARE BIRD ensemble presents Love & Forgetting – Tales from a Young Mixer, an immersive cocktail cabaret devised and performed by director Jeremy James and performer Jack Martin. Set in the intimate surrounds of Ambrosia Lounge at Dairy Road, the production follows a bartender whose stories carry audiences from the banks of the Murrumbidgee to the heights of Manhattan through song, spoken word, and handcrafted cocktails. Drawing on cinema, jazz, and literature, the show weaves together themes of community, memory, and the art of hospitality. James brings an international background to the work, including a long-term collaboration with French theatre company Théâtre du Soleil.

Until Sunday 19 July | Ambrosia Lounge, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | events.humanitix.com

Warm Trees

Canberra winters are famously crisp, but the National Arboretum is finding a wonderfully creative way to warm the soul this season. The popular annual ‘Warm Trees’ installation is returning to colour the landscape, transforming the local forests into a vibrant outdoor art gallery. Made possible by the incredible dedication of hundreds of local volunteers, this community-focused event wraps the trees in beautiful, handmade warmth.

Our city’s visitors and locals alike can explore more than 17 different forests across the spectacular grounds, spotting bright, hand-knitted scarves adorning everything from the towering trees on Dairy Farmers Hill to the miniature branches in the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection. The surrounding ‘Winter in the Woods’ program offers plenty of opportunities to rug up by the firelight, enjoy toasted marshmallows, and sip rich mulled wine under the stars.

Until Sunday 9 August | National Arboretum Canberra, Forest Drive, Molonglo Valley | nationalarboretum.act.gov.au

Food + Drink

The Winter Clover Collection

Celebrate Canberra’s vibrant cold-season culture with an exclusive winter dining offer in the heart of the city centre. The Winter Clover Collection brings people together over a beautifully curated menu designed to showcase seasonal flavours and contemporary dining. Guests can enjoy an intimate, warm, and creative experience that highlights connection and the capital’s evolving food scene. Set within the cosy energy of Clover Dining, it’s a wonderful opportunity to experience the unique atmosphere of a winter evening in the city with exceptional food. Gather your closest friends and settle in for a memorable night highlighting local warmth and culinary creativity.

Until Saturday, 18 July | Clover Dining, City | cloverdining.com.au

Sunday Buffet Lunch

Gather your favourite friends and family for a magnificent buffet lunch feast at Pavilion on Northbourne! Held monthly at the leafy Atrium Restaurant & Bar inside the hotel, this delicious foodie experience is the perfect way to spend a relaxed Sunday together in the city. You can enjoy a generous spread featuring fresh salads, premium cold cuts, hearty hot dishes, and indulgent desserts. Come hungry, leave happy, and let someone else handle the cooking while you soak up the tropical indoor vibe. There are limited seats available, so secure your table online.

Sunday 19 July, 12 pm–3 pm | Pavilion on Northbourne, 242 Northbourne Avenue, Dickson | pavilioncanberra.com.au

The Promenade Café’s Sunday Roast

Escape the Sunday blues and embrace a beautiful new winter tradition in the elegant surrounds of the Hyatt Hotel Canberra. The Promenade Café is throwing open its doors to serve up a spectacular, winter-warming Sunday Roast. Guests will be greeted by a wonderful sense of nostalgia, with fireplaces crackling in the historic lounges and the promise of exceptional, warm hospitality.

It is the perfect excuse to gather your closest friends and family for a classic cosy meal, featuring a traditional roast with all the trimmings. For a truly perfect finish to the weekend, you can stop by Speaker’s Corner Bar on your way out to enjoy a fireside cocktail or a premium whiskey. Spaces are bound to fill up fast for this comforting winter experience, so booking a table ahead of time is highly recommended.

Until Sunday 30 August | The Promenade Café, Hyatt Hotel Canberra, 120 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla | hyatt.com

Après QTea High Tea

As the winter chill settles over the capital, Canberrans looking for a cosy alpine escape don’t need to head all the way to the snowy slopes. The gorgeous QT Lounge is teaming up with the sweet geniuses at Space Kitchen to transform their sky-high venue into a winter wonderland filled with après-ski indulgence. It is the perfect excuse to gather your favourite local friends for a sophisticated afternoon of elevated comfort food and stunning city views.

Guests will be treated to a spectacular tiered stand showcasing savoury delights like a rich split pea and smoked ham soup alongside earthy wild mushroom croquettes. The sweet side of the mountain features freshly baked scones piled high with mountains of rosewater cream and strawberry jam, all topped off with a spiced mulled cider and a flowing white chocolate fountain. For those wanting a little extra indulgence, a roving cake trolley features toasted s’mores and chocolate caramel snowballs.

