I still remember the day I first experienced mental imagery when reading Mary Poppins. I must be, as I had always suspected, a witch. I ran to my mother to exclaim my revelation. Reading would become my first love.
On most days my nose was in a book. Mary Poppins became Harry Potter, became The God of Small Things and James Baldwin. Each time a new offering of escape – a new pair of shoes to step into. I credit reading for my empathy, my romanticism and my love for humanity. If we can create such beautiful fictional worlds, why not our own?
But my entry to reading didn’t start with Mary Poppins. It began with community library trips after attending the doctor to get my first immunisations. It was written in the Immunisation Contract drafted by my mother. The quid pro quo for my cooperation. Quiet spaces, hushed whispers and interesting people to observe from afar. As a people watcher in training, this was my heaven.
An unusual amount of autonomy was granted to my small self in these spaces, as I examined each shelf, collecting book covers to present to my parents in the hopes that I could somehow get away with borrowing 15 instead of the contractually agreed upon five. Perhaps a Matilda book cart might help my case, I thought.
When my family moved from Melbourne to Canberra in primary school, local libraries remained a constant neighbour. Canberra’s libraries really were the first third place I knew as a teen. For Canberra high schoolers, the National Library of Australia (“the Nash”) was the place to be. Among the public servants, researchers and university students, a conglomerate of awkward teens would discuss matrices, romantic interests and gossip. In response we would be hit with an angry “SHH” to which we would giggle and comply until the momentum of the conversation took us back to the volume we started with. Being kicked out of the Nash was a semi-regular occurrence for some of the louder among us, and in some ways a rite of passage.
When I moved on to study at the Australian National University, libraries once again presented themselves as steady study buddies. Tears were shed over tight deadlines, bad grades, friendship troubles and broken romances. The library carried it all. We would argue over which campus library was best – Chifley had better cosy study nooks, while Marie Reay had better lighting, and Hancock, for whatever reason, was just more cool. I have to confess, whether our crushes frequented them too would often be the deciding factor. Let a girl romanticise!
The slightly dingy Law Library in the furthest corner of campus was my favourite. Hidden between the bookshelves were tiny desks that not only presented safe spaces for some of the hardest head-in-hands type study sessions of my degree but also offered solidarity in the graffiti sprawled across them from the law students who came before me. “Admin law sucks.” “When will it end?” or a more encouraging “You’ve got this!”
I have recently rediscovered the value in book borrowing libraries. No paywalls, no subscriptions: just me and my library card against the world. And most importantly, the value of libraries extends far beyond accessibility to free information and literature – although of course that is incredible. Libraries, today, offer a rare meeting place and source of community connection. The ‘third place’ is a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in the 1990s to describe places of community outside of the first place; home, and the second place; work or school. Much of his work was dedicated to arguing that third places are essential for community well-being. Libraries are a quintessential third place.
Take this as a reminder to support your local library – it’s free!
The ACT Government has recently announced changes to public library opening hours. Please consult the Libraries ACT Frequently Asked Questions resource and your local library website to understand how these changes affect you.
Pop Sunday 6 September into your calendar and start planning – Father’s Day is on its way (and it’s coming up quickly).
Whether your old man is a die-hard petrolhead, a closet mixologist, or just wants an excuse to fly a kite in a field, here’s how to keep him entertained in Canberra this year.
Father’s Day Glenfiddich tasting at Hippo Co
This special Father’s Day Glenfiddich event is perfect for the dad who can’t resist a glass of whisky.
Along with learning about the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, he’ll get the chance to try six whiskies from the famous distillery and take home a bottle of the 16-year-old Aston Martin edition. There are limited spots available, so be quick to book!
Saturday 5 September, 6 pm – 7.30 pm | 17 Garema Place, City | Book here.
Build Your Own Gin Experience
This Father’s Day, Canberra Centre is partnering with Hold Fast Distillery for an interactive Build Your Own Gin Experience.
Running for 90 minutes, the workshop will allow dad to discover the aromas and botanicals that shape a gin, taste and experiment with different flavour profiles and understand how the final flavours develop and linger. He’ll get to experiment, adjust and refine his gin until he’s created a flavour profile that’s uniquely his!
