Wondering what’s on in Canberra this long weekend? We’ll just leave this here
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Staying close to home this long weekend? Plenty is happening in Canberra to keep you entertained.
While the temperature heats up, cool down at Hot Summer Nights at the NFSA, make the most of the FLIGHT: Drone SkyShow + Night Markets and take your four-legged friend to a dog-friendly summer celebration. Read on for your curated guide to what’s on in Canberra.
Don’t miss…
FLIGHT: Drone SkyShow + Night Markets
The National Capital Authority presents FLIGHT: Drone SkyShow + Night Markets across the Australia Day weekend, featuring two different 15-minute drone shows nightly at 9 pm and 10 pm. Internationally acclaimed producers AGB Creative deliver breathtaking light displays, cutting-edge drone choreography, immersive music and storytelling that celebrates the nation’s evolving story. Night markets add to the festivities with food, entertainment and community connection. The event combines technology, artistry and culture against the backdrop of Lake Burley Griffin, creating an unforgettable evening of light and magic under the stars for audiences of all ages.
Saturday, 24 January until Monday, 26 January | Lake Burley Griffin, Regatta Point, Parkes | nca.gov.au
Cirque Alice
Cirque Alice reimagines Lewis Carroll’s classic adventure in a fantastical extravaganza from the creators of The Illusionists, Circus 1903 and Le Noir. The production features mind-bending contortionists, mesmerising aerialists, larger-than-life puppetry, enchanting dancers, special musical guests and comedic artists performing against a contemporary soundtrack of iconic classical hits. Stunning performances and gravity-defying feats bring Wonderland to life in a spectacular show suitable for all ages. Limited VIP onstage seats are available for those wanting an immersive experience. The world’s greatest acrobatic performers take the stage at Canberra Theatre Centre this summer.
Thursday, 22 January until Sunday, 25 January | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra | canberratheatrecentre.com.au
The Canberra Burly Griffin’s medieval combat cage fights
The Canberra Burly Griffins present a medieval combat tournament featuring armoured fighters in buhurt-style battles at the Harmonie German Club. Buhurt, derived from the French word meaning “to wallop”, developed in 13th-century feudal Europe as a way for knights to hone combat skills. The event features the Burly Griffins competing against interstate challengers, with teams winning by knocking down opponents or forcing surrender. Spectators can watch full-contact steel combat whilst enjoying German beers. The same group performed at Oktoberfest celebrations in 2025. The event runs for five hours at the Zeppelin Room venue.
Saturday, 24 January, 6 pm–11 pm | The Zeppelin Room, 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah | events.humanitix.com
Ollies’ Garage Car display
The display marks 100 years of Ford in Australia alongside collections of Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicles, motorsport legends, and automotive memorabilia. Visitors can view the world’s largest pushbike and get close to iconic vehicles spanning Australian automotive history. The exhibition runs Friday mornings at the Fyshwick venue, offering access to rare and significant cars. The display includes the first showing of the Ford centenary collection, combining historical vehicles with motorsport heritage. Ollies’ Garage opens the collection to enthusiasts and families for viewing sessions throughout January and beyond.
Saturday, 24 January, 9 am–12 pm | Ollies’ Garage, 72 Gladstone Street, Unit 1, Fyshwick | olliesgarage.com.au
Summer of 2005 paws party
Haig Park transforms into a dog-friendly summer celebration with sprinklers, water features and live music. The event includes cooling sprays and water pistols to help dogs and their owners beat the heat, plus a water-spraying rainbow photo booth for summer snaps. Wayne Kelly and Ange Mount provide live entertainment with a playlist inspired by the Hottest 100 of 2005. Deckchairs and shaded areas offer relaxation spots for humans and pups alike, whilst the Haig Park Village Markets run concurrently with treats and local finds. The event coincides with Hottest 100 day, creating a throwback atmosphere for the community gathering.