Until Saturday, 29 August | QT Lounge, 6 Marcus Clarke Street, City | qthotels.com

The Brunch Club at Capitol Bar & Grill

There is nothing quite like a lazy weekend morning to reset the soul, and Capitol Bar & Grill is flipping the script on your average breakfast routine. The Brunch Club is introducing an unapologetically luxurious, all-day dining concept designed for food lovers who believe the weekend deserves a bit of theatrical flair. It is a long, decadent celebration of bold flavours that will make you want to cancel the rest of your daily plans.

The kitchen is serving up elevated favourites, from fluffy buttermilk pancakes to classic cheeseburgers slathered in a special secret sauce and savoury miso-grilled salmon. The star of the show is undoubtedly the interactive Bloody Mary cart in partnership with Ketel One Vodka. Guests can watch bartenders build their custom cocktail right before their eyes, choosing from an outrageous lineup of garnishes like crispy bacon, blue cheese olives, dill pickles, and even fresh mussels.

Until Sunday 30 August | Capitol Bar & Grill, 6 Marcus Clarke Street, City | qthotels.com

Bourbon Street Sunday Jazz

Bring the soulful sounds of New Orleans straight to your winter weekends! Every single Sunday evening, Molly transforms into Bourbon Street, showcasing a fantastic, rotating lineup of local brass bands playing loose, soulful Crescent City swing. It is the absolute perfect way to escape a cold Canberra night and close out your weekend in style. You can order a delicious cheese and charcuterie platter, sit back in the cosy hidden bar, and sip on a specialised bourbon cocktail from the NOLA-themed menu. Follow the music down Odgers Lane to find the secret door.

Until Sunday 30 August, 6 pm–10 pm | Molly, Odgers Lane, Wooden Door, City | molly.bar

Markets

Pandoras Recycled Fashions O’Connor – Everything Half Price Sale

Pandoras recycles high-end designer clothes, shoes, handbags, hats & jewellery. Top quality fashions at reasonable prices Everything you need to refresh your wardrobe from casual, work, evening or wedding. As the season changes Pandoras is having a half price sale to make room for all the fabulous Winter clothes we have ready to go.

Pandoras is based at St Philip’s Church in O’Connor and proceeds support local Canberra charities.

Half price sale dates are for three weeks on  Saturday 18 and 25 April and 2 May. This is followed by the Winter launch on Saturday 9 May.

Pandoras is open every Saturday, 10 am–1 pm | Lamerton Centre, St Philips Church, Cnr Moorhouse and Macpherson Streets | facebook.com

Capital Region Farmers Market

This farmers’ market is iconic for a reason.

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

It will make you appreciate your Saturday morning shopping trip in a whole new way.

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

Old Bus Depot Markets

Lovers of fine hand-crafted wares, clothing collectors, food fanatics and jewellery junkies are just a few of the people who head to Canberra’s award-winning Old Bus Depot Markets every Sunday. In a fabulous old industrial building, you’ll experience the endless colour, tastes, sounds and atmosphere that is “Canberra’s Sunday Best”.

Not your average market, each week you’ll find over 200 stalls of exceptional quality, featuring items all hand-crafted by local and regional creatives. The sheer variety means you’ll discover something unexpected every visit, whether that’s a piece of pottery that speaks to you, a stunning necklace, or the perfect vintage find. There’s simply no better way to spend your Sunday in Canberra.

Sundays, 9.30 am – 2.30 pm | 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | obdm.com.au

Southside Farmers Markets

This village market is located at Canberra College, making it the perfect place to duck in to grab what you need (and maybe a few things you don’t). Order an egg and bacon roll to start the morning as you explore the best of fresh seasonal veggies, handmade pasta, pet treats and more.

Sundays, 7 am -11.30 am | 2 Launceston Street, Phillip | facebook.com/SouthsideFarmersMarketCanberra

Haig Park Village Markets

Another local favourite, spend your Sunday morning browsing delicious cuisines, fresh produce, artisan products and locally handmade crafts while enjoying live music, an artists’ table and family-friendly activities.

It’s the kind of market where you can linger over breakfast, discover a new artist, and stock up on fresh produce all in one lovely morning, making it the perfect Sunday outing in leafy Braddon.

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

Sport and Wellness

NRL Raiders v Rabbitohs – NRLW Raiders v Roosters

The first exciting NRL and NRLW double header of the 2026 season has arrived at GIO Stadium! Go along to cheer on the Raiders women as they take on the Roosters, before the NRL side runs out to face the Rabbitohs. Be sure to arrive early to join the iconic, show-stopping Viking Clap tradition as the teams take the field. These matches also celebrate the Women in League Round, highlighting female involvement at every level. With plenty of family-friendly activities around the ground, it is a great day out for everyone.