Once he’s happy with his creation, he’ll receive a 500ml bottle of his personalised gin to take home.
Saturday 5 September, 10 am, 12 pm and 2 pm | Canberra Centre, 148 Bunda Street, City | Book here.
David Jones “For Dad” Fragrance Masterclass
Searching for Dad’s next signature fragrance? Forget hitting the shops; take him along to meet the fragrance experts from David Jones Canberra for a special For Dad Fragrance Masterclass.
Designed to help him discover the perfect scent for Father’s Day, he’ll be taken through a collection of men’s and unisex fragrances where he’ll learn how fragrance families are created and receive expert guidance on finding a scent that suits his individual style. It’s a memorable way to celebrate Father’s Day.
Saturday 5 September, 12 pm -1.30 pm | Monaro Mall, Level 1, Canberra Centre | Book here.
Dad’s Den in Centre Court
Dad’s getting his own backyard-style hangout at South.Point this Father’s Day.
From 10 am until 1 pm during the Father’s Day weekend, he can enjoy whiskey and rum tastings from Canberra Distillery and dig into sausage rolls and chicken sliders from The Coffee Club. If that’s not enough, he’ll also have the chance to win an unforgettable Cheetah Walk at National Zoo and Aquarium! It’s the perfect present.
To get Dad’s Den entry, simply spend $50 or more at participating South.Point retailers until 6 September, then present your receipt to Concierge to collect his ticket.
Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September | Anketell Street. &, Reed Street North, Greenway | Find out more here.
Celebrate Father’s Day at Kitefest
The Googong Kite Festival is back this Father’s Day! Take dad along to this utterly uplifting festival for a wholesome day of kite flying. Keep an eye out for fun kites including a giant whale shark, dragons, bunny rabbits, a stingray, astronauts and a flying pig and treat dad to a lunch from one of the food trucks – including Googong Hogs Sausage Sizzle, Kurbside Kravingz and Jarochos – or pack a picnic and relax as the DJ provides entertainment.
Did we mention it’s free to attend?
Sunday 6 September, 11 am – 2 pm | Rockley Oval, Rockley Parade Googong | Reserve a spot here.
Father’s Day at Old Bus Depot Markets
Take Dad to the Old Bus Depot Markets for a fun morning out on Father’s Day. With 180 stalls to browse – stocking everything from unique handmade gifts to gourmet treats – whether you’re searching for the perfect gift or simply looking to spend quality time together, there’s plenty to explore.
Relax with a great coffee, indulge in delicious food, and make a day of it!
Sunday 6 September, 9.30 am -2.30 pm | 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | Find out more here.
The Beatles Rebooted: With Strings
If dad’s a Beatles fan, he’ll love this. The Canberra Theatre Centre is hosting an extraordinary celebration of The Beatles’ most iconic works with The Beatles Rebooted: All the Hits, with strings!
Highlighting their early hits as well as songs from their groundbreaking album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club, the show will also feature original instruments, authentic outfits, and multimedia lighting and visuals to transport dad back to the height of Beatlemania and beyond.
Sunday 6 September, 3 pm | Civic Square, London Circuit, City | Book here.
Rear vision: the Holden collection
Take dad on a drive through the story of an Australian icon in Rear vision: the Holden collection at the National Archives of Australia this Father’s Day.
This exhibition traces Holden’s journey from a 19th-century saddlery to ‘Australia’s Own Car’ and its lasting impact on the nation’s economy, industry and identity. Home to archival records, rare artefacts, drawings and images that reveal the people, innovations and decisions behind General Motors-Holden, it’s perfect for car lovers!
Until Sunday 11 October | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue, Parkes | Find out more here.
New month, fresh plans. The first week of September brings a brilliant lineup of food, art, markets, and live entertainment to Canberra.
From seasonal culinary pop-ups and immersive arts exhibitions to lively weekend markets, early September is packed with reasons to explore the city. Here is our curated guide to the experiences you won’t want to miss across the week ahead.
Looking for even more to do in Canberra? Check out our What’s On section to find hundreds of events happening around town.