Sunday, 25 January, 10 am–12 pm | Haig Park, top of Mort Street, Braddon | facebook.com/events/1832603454041205
Australia Day at the Museum
The National Museum hosts a free lakeside concert and activities celebrating Australia’s vibrant culture and stories. The program includes traditional dance and storytelling from Kabi Kabi Mooloolah song man Lyndon Davis and the Gubbi Gubbi dance group, ethereal fusion artist Parvyn blending Indian classical music with pop, traditional Korean performance group JDance, and Arrernte country music legend Warren H Williams with his family band. Free workshops include First Nations weaving, Korean knot-tying and dance sessions, plus curator talks and host tours. Entry to the Tim and Gina Fairfax Discovery Centre is free on the day with advance booking recommended. Food options include BBQ snags, pizza and Korean street food.
Monday, 26 January, 10.30 am–3 pm | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula, Acton | nma.gov.au/whats-on/australia-day-at-the-museum
Australia Day at Regatta Point
A free community celebration at Regatta Point features a sausage sizzle for the first thousand attendees, followed by gold coin donations. The four-hour program includes lion and dragon dance with martial arts by Moonbear Kung Fu Academy and Canberra Dragon Dance, traditional Chinese dance by Red Cedar Traditional Chinese Dance Group, K-Pop dance by Dance Til Dawn Studio, and live band Daybed Promises. Free family-friendly activities include animal-themed ring toss, crossword trivia hunt, giant thong throw and badge making. Food trucks provide additional options throughout the event. The outdoor gathering at Ferry Gate offers entertainment, games and community connection with roving performers throughout the afternoon.
Monday, 26 January, 10.30 am–2.30 pm | Regatta Point, Ferry Gate, Parkes | australia-day.events.canberra.com.au
Hot Summer Nights at the NFSA
Hot Summer Nights returns for its second year, combining live local music and classic cinema in one ticket. Every Friday and Saturday evening, the heritage courtyard hosts performances by talented local artists, complemented by wines, summer cocktails and charcuterie from Dom’s Deli & Bar. Later, guests step into Canberra’s most beautiful cinema for hand-picked films ranging from sensual classics to gritty dramas and beloved musicals. Highlights include Wallabindi with The Sapphires, Belco Jazz Band alongside Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and ARCHIE with Two Hands. Full program available online.
Fridays and Saturdays, until 14 February | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton | nfsa.gov.au
Heaven’s Gate
The Australian premiere of Heaven’s Gate, a video installation by internationally acclaimed artist Marco Brambilla. Free to the public, the work fuses Hollywood glamour and contemporary culture.
The latest chapter in Brambilla’s Megaplex series exploring modern spectacle and excess, Heaven’s Gate takes viewers on a vivid cinematic journey through collaged film imagery featuring Beyoncé, Audrey Hepburn, Leonardo DiCaprio and Christopher Walken. The installation creates a multifaceted dreamscape blurring celebration and critique.
This immersive audiovisual experience continues through March 2026.
Until Sunday, 9 March | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton | nfsa.gov.au
Hallyu! The Korean Wave
An exhibition exploring Korea’s cultural journey to global influence through 250 objects from the V&A in London. The exhibition spans film, fashion, drama, beauty and music–from BTS to aespa, Squid Game to Parasite, glass skin to bibimbap. Visitors can discover the powerhouse behind Korea’s dramatic cultural transformation and the vibrant world of K-culture as it continues to sweep across the globe. The exhibition examines how creativity, collaboration and cultural ambition shaped Korea’s contemporary identity.
Until Sunday, 10 May | National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent, Acton Peninsula, Acton | nma.gov.au
Family
Matildas: Game Face & Make and Move
National Portrait Gallery celebrates a new commissioned video portrait of the CommBank Matildas by artist Angela Tiatia with free summer activities inspired by the commissioned portrait of the team that captured hearts across Australia.
Kick off on the pop-up soccer field on the cafe lawns or challenge mates to foosball showdowns in the Western Courtyard.