Saturday 18 July, 12.45 pm–6 pm | GIO Stadium, Battye Street, Bruce | raiders.com.au

Music

Dire Straits tribute show

Relive the magic of Dire Straits’ final unforgettable chapter with On The Night, a powerful live homage to their iconic 1992 live album. Performed by eight accomplished musicians with a deep love for the band’s legacy, this electrifying experience brings the record to life in full glory, note for note. From the haunting strains of Your Latest Trick to the thunderous climax of Brothers In Arms, you will experience sweeping guitar work and intricate arrangements. It is a passionate tribute that honours a legendary band that redefined rock with soul.

Saturday 18 July | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Adiós Amigo – Kim Yang farewell show with friends and band

After her recent debut album launch, “Turn On The Lights”, Canberra’s indie-folk singer Kim Yang is embarking on a creative European adventure for a year.

Over the past six months, Kim has returned to Australia from living abroad, performed at a few festivals, released an album and toured to promote it. This farewell show isn’t a goodbye but a “see you later” soon.

Joining Kim at her final show will be a songwriters’ circle featuring some prolific Canberra artists, followed by a Kim Yang band set in the second half of the event.

Sunday 19 July 2026, 4–6 pm | Smith’s Alternative, Alinga Street, Canberra City | smithsalternative.com

Stage and Screen

BULL

Mockingbird Too presents BULL, Mike Bartlett’s companion piece to C*CK, staged two weeks after that production at the same venue. Three colleagues wait for a meeting with their boss, aware that one of them is about to lose their job. What follows is a contest of manipulation and psychological pressure as alliances shift and weaknesses are exposed, turning an ordinary office into something closer to a gladiatorial arena. The cast includes Claire White, Robert Karlen, Zade Fainstein and Paul Hutchison, directed by Céline Oudin.

Until Saturday 18 July | The Mockingbird Studio, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au

5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche

Everyman Theatre presents 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, a comedy by Andrew Hobgood and Evan Linder, directed by Jarrad West. Set in 1956, the play follows the Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein as their annual quiche breakfast is interrupted by Cold War anxieties and a series of unexpected revelations. The production blends satire, audience interaction and physical comedy across a fast-paced 90 minutes, and features Crystal Mahon, Steph Roberts, Meaghan Stewart, Sian Harrington and Ylaria Rogers.

Friday 17 July–Saturday 1 August, various times | ACT Hub, Causeway Hall, 14 Spinifex Street, Kingston | acthub.com.au

Buzzz ACT Dance Performance

Buzz into CMAG these school holidays with Chamaeleon Collective, Canberra’s premier inclusive dance company, for an award-winning dance and science experience. Celebrating the bees that keep our world humming, a lively cast leads children and families on a joyful journey through pollination, biodiversity, and the vital role bees play in the food chain. This energetic performance places the ACT at the forefront of creative family programming, sharing simple ways everyone can help protect our environment. Perfect for all ages, the afternoon session will also be fully Auslan interpreted for the community.

Saturday 18 July, 11 am–11.45 am | Canberra Museum + Gallery, 176 London Circuit, Canberra | cmag.com.au

Nurse Georgie Carroll

The hilarious Georgie Carroll is back in town with her brand-new live show, Infectious! An undeniable comedy powerhouse and a natural storyteller, this nurse-turned-comedian is razor-sharp and absolutely riotous on stage. She is completely unstoppable on the comedy circuit, having performed her smash-hit, award-winning show Sista Flo 2.0 for three solid years of sold-out seasons across the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. You won’t want to miss her brilliant new material as she brings non-stop laughs and hilarious medical insights to the Canberra Theatre Centre stage this weekend.

Saturday 18 July, 7.30 pm–8.50 pm | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au

Kindling by Glasshouse Dance Collective

Wollongong’s acclaimed Glasshouse Dance Collective arrives in the capital to present Kindling, an inaugural season of exceptional contemporary dance. This captivating showcase features three restaged works from visionary choreographer Mara Glass: My Battery is Low, Joy Box, and Sloprot 2.0. Thematically digging into the complexities of loneliness, isolation, and the deep human desire for connection, Kindling is designed to be fun, daring, complex, and intensely fervent. It is an evocative, highly physical hour of theatre that promises to challenge and delight dance lovers.