Don’t miss…
Canberra Moon Festival
Celebrate community, culture, and togetherness at the Canberra Moon Festival as City Walk transforms into a bustling multicultural hub. Marking the traditional Mid-Autumn harvest, this three-day extravaganza brings together live dance and music performances, vibrant DJ sets, and an incredible array of food stalls offering delicious Asian street food. With family-friendly amusement rides and colorful cultural displays, there is something for every age to enjoy. Gather your loved ones, taste your way through exotic flavours, and soak up the festive atmosphere in the heart of our city as we celebrate harvest and unity together.
Friday 4 until Sunday, 6 September, times vary | City Walk & Petrie Plaza, City Walk, City | canberramoonfestival.com.au
NFSA Spring Film Series
Enjoy the NFSA’s curated program of recent releases and revived classics, from high art to guilty pleasures. There’s something for everyone!
Follow the pull of earth, water, fire and air in the Spring Film Series at Arc Cinema. From epic river journeys and windswept adventures to stories of passion, change and survival, these films reveal the forces that shape our world and ourselves.
Step into these elemental worlds and discover stories that move, challenge and transform.
Tuesday 1 September to Monday 30 November | NFSA Acton, McCoy Circuit, Acton | nfsa.gov.au/whats-on
Lifeline Canberra Bookfair
The Lifeline Canberra Bookfair returns to Exhibition Park in Canberra, one of three fairs held annually to raise funds for the organisation’s 24-hour crisis support line, 13 11 14. The fair offers a wide selection of pre-loved fiction and non-fiction titles, children’s books, textbooks and foreign-language books, alongside magazines, sheet music, comics, maps, records, CDs, DVDs, stamps, coins, trading cards, games and puzzles. Entry is by gold coin donation, with proceeds directed to local crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Running for Resilience is launching season two of Tennis for Resilience, a free weekly tennis program open to players of all experience levels, from complete beginners to regulars.
Sessions run across two Canberra venues, Turner Tennis Club and Melba Tennis Club, with equipment provided for both traditional tennis and POP Tennis.
The program is framed around building mental wellbeing through movement and social connection, alongside weekly giveaways and an end-of-season prize pack.
No experience required – just rock up and have some fun!
Friday 4 September to Friday 23 October, 4:45–6 pm weekly | Turner Tennis Club, 49 Condamine Street, Turner and and Melba Tennis Club, Brownlee Place, Melba | runningforresilience.com
David Hockney: Portraits in Print
David Hockney: Portraits in Print opens at the National Gallery of Australia, drawing on the gallery’s own collection, the largest holding of Hockney’s work in the country. The display brings together more than 60 prints spanning almost 30 years, tracing the artist’s portraits of family, friends and collaborators across Los Angeles, Paris and London in the 1970s and 80s. Works include etchings, lithographs and photocollages, alongside experimental processes such as mylar sheets and faxes.
Saturday 5 September 2026 to Sunday 14 February 2027, free | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place, Parkes | nga.gov.au
Club Art
Transform your winter evenings with Club Art, a seasonal visual arts activation bringing local creativity to city venue ONE22. Throughout August, the space showcases a rotating exhibition of contemporary works by Canberra visual artists, culminating in a special Local Artist Bonanza evening on Friday night. Attendees can hear short artist talks, enjoy live music, and celebrate the formal unveiling of new winter installations. It provides a warm, welcoming venue to connect with regional art, socialize with local creators, and support independent culture. Drop by for a drink and experience Canberra’s vibrant artistic scene in an urban setting.
Until Monday 31 August | ONE22, 122 Alinga Street, City | one22.com.au
Platypus Month
Discover one of Australia’s most unique, magical wildlife experiences during Platypus Month across the stunning Upper Murrumbidgee region. Running from late July through August, this annual celebration shines a spotlight on the iconic, elusive platypus through a diverse calendar of guided walks, citizen science surveys, family activities, expert talks, and local film screenings. The local waterways are home to highly active, healthy platypus populations, and the month offers a rare opportunity to join guided dawn or dusk platypus-spotting walks at picturesque river corridors. It’s an authentic outdoor adventure perfect for nature enthusiasts, families, and wildlife photographers looking to connect with local conservation teams.
Until Monday 31 August | Various regional waterways and locations | act.waterwatch.org.au
NFSA’s Winter Film Series
Take a cinematic journey through time and space in the Winter Film Series at Arc Cinema.