Get ready to make and move with creative activities including fan bracelet making, soccer card design, and fun movement challenges.
Drop in anytime throughout summer to experience the excitement. The program runs daily from , offering families and football fans the chance to celebrate the CommBank Matildas whilst enjoying hands-on activities combining creativity with active play in the gallery setting.
Until Sunday, 1 February | National Portrait Gallery, Parkes | portrait.gov.au
Summer holidays at the National Zoo & Aquarium
The National Zoo and Aquarium presents a summer program of wildlife encounters and family entertainment throughout the school holidays. Visitors can enjoy live music, lawn games and seasonal food treats, including wagyu options and frozen refreshments alongside animal encounters and themed keeper talks. Hands-on activities include colouring, treasure hunts, hayrides and jumping castles. Special event days feature roaming dinosaurs, silent discos, outdoor movies and mascot appearances. Most activities are included with general admission and free for members, with some paid experiences available. Programming runs weather-dependent, with updates shared on the zoo’s social media channels. The extended program provides opportunities to explore the zoo’s collection whilst enjoying summer entertainment.
Daily until Sunday, 2 February, 9.30 am–5 pm | National Zoo and Aquarium, 999 Lady Denman Drive, Weston | nationalzoo.com.au/news-events/summer-holidays-are-here
Code Camp summer holiday programs
Code Camp presents final weeks of summer holiday programs for ages five to 13, offering full-day structured activities beyond tech. Programs span animation, design, crafting, robotics, DJing and building mini houses alongside coding options. Younger children can explore Minecraft Minis, Little Coders and Animation Minis, whilst older participants tackle drone programming, AI camp, web building and YouTube creation. Creative camps include crochet, knitting, macrame, graphic novel illustration and jewellery design. Programs run across multiple ACT locations through late January, providing structured engagement during the final stretch of holidays. Various beginner and intermediate options cater to different skill levels and interests, designed to keep children genuinely engaged whilst parents enjoy a breather.
Multiple weeks until Friday, 23 January (final ACT week) | Various ACT locations | codecamp.com.au
Markets
Old Bus Depot Markets
Lovers of fine hand-crafted wares, clothing collectors, food fanatics and jewellery junkies are just a few of the people who head to Canberra’s award-winning Old Bus Depot Markets every Sunday. In a fabulous old industrial building, you’ll experience the endless colour, tastes, sounds and atmosphere that is “Canberra’s Sunday Best”.
Not your average market, each week you’ll find over 200 stalls of exceptional quality, featuring items all hand-crafted by local and regional creatives. The sheer variety means you’ll discover something unexpected every visit, whether that’s a piece of pottery that speaks to you, a stunning necklace, or the perfect vintage find. There’s simply no better way to spend your Sunday in Canberra.
Sundays, 9.30 am – 2.30 pm | 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | obdm.com.au
Haig Park Village Markets
Another local favourite, spend your Sunday morning browsing delicious cuisines, fresh produce, artisan products and locally handmade crafts while enjoying live music, an artists’ table and family-friendly activities.
It’s the kind of market where you can linger over breakfast, discover a new artist, and stock up on fresh produce all in one lovely morning, making it the perfect Sunday outing in leafy Braddon.
Sunday 25 January, 8 am – 2 pm | Haig Park, Girrahween Street, Braddon | haigparkvillagemarkets.com.au
Southside Farmers Markets
This village market is located at Canberra College, making it the perfect place to duck in to grab what you need (and maybe a few things you don’t). Order an egg and bacon roll to start the morning as you explore the best of fresh seasonal veggies, handmade pasta, pet treats and more.