Saturday 18 July 6.30 pm until 7.30 pm | Gorman Arts Centre, 55 Ainslie Avenue, Braddon | events.humanitix.com

Blake Pavey Live

After racking up over a million followers online and making global audiences laugh until they cry, comedian Blake Pavey is touring Australia with his brand-new hour of stand-up, A Bit Scared. After finding out his terminal illness isn’t all that terminal anymore, he has got a lot more time to think about everything he is afraid of—and the list is incredibly long! His brilliant routine delicately weaves elements of darkness and light, moving you to the brink of tears before landing hefty punchlines. Don’t miss this hilariously raw performance at the theatre.

Sunday 19 July, 7.30 pm–8.40 pm | The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, City | thestreet.org.au

Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festival

Escape the winter chill and immerse yourself in the rich storytelling of the Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festival as it returns to Palace Electric. This year’s formidable lineup showcases incredible new cinema from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden set against breathtaking landscapes. Film lovers can look forward to a spectacular mix of powerful dramas, dark comedies, and a special 60th-anniversary screening of Ingmar Bergman’s masterpiece, Persona. It is the perfect excuse to settle into a plush cinema seat with a warm drink, support international cinema, and explore profound cultural insights from across the globe.

Until Sunday 2 August | Palace Electric Cinema, NewActon Nishi, 2 Phillip Law Street, City | nordicfilmfestival.com.au

Talks and Workshops

Glass & Wood Workshop

Create a matching spoon and bowl set in this unique woodcarving and glassblowing class, taught by Rose Keightley and Dan Venables at Canberra Glassworks. In this engaging multi-media holiday workshop, participants spend a day learning the basics of woodcarving to craft a beautiful wooden spoon. You will also head into the Hotshop for an exclusive one-on-one session with an expert glassblower, guiding you carefully through the process of making your own unique glass bowl. It is a fantastic way to experience local artistry firsthand. Check their website for session times and details.

Saturday 18 July, 9 am–5 pm | Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | canberraglassworks.com

Upcycled Necklace Making Workshop

Get ready for a hands-on creative session at the Ainslie Arts Centre with the Canberra Bead It Yourself workshop! This fun, feel-good afternoon invites you to design and craft your very own upcycled necklace using a dazzling mix of second-hand beads. It is a wonderful community experience that celebrates local sustainability, self-expression, and the pure joy of making something uniquely yours. Perfect for a weekend activity with friends, you will leave with a beautiful new statement piece and plenty of creative inspiration. Spaces are limited, so secure your spot for a creative Saturday.

Saturday 18 July, 9 am–3 pm | Room 06, Ainslie Arts Centre, 33 Donaldson Street, Braddon | diydaisy.com

Exhibitions

Canberra Contemporary Photographic Prize 2026

PhotoAccess presents the Canberra Contemporary Photographic Prize 2026, an exhibition and competition open to photographers worldwide across all experience levels. The show brings together new work in contemporary photo media, presenting a range of approaches and perspectives within the medium.

Thursday 16 July to Saturday 15 August, 10 am–4 pm | photo access, Manuka Arts Centre, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | photoaccess.org.au

Edge of Presence | Brenda Page

Indulge your cultural curiosity in Civic with a striking new contemporary glass art exhibition. Developed during a creative residency at Canberra Glassworks and expanded in her own studio, artist Brenda Page presents Edge of Presence at Craft + Design Canberra. This beautifully resolved, sculptural body of work utilises the delicate and reflective qualities of glass to examine mortality, transition, and the broader human condition. The exhibition holds a powerful space for stillness and quiet pause, inviting viewers to contemplate what shapes us thoughtfully, what we carry through life, and how we might gracefully meet our endings.

Until Saturday 18 July. Times vary | Craft + Design Canberra, City | craftanddesigncanberra.org

[Un]common Ground: Paul Davis & Jacqueline Clayton

Immerse yourself in a sophisticated new exhibition at the Canberra Potters Gallery showcasing internationally recognised ceramic artists and 2026 Artists-in-Residence, Paul Davis and Jacqueline Clayton. Operating together as StudioJam—celebrated for crafting custom culinary ceramics for world-class restaurants like Quay, Bennelong, and Noma Australia—this exhibition highlights their distinct individual practices. Rooted in shared histories of elite training across Japan and Australia, the works offer a deep contemporary exploration of raw material, process, and place. The official opening preview on Thursday evening is hosted by Minister Yamaguchi of the Embassy of Japan.

Until Sunday 19 July | Canberra Potters Gallery, Watson Arts Centre | canberrapotters.com.au

Axis

Canberra-based artist Gautam Jhanjee presents Axis, a five-day exhibition of large-scale symbolic paintings at the Shine Dome, home of the Australian Academy of Science. The show brings together eight works whose figures, birds, seasonal imagery and landscape forms echo Canberra’s geometry, architecture and spatial order, exploring what happens when the human figure is painted with the same sense of order that shapes the city’s axes and civic vistas. Installed within the Dorothy Hill Room, the paintings respond to the Shine Dome’s curved interior, reflected light and civic setting.