From mind-bending time travel and fractured narratives to intergalactic adventures, alien encounters and cosmic odysseys, join us for stories stretching across eras and into the far reaches of the universe.
Whether you’re drawn to contemplative tales or epic escapism, you can explore worlds reshaped by technology, desire and chance.
Until 31 August | NFSA, McCoy Circuit, Acton | nfsa.gov.au
Wallabindi: In story and song
Celebrate Indigenous Literacy Day with a captivating evening of music, storytelling, and connection at the National Library of Australia. Proud First Nations musician Wallabindi (Monica Harland/Monica Moore) brings her deeply moving performance to Ngunnawal Country, weaving together personal histories, ancestral resilience, and truth-telling. Backed by Richard Gorter on guitar and Jon Jones on percussion, the award-winning singer-songwriter and visual artist shares songs from her acclaimed debut, Wallabindi Dreaming. It promises to be a heartfelt, transformative night of rich culture and shared reflection that will resonate long after the final note fades.
Wednesday 2 September, 6 pm–7.15 pm | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | library.gov.au
Grow & Let Go book tour
Authors Caitlin Judd and Jessica Brady appear in conversation at Bar Lola as part of their national Grow & Let Go book tour. Judd is the author of Good Girl, Goodbye, examining the expectations that shape modern womanhood, while Brady wrote Get Growing, a guide to building financial confidence. The evening runs as a moderated discussion on money, identity and self-worth, followed by a question and answer session and book signing.
Canberra Girls Grammar School marks a century of education with their Open Day, inviting prospective families to visit its Deakin campus and learn about the community’s history, values and offerings. Visitors can attend a principal’s presentation, meet the Deputy Principals of the Senior and Junior Schools, and take a guided campus tour. A student Q&A panel offers insight into daily life at the school, while staff and the enrolments team are on hand to answer questions. The open day covers the school’s academic, STEM, co-curricular and pastoral care programs, with visitors able to observe classes in action.
Immerse yourself in our vibrant local creative scene as the Canberra Art Fair returns for three inspiring days at EPIC. Showcasing work from sixty professional and emerging artists across the region, this dynamic event offers a wonderful opportunity to discover new talent and buy original art. Watch creativity unfold live as five artists paint on site, or sign up for interactive art workshops running throughout the weekend. Whether you are a seasoned collector searching for your next piece or simply looking for a cultured weekend outing, the fair celebrates everything that makes our art community flourish.
Friday 4 until Sunday 6 September, times vary | Fitzroy Pavilion, EPIC, Lyneham | canberraartfair.com.au
Bingo Loco
Bingo Loco stages its interactive bingo-based show at the UC Refectory, combining a classic bingo format with a live party format. The event includes DJ sets, dance-offs, lip-sync segments, prize rounds and music spanning the 1980s, 90s and 2000s, led by the show’s regular hosts. Bingo Loco has toured internationally, including runs across the UK, Europe and North America, and has previously staged shows in Australian cities.
Saturday 5 September, 6 pm | UC Refectory, University of Canberra, 11 Kirinari Street, Bruce | moshtix.com.au
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
Free-Rain Theatre Company brings the second-longest-running Off-Broadway musical revue to Kingston’s ACT Hub. I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change takes a hilarious, honest look at the modern dating landscape, tackling everything from awkward first encounters and wedding stress to family road trips and senior dating. Performed by a cast of six playing 58 distinct characters, this updated version features catchy songs and relatable vignettes that celebrate romantic chaos in all its messy glory.
Until Saturday 5 September | ACT Hub, Causeway Hall, 14 Spinifex Street, Kingston | freeraintheatre.com
Life in the Great Barrier Reef 360° VR Documentary
Submerge yourself in a breathtaking underwater world without leaving the inner north. Premiering at the National Museum of Australia, Life in the Great Barrier Reef is an immersive 35-minute cinematic documentary utilising custom-built 8K 360° virtual reality technology. Guided by leading scientists, reef stewards, and Traditional Owners, audiences are transported to the depths of two UNESCO World Heritage sites to encounter manta rays, whales, and rare coral spawning events, while gaining a deeper understanding of current conservation efforts.