Sunday 7 am -11.30 am, returns 18 January | 2 Launceston Street, Phillip | facebook.com/SouthsideFarmersMarketCanberra
Stage and Screen
Cinderella
Leisa Keen presents a sparkling pantomime spectacular featuring a cast of seven adults and 17 children at The Q Queanbeyan. The classic tale follows Cinderella as she scrubs and sweeps for her frightful stepmother and hilariously hideous Ugly Sisters before her cheeky Fairy Godmother works glittering magic to whisk her to the Royal Ball. The two-hour production delivers classic panto mischief including outrageous comedy, over-the-top villains, larger-than-life dames and plenty of audience participation with booing, hissing and cheering. Expect silly shenanigans, show-stopping musical numbers and enough sparkle to light up the kingdom. A laugh-a-minute, toe-tapping, heart-warming adventure for the whole family. Contains haze, strobe lighting and sparks.
Until Saturday, 24 January | The Q–Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre, 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan | theq.net.au
Sunset Cinema Canberra
Sunset Outdoor Cinema returns to the Australian National Botanic Gardens with new releases, classics and family favourites. The summer program includes blockbusters like Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Avatar: Fire and Ash and The Running Man, animated favourites like Zootopia 2 and The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants, plus the musical spectacular Wicked: For Good. December screenings feature festive films including Love Actually, The Holiday, Elf and Home Alone. The VIP Fever-Tree Lounge offers premium bean loungers, bottomless popcorn and a complimentary gin and tonic or premium Fever-Tree soda. Food trucks and movie snacks available.
Until Saturday, 28 February | The Australian National Botanic Gardens, Clunies Ross Street, Acton | sunsetcinema.com.au
NFSA Summer Film Series
Arc Cinema presents A Summer of Love, a bold cinematic journey through peace, love and revolution from the 1960s to 2025. The program features films exploring love in chaotic, charming and complicated forms, from documentary Whoopee Blues: The Life and Times of the Conway Brothers to holiday favourite Love Actually.
Highlights include Tennessee Williams spotlight featuring A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Cyberpunk series with Blade Runner and The Matrix, European Avant-Garde program, and school holiday matinees featuring animal adventures.
Until February 2026 | NFSA Arc Cinema, Acton | nfsa.gov.au
Music
Rise Up Reggae Vibez
Afronesian Roots & Soul presents a celebration of reggae, soul and island rhythms at Smith’s Alternative featuring three outstanding acts. Melbourne’s Paulo Almeida brings soulful reggae infused with global influences including Timorese culture, whilst Sydney’s all-female project The Lady Beans blend reggae, soul and funk with powerful harmonies and infectious grooves. Fiji-born, Sydney-based Liven Roots fuse roots reggae, hip-hop, soul and R&B, creating music deeply enriched by island culture and life experience. The afternoon event delivers music that tells stories of culture, love, resilience and community. Tickets are $30 plus booking fee. This 18-plus event creates space for conscious rhythms, connection and celebration through music honouring cultural roots.
Sunday, 25 January, 3 pm | Smith’s Alternative, 76 Alinga Street, Civic | smithsalternative.com
Sport and Wellness
UC Capitals v Bendigo Spirit
The nine-time WNBL champion UC Capitals face the Bendigo Spirit in elite women’s basketball competition. Led by Australian Opals Jade Melbourne and Sara Blicavs, the Capitals bring world-class talent and Canberra’s most successful sporting record to the court. The evening game showcases the energy, passion and athleticism that has made the Capitals league leaders. Attending a Capitals match provides an opportunity to experience professional women’s basketball at its highest level, with competitive play and skilled athletes delivering an exciting sporting spectacle.
Sunday, 25 January, 5.30–8.30 pm | AIS Arena, 26 Leverrier Street, Bruce | wnbl.basketball
UFC 324: Gaethje vs Pimblett
Justin Gaethje from the USA takes on England’s Paddy Pimblett in a high-stakes UFC 324 matchup screened live at Casino Canberra’s ONYX Sports Lounge. The bout features two explosive fighters in the lightweight division. The fight will be broadcast on the big screen with full audio, creating a live viewing experience for combat sports fans. ONYX Sports Lounge opens for the afternoon event, with the broadcast running for four hours to cover the full fight card. Attendees can watch every round of the main event and undercard fights in the sports lounge environment.