Until Tuesday 21 July | Dorothy Hill Room, Shine Dome, 15 Gordon Street, Canberra | gautamjhanjee.com

Tracks North

Follow a beautiful, creative passage through the Australian landscape with Tracks North, the latest solo exhibition by artist Val Johnson. Showing at the Strathnairn Arts Homestead Galleries, this stunning collection traces her travels from Melbourne aboard the Overland train, continuing north to Darwin on the iconic Ghan. Along the way, Johnson masterfully captures the shifting terrain and atmospheric light of Alice Springs and Katherine Gorge, translating her memories into richly observed oil paintings. Viewers are warmly invited to travel alongside the artist through the vast interior and lush wetlands of the Top End.

Until Sunday, 26 July | Strathnairn Arts Homestead Galleries, 90 Stockdill Drive, Holt | strathnairn.com.au

Country Knows My Name

Embrace a powerful artistic exploration of identity and heritage this winter at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Country Knows My Name is a moving solo exhibition by Ngarigo Monaro / Moneroo artist Gail Neuss. Each featured artwork reflects a deep, visceral relationship with Ngarigo Country (Kunama Namadgi/Snowy Mountains), beautifully translated onto the canvas through an expressive use of colour, line, and fluid movement.

The collection stands as a beautiful tribute to culture, ancestors, and the ancient knowledge permanently held within the land. By seamlessly blending contemporary artistic practice with deep-rooted tradition, Neuss’s pieces speak volumes about belonging, inner strength, and cultural continuity. This exhibition offers a stunning reminder that Country is far more than just a physical place—it is family, teacher, home, and the ultimate path forward. It is an ideal, reflective exhibition to pair with a crisp afternoon walk through the surrounding native gardens.

Until Sunday 26 July, 9.30 am–4.30 pm daily | Visitors Centre Gallery, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross Street, Acton | visit.anbg.gov.au

Embodied Trauma

Step into M16 Artspace to experience Embodied Trauma, an extraordinary and deeply moving exhibition by talented contemporary artist Keziah Craven. Developed through collaborative, ethics-approved research, this thought-provoking showcase utilises stunning wearable art to translate the complex lived experiences of sexual assault survivors into powerful sculptural forms. Foregrounding resilience, agency, and the profound strength of embodied storytelling, the collection offers a unique visual and tactile language for processing trauma. Please note that this exhibition contains references to sensitive themes that some viewers may find distressing. It opens alongside two other magnificent local solo exhibitions this July.

Until Sunday, 26 July | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au

Friends by Anna Bonshek

Anna Bonshek’s evocative new sculpture installation, Friends, invites audiences to pause, reflect, and appreciate the magnificent presence of natural materials. Showing at M16 Artspace, these striking works are beautifully crafted from locally harvested Ironbark, SheOak timber, sandstone, and volcanic bush rock. Inspired by the rich complexity of the forested bush ecosystem, the exhibition speaks deeply to themes of existence, connection, and togetherness. By exploring natural cycles and human rhythms, Bonshek creates a rich archive of shared memory that turns the inexplicable into something comforting and familiar. It is a must-see for local art lovers.

Until Sunday 26 July | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au

Guide to Surreal Urbias

Investigate the fascinating boundary between the real and the imagined with Guide to Surreal Urbias, a beautiful solo exhibition by Eliott June O’Dowd. Displayed at M16 Artspace, this unique collection is an ode to growth, observation, and memory. Through an impressive selection of paintings and mixed-media textile sculptures, the artist masterfully reinterprets the vibrant shapes and colours observed in the natural world. Driven by creative intuition, the abstract, contrasting, and loosely figurative works offer a physical shape to the artist’s inner ponderings, making it a compelling highlight of Canberra’s winter arts calendar.

Until Sunday 26 July | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au

Group Exhibition: Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre and Jordan Benson

A remarkable cross-cultural dialogue opens at Canberra Glassworks in Kingston, bringing together Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre artists Vanessa, Kathy, Dellina and Raelene Inkamala from Mparntwe (Alice Springs) alongside Melbourne-based artist Jordan Benson. The exhibition celebrates the enduring watercolour legacy of Albert Namatjira while placing it in conversation with Benson’s contemporary approach to traditional stained glass techniques. Together, they explore light, colour and transparency across two very different mediums – an expansion of their celebrated collaboration for the National Indigenous Art Triennial at the National Gallery of Australia. A genuinely special and culturally rich exhibition.