Ongoing, session times vary | National Museum of Australia, Acton Peninsula | nma.gov.au
Father’s Day
Father’s Day Banquet at Natural Nine
Treat Dad to an unforgettable culinary experience inside Natural Nine with a lavish Father’s Day Banquet. Chef Trung Pham and his team have created an authentic Shanghainese feast designed for sharing and celebrating together. Highlights include succulent grilled sesame lamb chops and the venue’s famous shredded roast duck fried rice, all prepared with precision and flair. Set inside the vibrant atmosphere of Casino Canberra, it offers a stylish setting to show Dad just how much he means to the family. Bookings are essential for this exclusive 18+ dining experience.
Trade traditional tea sandwiches for a hearty spread at Olims Bar & Bistro’s Father’s Day “Guy-Tea”. Designed specifically for dads, granddads, and father figures, this relaxed afternoon feast pairs savoury pub favourites with refreshing craft beverages. Guests can sample Sydney Brewery tasting paddles and trade their favourite taster in for a full pint. With outdoor garden seating, easy parking, and a dedicated kids’ menu, it offers a stress-free setting to gather the whole family. Treat Dad to great food and good times in the heart of Braddon this Father’s Day.
Sunday 6 September, 12 pm–3 pm | Olims Bar and Bistro, 39 Limestone Avenue, Braddon | mercurecanberra.com.au
Father’s Day Buffet Breakfast at Jamison
Kick off Father’s Day the best way possible with a hearty all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast at Canberra Southern Cross Club Jamison. Bring the entire family along to feast on cooked breakfast classics, fluffy pastries, and fresh seasonal fruit in a warm, welcoming setting. Planning to stick around for lunch? Every dad in your dining group receives a complimentary schooner of beer, wine, or soft drink to mark the occasion. It’s a simple, delicious, and stress-free way to make Dad feel truly appreciated on his special day.
Sunday 6 September, times vary | Canberra Southern Cross Club Jamison, Bowman Street, Macquarie | cscc.com.au
Father’s Day Fire Feast at Capitol Bar & Grill
Treat Dad to a flame-fuelled feast at Capitol Bar & Grill this Father’s Day. This decadent all-you-can-eat spread showcases premium cuts hot off the grill, including Wagyu skirt, sirloins, succulent lamb rumps, and roasted whole chickens. Load up on classic sides like house potato salad and slaw, but save room for signature sticky date pudding and pavlova. Afterwards, step out onto the sunny deck for cold BentSpoke beers and friendly family rivalry with lawn games, putt-putt, and giant Jenga, complete with great prizes up for grabs.
Sunday 6 September, times vary | Capitol Bar & Grill, 6 Marcus Clarke Street, City | capitolbarandgrill.com
Father’s Day Market at Old Bus Depot
Celebrate Father’s Day surrounded by vibrant atmosphere, fantastic local produce, and unique handmade goods at the iconic Old Bus Depot Markets. Browse dozens of stalls featuring regional artisan foods, handmade crafts, stylish menswear, and local artwork. Grab a hot coffee, enjoy delicious street food, and chat directly with passionate local makers. Plus, every market purchase doubles as an entry into the special Father’s Day Prize Draw, packed with fantastic prizes donated by stallholders. It is a wonderful Sunday ritual to spend quality time together while supporting Canberra’s creative small businesses.
Sunday, 6 September, 9.30 am–2.30 pm | Old Bus Depot Markets, 21 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | obdm.com.au
Father’s Day Glenfiddich tasting at Hippo Co
This special Father’s Day Glenfiddich event is perfect for the dad who can’t resist a glass of whisky.
Along with learning about the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, he’ll get the chance to try six whiskies from the famous distillery and take home a bottle of the 16-year-old Aston Martin edition. There are limited spots available, so be quick to book!
Saturday 5 September, 6 pm – 7.30 pm | 17 Garema Place, City | Book here.
Build Your Own Gin Experience
This Father’s Day, Canberra Centre is partnering with Hold Fast Distillery for an interactive Build Your Own Gin Experience.
Running for 90 minutes, the workshop will allow dad to discover the aromas and botanicals that shape a gin, taste and experiment with different flavour profiles and understand how the final flavours develop and linger. He’ll get to experiment, adjust and refine his gin until he’s created a flavour profile that’s uniquely his!