Sunday, 25 January, 1 pm–5 pm | Onyx Lounge at Casino Canberra, 21 Binara Street, Canberra City | casinocanberra.com.au
Exhibitions
Masked Memory by Rosalind Lemoh
Canberra Contemporary presents new works by NSW-based Sierra Leonean-born artist Rosalind Lemoh focusing on personal cultural objects from her family home. The exhibition reflects on her connection to Mende and Themne cultures from West Africa, bringing the African diaspora in Australia into focus. Lemoh threads together ideas of arrival, cultural masking, shifting senses of place and the blending of myth, fact and fiction through family storytelling.
Spanning sculpture and photography, the works continue her practice of using memorial and remembering to understand present and future identities. This thought-provoking exhibition explores fragility, power and gender through sculptural assemblage influenced by Arte Povera and Confessional Art.
Until Saturday 24 January | Canberra Contemporary | canberracontemporary.com.au
Skin Deep by Gabriella Bisetto
Canberra Glassworks concludes its 2025 exhibition program with a major solo exhibition by Adelaide-based glass artist Gabriella Bisetto, winner of the 2024 Tom Malone Glass Prize. Curated by Margaret Hancock, Skin Deep invites viewers to consider how beauty resides in imperfection.
Bisetto’s sculptural forms carry quiet evidence of their making–heated, cooled, slumped, scarred and pressed into being. Like human skin, every blemish and fine cut becomes an intimate record of contact, making visible the coexistence of fragility and endurance.
Bisetto interprets mechanisms and ideologies of the human body through blown glass, hot sculpting and collaborative making. Her influence is visible in the next generation of celebrated glass artists including Yhonnie Scarce, Jessica Murtagh and Liam Fleming.
Until Sunday, 25 January | Canberra Glassworks, Kingston | canberraglassworks.com
subcultures
subcultures is an open exhibition curated by Red Saunders bringing to light the rich tapestry of alternative identities, communities and expressions flourishing outside mainstream society. From punk and goth to skateboarding and street art, creators from across Australia celebrate the creativity, resistance and innovation of those carving out spaces of belonging in subversive ways. Through painting, photography, illustration and collage, subcultures reflects on how fashion, music, political ideals and shared lifestyles converge to create powerful subcultural identities. This diverse exhibition captures unique aesthetic markers and stories of solidarity, marginalisation and rebellion, paying tribute to underground movements challenging the status quo and enriching cultural landscapes.
Until Sunday, 1 February | West Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
Dialogue with Dissonance
An exhibition exploring the human disposition to live with contradiction. Local artists working in a range of media and approaches interpret the disparity between what is seen and what is expected. The series considers how people express themselves collectively and individually by creating tension through different forms, relationships and meaning. Viewers only see completed artworks, observing them with their own internal attitudes, behaviours and unconscious bias. What goes on behind the scenes–concept, composition, colour choices, deciding when a work is finished–manifests in the audience’s decision to stop and make sense. Through dissonance, audiences develop thought-provoking experiences tapping into human desire to make order from disorder.
Until Saturday, 1 February | Pivot Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
Disclosed Impressions
New works by the Migrant Women’s Art Group highlighting diverse artistic contributions in Gungahlin. These culturally relevant works explore colour, composition and personal stories using wide variety of mediums and techniques. The Migrant Women’s Art Group, presented by Gungahlin Arts, supports women who have migrated to Australia and live in the Canberra region to develop and share their unique creative voice. Throughout 2025, the group has worked with textiles, wearable art, sculpture, drawing and painting. This exhibition presents a snapshot of session outcomes and a record of social connections and relationships developed through the program celebrating cultural diversity through art.