Until Sunday 26 July | Canberra Glassworks, Kingston | canberraglassworks.com

Through the Window: Iltja Ntjarra Art Centre and Jordan Benson

A rich cross-cultural dialogue opens in the main gallery at Canberra Glassworks in Kingston, expanding on a celebrated collaboration first seen at the National Gallery of Australia’s National Indigenous Art Triennial. Artists Vanessa, Kathy, Dellina and Raelene Inkamala from Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) bring the enduring watercolour legacy of Albert Namatjira into conversation with Melbourne-based Jordan Benson’s contemporary approach to traditional stained glass techniques. Together they explore light, colour and transparency across two very different mediums, sharing skills and stories in an exhibition that honours culture while engaging boldly with the present.

Until Sunday 26 July | Canberra Glassworks, Kingston | canberraglassworks.com

Flutterbry: Worlds Beyond Waste

Worlds Beyond Waste invites viewers into a surreal ecosystem built entirely from discarded plastic laundry hamper lids.

Flutterbry transforms everyday waste into mesmerising sculptural forms that feel both organic and architectural, creating a world suspended between the deep ocean and the outer cosmos.

The exhibition will be visible 24/7, offering a different experience by day and by night, with creative lighting and dramatic shadows bringing the works to life.

Based in Canberra, Flutterbry is a visual artist also known to many locals as the former owner of the iconic Toast Bar nightclub (2001–2007).

Until Monday 17 August | Canberra Museum + Gallery, Civic Square | cmag.com.au

Ngurumbang-dhi Fashion Exhibition

Discover Ngurumbang-dhi, a striking collection by First Nations fashion label Corella & Crow, founded by talented designers Rechelle Turner and Megan Daley. On display in the Window Gallery at Belco Arts, these beautiful works were originally created for the 2025 Country to Couture runway. Exploring the deep connection between fashion, Country, and community, the collection highlights slow fashion processes, upcycled textiles, and stunning hand-worked surfaces. Through specialiSed dyeing, mark-making, layering, and reconstruction, each garment speaks beautifully to cycles of renewal and environmental care, honoring the stories and relationships that shape First Nations creative practice.

Until Sunday, 23 August, 10 am–4 pm | Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au

My Country, My Connection exhibition

Experience Full Circle, a deeply personal solo exhibition by a proud Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri woman at the Belconnen Arts Centre. This evocative showcase explores the artist’s unique journey and enduring cultural links, having been fortunate enough to live on both her grandmother and grandfather’s traditional countries for most of her life. Now living on beautiful Yuin Nation country—a place where her mother also lived for two decades while maintaining her traditional connections—the artist brings these three distinct regional relationships full circle through her creative practice. Step into the Pivot Gallery to witness this beautiful celebration of identity.

Until Sunday 23 August, 10 am–4 pm | Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au

Ngiaga Art Exhibition

Step into the West Gallery at Belco Arts to experience Ngiaga, an extraordinary collaborative exhibition of mixed-media works created by First Nations artists. Grounded in spirituality, Country, and genealogy, this deeply autobiographical series explores the interconnected stages of life through ten powerful themes, including birth, heritage, society, and purpose. Each piece draws beautifully from lived experience and cultural knowledge, showing how we move through the world both as individuals and as part of a collective experience. Audiences are warmly invited to witness, reflect, and connect with this stunning, interwoven cultural map.

Until Sunday, 23 August, 10 am–4 pm | Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au

Yawarj Mara Young Men’s Art Exhibition

Belconnen Arts Centre proudly presents the Yawarj Mara – Strong Pathways Young Men’s Group Art Exhibition. Led by proud Ngunnawal and Wiradjuri man Mitchell Daley, this vital program regularly engages over forty Aboriginal young people aged ten to eighteen from across North Canberra. Because creative arts are a core part of their program, this unique showcase in The Nook highlights beautiful artworks and cultural artifacts designed by the participants. Reflecting individual and collective journeys, identity, and connection to culture, these rare works aim to inspire the next generation with strength, vision, and a lasting legacy.

Until Sunday, 23 August, 10 am–4 pm | Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au

Ngura Puḻka–Epic Country

One of the most ambitious exhibitions to open at the National Gallery of Australia this year, Ngura Puḻka–Epic Country showcases major works by senior First Nations artists and collectives from the APY Lands, Coober Pedy, and Adelaide. These large-scale paintings depict Country while celebrating the powerful Tjukurpa–the law and cultural stories–that lies within, rendered sometimes in explosions of colour, sometimes in muted, contemplative palettes. From the beginning of the APY art movement, these artists have embraced monumental works as the ultimate expression of cultural freedom. The result is an exhibition that is genuinely epic in both scale and significance.