Once he’s happy with his creation, he’ll receive a 500ml bottle of his personalised gin to take home.
Saturday 5 September, 10 am, 12 pm and 2 pm | Canberra Centre, 148 Bunda Street, City | Book here.
David Jones “For Dad” Fragrance Masterclass
Searching for Dad’s next signature fragrance? Forget hitting the shops; take him along to meet the fragrance experts from David Jones Canberra for a special For Dad Fragrance Masterclass.
Designed to help him discover the perfect scent for Father’s Day, he’ll be taken through a collection of men’s and unisex fragrances where he’ll learn how fragrance families are created and receive expert guidance on finding a scent that suits his individual style. It’s a memorable way to celebrate Father’s Day.
Saturday 5 September, 12 pm -1.30 pm | Monaro Mall, Level 1, Canberra Centre | Book here.
Dad’s Den in Centre Court
Dad’s getting his own backyard-style hangout at South.Point this Father’s Day.
From 10 am until 1 pm during the Father’s Day weekend, he can enjoy whiskey and rum tastings from Canberra Distillery and dig into sausage rolls and chicken sliders from The Coffee Club. If that’s not enough, he’ll also have the chance to win an unforgettable Cheetah Walk at National Zoo and Aquarium! It’s the perfect present.
To get Dad’s Den entry, simply spend $50 or more at participating South.Point retailers until 6 September, then present your receipt to Concierge to collect his ticket.
Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September | Anketell Street. &, Reed Street North, Greenway | Find out more here.
Father’s Day at the National Zoo and Aquarium
Take Dad out this Father’s Day to the National Zoo and Aquarium. Families can enjoy live music next to the rhinos, food specials, lawn games and, in recognition of Threatened Species Day, a discovery trail focusing on the zoo’s threatened species.
There are also thrilling encounters and tours, a fantastic playground, one of Australia’s largest inland aquariums and picturesque resting areas, making the zoo a perfect family day out.
The Googong Kite Festival is back this Father’s Day! Take dad along to this utterly uplifting festival for a wholesome day of kite flying. Keep an eye out for fun kites including a giant whale shark, dragons, bunny rabbits, a stingray, astronauts and a flying pig and treat dad to a lunch from one of the food trucks – including Googong Hogs Sausage Sizzle, Kurbside Kravingz and Jarochos – or pack a picnic and relax as the DJ provides entertainment.
Did we mention it’s free to attend?
Sunday 6 September, 11 am – 2 pm | Rockley Oval, Rockley Parade Googong | Reserve a spot here.
The Beatles Rebooted: With Strings
If dad’s a Beatles fan, he’ll love this. The Canberra Theatre Centre is hosting an extraordinary celebration of The Beatles’ most iconic works with The Beatles Rebooted: All the Hits, with strings!
Highlighting their early hits as well as songs from their groundbreaking album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club, the show will also feature original instruments, authentic outfits, and multimedia lighting and visuals to transport dad back to the height of Beatlemania and beyond.
Sunday 6 September, 3 pm | Civic Square, London Circuit, City | Book here.
Food + Drink
An Afternoon with Lennox Hastie
Join Lennox Hastie, Chef and Owner of Firedoor and Gildas, for an intimate afternoon at Shaw Estate, discovering the philosophy and techniques behind one of Australia’s first and most distinctive fire-led dining experiences.
Beginning with a glass of Shaw Sparkling on arrival, take a seat at the Shaw Estate open kitchen counter as Lennox shares a behind-the-scenes insight into his approach to cooking with fire and beauty in working with seasonal ingredients.
Experience a clear view of the action as Lennox and the Shaw Estate team prepare you a selection of three Firedoor snacks, each expertly paired with a drink. End the afternoon with a taste of what’s to come, as Lennox and his team prepare for the dinner service ahead.
Lennox Hastie, chef and owner of Sydney’s Firedoor, comes to Shaw Estate for one extraordinary night. Presented in partnership with Lark Whisky, this five-course wood-fired dinner is a Canberra first, fire-cooked, produce-driven, and entirely unlike anything you’ve experienced before.
Guests will be welcomed with a Lark Whisky cocktail on arrival. A curated Lark Whisky menu is available for purchase throughout the evening. All other beverages available to purchase on the night.