Until Sunday, 1 February | Window Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
The Art of Celebration: Reflecting 50 years plus of Canberra Art Workshop
Canberra Art Workshop celebrates over 50 years of art making. This exhibition enables diverse and talented CAW members to celebrate their enthusiasm for art by sharing it with others through public exhibition. BelcoArts’ annual single-subject exhibition is advertised well in advance, with members responding in a variety of media and techniques. Working with BelcoArts allows CAW members to dialogue with a wide ACT and regional New South Wales audience. Be surprised and delighted at the rich array of works this talented group brings. Expect experimental and traditional art using wide range of media–drawing, painting, pastel, mixed media, watercolour in two-dimensional, three-dimensional and digital formats.
Until Sunday, 1 February | Generator Gallery, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
Questacon Presents: ZAP! CLANK! POW!
Featuring a new take on some old favourites from the past three decades, this exhibition might have been designed with little scientists in mind, but trust us when we say everyone will enjoy a visit to ZAP! CLANK! POW! at Questacon.
Featuring 17 highly interactive exhibits, you’ll get hands-on as you explore the exciting world of electricity, machines, and motion. And with a comic book theme running throughout, it will keep all ages entertained.
Until Sunday 1 February | Questacon, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | questacon.edu.au
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.
Until Sunday 1 February 2026 | Canberra Museum + Gallery, 176 London Circuit, Canberra | cmag.com.au
Petrichor by Chantal de Kock
Tyger Gallery in Yass presents Petrichor, a solo exhibition by Gippsland-based artist Chantal de Kock featuring dream-like landscape paintings created with earth pigments. The works explore imagined landscapes shaped by memory, emotion and healing, developed through an intuitive layered process where elements are built, erased and reworked over time. Soft brushwork, ethereal light and a rich palette create contemplative pieces that invite viewers to pause and spend time with them. The exhibition title references the scent released when rain falls on dry earth, echoing themes of renewal and re-grounding after emotional upheaval. The works function as visual diaries tracing the balance between vulnerability and resilience.
Until Saturday, 8 February | Tyger Gallery, 84 Comur Street, Yass | tygergallery.com.au
Postcards from Black Mountain
Artist Morgyn Phillips presents hand-drawn postcard-sized images in ink and coloured pencil inspired by Black Mountain in the heart of Canberra. The exhibition features different aspects of the iconic landmark including landscape, trees, plants and their stories, moving beyond the usual focus on buildings and events. The COVID period left Phillips appreciating what was special about her local environment and exploring what makes an ordinary place special. The free exhibition at the Australian National Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre offers an intimate exploration of Canberra’s natural environment through detailed botanical illustrations. Visitors can meet the artist on Saturday, 17 January from 1.30–4 pm in the Visitor Centre Gallery.
Until Sunday, 8 February | Australian National Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre, Clunies Ross Street, Acton | visit.anbg.gov.au
The Cardboard works
Al Munro and Gayle Stockley present an exhibition exploring colour, geometric abstraction and the materiality of found cardboard in non-objective painting. The works examine cardboard as colour, structure and surface combined with minimalist abstraction. The exhibition opens alongside two other shows: Things and Thoughts by Kerry Shepherdson and Miniature Terrain, a curated collection by eight artists including Maree Azzopardi, Zara Collins, Brenda Hine, Francis Jaye Johnson, Lynn Petersen, Sallie Saunders, Melinda Young and Jonathon Zalakos. All three exhibitions run concurrently at M16 Artspace through mid-February.
Until Sunday 15 February | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au
Miniature Terrain
This curated exhibition features works by eight artists–Maree Azzopardi, Zara Collins, Brenda Hine, Francis Jaye Johnson, Lynn Petersen, Sallie Saunders, Melinda Young and Jonathon Zalakos. Each artist works with distinct material practices exploring the physicality of their chosen medium, united by themes of exploration, environment and community. The miniature works are described as quirky, foreboding, delicate, spiritual, sensual and geometric, creating impressions that reflect the relationship between collective belonging and individual expression. The exhibition opens alongside The Cardboard Works by Al Munro and Gayle Stockley, and Things and Thoughts by Kerry Shepherdson.