Until Sunday, 23 August | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes | nga.gov.au

Tamara Henderson: The Gardener’s Bar

Tamara Henderson presents The Gardener’s Bar, an exhibition centred on compost as material, method and model of transformation within her practice. Drawing on processes of decomposition and regeneration, Henderson builds an ecology where sculpture, painting, film and sound emerge through shared cycles of accumulation, decay and renewal, guided by four recurring archetypes: The Gardener, The Director, Light and Sound. First realised in London in 2023, the work responds to Henderson’s Kamberri/Canberra shed and operates as a site of cultivation, production and exchange. New glass panels for this iteration were produced at Canberra Glassworks. The exhibition is accompanied by a newly commissioned collection of texts by Henderson’s collaborators.

Until Saturday 29 August | Canberra Contemporary, 44 Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes ACT | canberracontemporary.com.au

Trent Parke: The Christmas tree bucket

Trent Parke’s photographic series The Christmas tree bucket 2006–09 is a tender and darkly humorous portrayal of his extended family coming together to celebrate Christmas. The series showcases Parke’s distinctive and acclaimed visual style and his skilful use of light and colour, to transcendent effect.The Christmas tree bucket is a candid, unsettling and often absurd portrait of family life—centred on the chaos, rituals and contradictions of the suburban Australian Christmas. It is a fond, insider’s view—sharp but affectionate—and one that the participants, after initial bemusement, actively embraced.

Parke draws from the legacy of postwar American photography while retaining a distinctly personal visual language, using light and colour to transform the everyday. The resulting photographs are both intimate and theatrical, sometimes hilarious, sometimes poetic and haunting. The exhibition also features a small selection of work from Parke’s black-and-white series Minutes to midnight 2003‒04 and a number of his handmade concertina photobooks, which he sees as a central part of his practice.

Until Sunday 6 September | National Gallery, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au

2XX People-Powered Radio: Celebrating 50 Years

For five decades, 2XX has carried the distinct voices, grassroots politics, and community stories of the capital over the airwaves. This winter, the Canberra Museum + Gallery (CMAG) is marking this massive milestone with a brand-new exhibition celebrating Canberra’s very first community radio station and the passionate people who shaped it. Tracing its evolution from its early beginnings as Radio ANU in 1976 to a modern broadcasting pillar, the exhibition brings together archival audio, vintage equipment, photographs, and vibrant, screen-printed posters made in collaboration with Megalo. Visitors can even step back in time inside a faithfully recreated 1970s and 1980s radio studio to listen to historic broadcast excerpts. It is a nostalgic, physical celebration of local music, multicultural programming, and the independent media movements that helped define modern Canberra.

Until Sunday 6 September | Canberra Museum + Gallery, Civic Square |  cmag.com.au

Wangka Wakaṉutja: the story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre

Between 1979 and 1990, the Papunya Literature Production Centre produced hundreds of illustrated bilingual books–funny, moving, extraordinary documents of Pintupi-Luritja language and culture, guided by community Elders who were also pioneers of the Western Desert art movement. Many of those books have been held in the National Library’s collections ever since, and this landmark new exhibition finally brings them to life. Featuring stories, drawings, photographs, manuscripts, and oral histories drawn from multiple collections, it’s a profoundly significant celebration of Aboriginal literary culture, collective creativity, and the remarkable human effort to keep language alive across generations.

Until Sunday, 11 October | National Library of Australia, Parkes | library.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions/wangka-wakanutja

Hop In! an immersive world of play

Canberra Museum and Gallery launches one of its most delightful exhibitions this April–and it’s designed for the youngest visitors. Hop In! turns the familiar family home inside out, shifting rooms in scale and perspective to invite children aged 3–12 to move, build, crawl, splash, and imagine in surprising new ways. Stretch out beneath a sky of clouds, create secret worlds under oversized furniture, or wander through reimagined kitchens and backyards where creativity has completely taken over. At the heart of the experience is Bunny Dearest, a gentle guiding companion created by artist Beci Orpin.

Until Sunday, 11 October | Canberra Museum and Gallery, London Circuit, Canberra | cmag.com.au

Illuminate: How Science Comes to Light

Questacon presents an interactive exhibition exploring the science of light through 13 hands-on exhibits. Visitors can experiment with light refraction, colour blending, shadow manipulation and reflection across multiple activity stations. The exhibition demonstrates how light travels, reflects and refracts, alongside displays of tools humans have developed to harness light. Activities include bending light, using sensors to create music, and working with lenses. The exhibition is designed for hands-on engagement with scientific concepts. Illuminate: How Science Comes to Light is a Museums Victoria Touring Exhibition running until November 2026.

Until Sunday, 22 November | Questacon–The National Science and Technology Centre, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | questacon.edu.au

Behind the Lines 2025: ‘Are We Rolling?’