Until Sunday 15 February | M16 Artspace, 21 Blaxland Crescent, Griffith | m16artspace.com.au
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
Enjoy this trip: the art of music posters
Journey back to the Summer of Love and be transported to a time when the music was funky, the art was kaleidoscopic and psychedelia was in full swing. Drawn from the National Gallery’s expansive collection of Australian and international music posters spanning the 1960s to 1980s, Enjoy this trip: The art of music posters captures the spirit of the times as an era of experimentation.
Until Sunday 22 February 2026 | National Gallery, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au
Women Photographers 1853–2018
Women Photographers 1853–2018 highlights the transformative impact of women artists on the history of photography.
Since its inception, the National Gallery’s photography collection has reflected the vital place of women in the medium’s history. Some of its earliest acquisitions were major works by women.
As a result, the National Gallery is uniquely placed to consider how photography has changed the worlds in which women live, and how women have changed photography. As the great modernist photographer Lucia Moholy wrote, ‘Photography has not only changed the way we see the world but also how we see ourselves.’ For women artists, making photographs has always been an act of resistance. Photography has given women access to spaces of knowledge, artistic practices and technology from which they were previously excluded.
This exhibition features work spanning more than 160 years of women working with photography.
Until Sunday 1 March | National Gallery, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.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 Sunday 8 March 2026 | Canberra Museum + Gallery, City | More information here.
50 Years on the Beat: The Legacy of Constable Kenny Koala
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Constable Kenny Koala, the AFP Museum presents a major temporary exhibition honouring the iconic community policing mascot held at the National Capital Exhibition, Regatta Point.
Known for educating children about safety since 1975, Kenny Koala is beloved by generations of Canberrans. This exhibition captures his origins, evolution, and ongoing impact on public trust and community engagement. Visitors will experience five decades of memorabilia, puppets, costumes, media, and interactive learning tools that showcase the enduring values of kindness, education, and public service.
Until Wednesday 18 March 2026 | National Capital Exhibition, Regatta Point | nca.gov.au
Super Kaylene Whiskey
Super Kaylene Whiskey celebrates one of Australia’s leading contemporary artists, proud Yankunytjatjara woman Kaylene Whiskey. This major survey brings together works from across Whiskey’s career, showcasing her dynamic practice that is grounded in stories of First Nations joy and strength. Drawn from public and private collections, the exhibition features over 80 paintings, video work and installation from her early career to now, as well as a newly commissioned portrait.
With irreverent humour, Whiskey playfully combines everyday life, Aṉangu culture and beloved pop culture icons in her work. Dolly Parton, Cher and Wonder Woman share centre stage with Whiskey and other strong kungkas (women) as together they hunt and collect bush tucker. Through her rich visual stories, Whiskey joyfully connects cultures, Country and celebrity and invites us along for the ride.
Until Monday 9 March | National Portrait Gallery, Parkes | portrait.gov.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.
Until Monday 9 March | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, Canberra | library.gov.au
A Loving City: Queerberra Revisited
A Loving City: Queerberra Revisited explores love, identity and resilience within Canberra’s LGBTQIA+ community. In 2017, photographer Jane Duong and producer Victoria Firth-Smith created Queerberra to document queer Canberrans during the national postal vote on marriage equality. Over 100 portraits captured moments of pride, exhaustion, defiance and hope when love itself was publicly debated. Eight years later, this exhibition returns to those portraits to reflect on personal growth, community strength and the enduring power of love. The exhibition invites visitors to consider progress made and work remaining in the city that voted yes more strongly than any other in Australia.
Until Saturday, 5 April | Canberra Museum + Gallery, 176 London Circuit, Canberra | cmag.com.au
In Bloom
In Bloom explores the beauty and symbolism of flowers. Featuring more than 50 portraits from the National Portrait Gallery collection, new acquisitions and selected loans, you will discover how flowers have long been used in art to express emotion and convey messages of personal, cultural and religious significance.
The show is a weird and wonderful floral extravaganza that includes much-loved and lesser-known works from the collection. See socialites, chefs, musicians, actors, doctors and politicians who are all unified by their accompanying floral markers.
Until Sunday 19 April 2026 | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | portrait.gov.au
Bilong Papua New Guinea: 50 years of Independence
Bilong Papua New Guinea marks the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence and the birth of a new nation on September 16, 1975. The National Gallery holds the largest collection of Papua New Guinea urban art outside the country. Each of the works selected for Bilong Papua New Guinea presents a story, reflecting on cultural heritage, historical moments, the influence of ancestors, Christianity, kastom, societal changes and new technologies.
Until Sunday 19 April | National Gallery, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au
5th National Indigenous Art Triennial
The National Indigenous Art Triennial brings together commissioned work by established and emerging First Nations artists from across Australia. Artistic Director Tony Albert (Girramay/Yidinji/Kuku-Yalanji peoples), one of Australia’s foremost contemporary artists, leads this iteration. After the Rain presents new immersive projects resonating with ideas of rebirth and cycles of cleansing, celebrating inter-generational legacies and cultural warriors of past, present and future. Made possible through the continued generosity of Wesfarmers Arts and key philanthropic supporters, the Triennial creates an important platform for art and ideas. Following its Kamberri/Canerra presentation, After the Rain will tour nationally.
Until Saturday, 26 April 2026 | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au
In real life: inventors, innovators and opportunists
Celebrate Australian innovation at National Archives’ latest exhibition in Canberra, In real life: inventors, innovators and opportunists. Explore the history of Australian invention, from First Nations creativity to 150 years of patents, designs and trademark registrations.
See life-changing inventions, iconic designs and household brand names with original design drawings and trademarks from the national archival collection alongside their real-life counterparts.
Australians from all walks of life have pursued their ideas in the laboratory, at the drafting table and in the humble backyard shed. Learn about the innovators behind advances such as the baby capsule, spray-on skin and the stump-cam. Discover the origins of everyday products and national icons such as the Victa lawnmower, Hills Hoist and ‘goon bag’.
From pedestrian crossing buttons to dual flush toilets, see how the Australian Government played a vital role in supporting inventions and designs that you regularly see, hear, use – and flush. Spark your own imagination and be inspired by stories of bold dreams, determination and Australian ingenuity.
Until 17 May | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue, Parkes | naa.gov.au
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
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
Behind the Lines 2025: ‘Are We Rolling?’
Behind the Lines 2025: ‘Are We Rolling?’ celebrates the year’s best political cartoons.
Featuring established and emerging cartoonists from across Australia, this exhibition highlights the significant contribution they make to cultural and political debates through witty, insightful and often poignant satirical drawings.
This year our Behind the Lines theme is the cinema, acknowledging that, like some of our favourite movies, 2025 has been full of thrills and spills, romance and heartbreak, with plenty of unexpected plot twists. Australia’s cartoonists and illustrators have tackled many of the issues that made news, including the federal election, the cost of living, energy policy, interest rates, housing security, the economy, climate change and stories from overseas.
Until December 2026 | Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House | moadoph.gov.au
Gurindji Freedom Banners
A powerful new exhibition commemorating the pivotal 1966 Wave Hill Walk-off opens at the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Gurindji Freedom Banners: Mumkurla-nginyi-ma parrngalinyparla–From the darkness into the light unites all ten hand-painted banners for the first time in years, telling the story of when Gurindji and neighbouring peoples, led by Vincent Lingiari AM, walked off Wave Hill Station on 23 August 1966.
Their demands for fair working conditions and return of traditional lands sparked landmark change, leading to the first handback of Aboriginal land in 1975 and paving the way for the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976. The textile banners were created in 2000 by 35 Gurindji people, many walk-off participants, with one recently recreated after going missing.
Now showing until late 2026 | Museum of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House | moadoph.gov.au
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 recognising 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 collectables. 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