Behind the Lines 2025: ‘Are We Rolling?’ celebrates the year’s best political cartoons.

Featuring established and emerging cartoonists from across Australia, this exhibition highlights the significant contribution they make to cultural and political debates through witty, insightful and often poignant satirical drawings.

This year our Behind the Lines theme is the cinema, acknowledging that, like some of our favourite movies, 2025 has been full of thrills and spills, romance and heartbreak, with plenty of unexpected plot twists. Australia’s cartoonists and illustrators have tackled many of the issues that made news, including the federal election, the cost of living, energy policy, interest rates, housing security, the economy, climate change and stories from overseas.

Until December 2026 | Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House | moadoph.gov.au

Quantum Tomorrow: Imagined Futures

Step into a vibrant, near-future Australia where once-impossible technologies transform how we live, work, and play. Questacon’s latest immersive gallery, Quantum Tomorrow: Imagined Futures, makes the complex world of quantum physics accessible, playful, and incredibly fun.

Developed in collaboration with Canberra illustrator Paul Summerfield, the exhibition brings tomorrow’s tech to life through colorful, highly detailed illustrations, giant airborne sculptures, and a mesmerizing cloud chamber that reveals the invisible world of tiny particles. Along the way, visitors can meet the pioneering Australian researchers who are harnessing the unique behaviors of quantum objects to solve some of the world’s most critical challenges. From un-hackable communications and personalized medicine to ultra-responsive prosthetics, you’ll discover how a quantum future promises to make ordinary lives extraordinary.

Open daily through 30 June 2027 | Gallery 8, Questacon, Parkes | questacon.edu.au

Gurindji Freedom Banners 

A powerful new exhibition commemorating the pivotal 1966 Wave Hill Walk-off opens at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Gurindji Freedom Banners: Mumkurla-nginyi-ma parrngalinyparla–From the darkness into the light unites all ten hand-painted banners for the first time in years, telling the story of when Gurindji and neighbouring peoples, led by Vincent Lingiari AM, walked off Wave Hill Station on 23 August 1966.

Their demands for fair working conditions and return of traditional lands sparked landmark change, leading to the first handback of Aboriginal land in 1975 and paving the way for the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976. The textile banners were created in 2000 by 35 Gurindji people, many walk-off participants, with one recently recreated after going missing.

Now showing until late 2026 | Museum of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House | moadoph.gov.au

Know My Name: Kee, Jackson and Delaunay

Know My Name: Kee, Jackson and Delaunay showcases two of Australia’s leading fashion designers: Linda Jackson and Jenny Kee, in conversation with international, multidisciplinary artist Sonia Delaunay (1885–1979).

The iconic and vibrant early designs of Kee and Jackson from the 1970s and early 1980s were directly inspired by the dynamic legacy of Delaunay, who was a member of the School of Paris and co-founder of Orphism, an art movement noted for its use of intense colours and abstract, geometric forms. As well as working in traditional mediums such as painting and printmaking, Delaunay’s practice also included textile, fashion, and theatre design.

For Jackson and Kee, who were beginning their shared journey in creating clothes as works of art, the discovery of Delaunay was revolutionary. This powerful display feature a rarely-seen collection of Kee and Jackson’s garments from their archives and are shown with the National Gallery’s collection of Delaunay’s prints, drawings, textiles and costumes.

Showing now | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au

National Library of Australia Treasures Gallery

The National Library has millions of books, and the Treasures Gallery answers the frequently asked question, ‘Where are they’. They also collect other items. From maps and manuscripts to photographs and paintings, the Treasures Gallery is where you can find highlights from their vast physical and digital collections. Behind-the-scenes videos, pages from William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice from the First Folio, a cedar bookcase carved by Dorothea Mackellar, photographs from the nation’s photo album, and a display of The Wiggles’ websites from 1997 to today from the Australian Web Archive are among the new additions.

Until December 2030 | National Library of Australia, Parkes | library.gov.au

Illustra: 50 Women for 50 Years

Illustra: 50 Women for 50 Years is a permanent portrait exhibition celebrating 50 years of women as residents at John XXIII College. Featuring fifty alumni, the exhibition pairs portraiture with personal reflections to capture the evolving experience of women across five decades. Photographed by ANU School of Art graduate Bronte Morel across Australia and internationally, each work is set in a location of personal significance. Together, the collection forms an intergenerational narrative of leadership, identity and community, recognising the enduring contribution of women to the College and beyond.

Permanent exhibition, open 9 am–5 pm daily | Front foyer, John XXIII College, 51 Daley Road, Australian National University, Canberra | johnxxiii.anu.edu.au