Treat your palate to an exceptional evening lakeside as the Yacht Club hosts the award-winning Corowa Whisky Distilling Co. Executive Chef Trung Pham has crafted a curated four-course menu designed to complement handcrafted Australian whiskies seamlessly. Start with a refreshing welcome drink before embarking on a delicious culinary journey that highlights local Murray River ingredients. Along the way, you’ll discover the inspiring backstory of how a heritage flour mill transformed into one of Australia’s most celebrated craft distilleries. It is the ultimate night out for whisky lovers and foodies alike.
Indulge in a delightfully witty afternoon of Regency elegance at The QT Lounge. In partnership with Canberra Theatre Centre, QT Canberra presents a Pride & Prejudice-inspired QTea experience that blends classic manners with a touch of modern flair. Settle in for three tiers of cucumber sandwiches, wild mushroom croquettes, and warm scones served with rosewater cream. A flowing white chocolate fountain and a roaming Space Kitchen cake trolley add a decadent touch. It is the ultimate pre-matinee treat, offering picturesque city views and sophisticated treats that would satisfy even Mr Darcy himself.
Saturday 5 until Saturday 26 September, times vary | QT Lounge, Level 15, 6 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra | qthotels.com
Markets & Expos
European Festival 2026
No passport? No worries! Experience the vibrant flavours, sound, and culture of Europe right here in Turner. The Alliance Française of Canberra, the Croatian Club, and the Polish Club are teaming up to bring you a joyful day packed with continental charm. Feast on delicious traditional street food, sample international wines, and enjoy lively folk dancing and music across the venues. With fun cultural activities for all ages, it is a fantastic way to wander through Europe without leaving the capital. Grab your friends and enjoy a vibrant taste of international celebration close to home.
Saturday 5 September, 10 am–3 pm | Alliance Française of Canberra, 66 McCaughey Street, Turner | afcanberra.com.au
Canberra Atticurio Bizarre Market
Embrace the wonderfully odd and wonderfully creative at the Canberra Atticurio Bizarre Market. Held indoors at EPIC, this eclectic market gathers talented local artisans specializing in the quirky, mystical, and macabre. Browse unique stalls offering framed taxidermy, crystal jewelry, stained glass, witchy potions, upcycled oddities, and glowing UV artwork. Beyond shopping, visitors can drop in for tarot readings, enjoy interactive workshops, and win door prizes. Whether you’re searching for vintage curiosities or simply love unconventional art, step inside this whimsical event for a delightful morning filled with wild imagination and unique discoveries.
Saturday 5 and Sunday, 6 September, times vary | Quokka Pavilion, EPIC, 36 Flemington Road, Lyneham | events.canberra.com.au
For Purpose Markets
Shop local and make a genuine difference at the For Purpose Markets, popping up on the first Saturday of every month in Dickson. This community-driven market brings together social enterprises and conscious makers who give back with every sale. From eco-friendly home goods to handcrafted gifts, every purchase supports vital causes like mental health initiatives, refugee programs, and local LGBTQI+ groups. Stroll through the stalls, meet passionate founders, and discover gorgeous local products knowing your dollars are directly creating positive change. It’s the perfect way to spend a feel-good Saturday morning.
Saturday 5 September, times vary | DKB Community Hall, 8 Hawdon Place, Dickson | forpurposemarkets.com.au
The Little Burley Market
Start your weekend by the water at The Little Burley Market, returning to Lake Burley Griffin’s edge. This beautifully curated market offers an easygoing lakeside morning packed with fresh pastries, artisanal foods, and unique handmade goods from local makers. Grab a gourmet coffee, soak up sweeping lake views, and listen to acoustic tunes while kids enjoy free arts and crafts workshops. Whether you are picking up gourmet treats after a lap of the lake or meeting friends for lunch, it remains one of Canberra’s most charming Saturday traditions.
Uncover timeless treasures and unique heritage finds at the Canberra Antiques Seasonal Market Day. Set inside The Auction Barn in Fyshwick, this curated market brings together passionate collectors and vintage traders under one roof. Wander through stalls brimming with antique furniture, retro decor, estate jewelry, and rare collectables packed with character. Grab a freshly brewed coffee from the cart, chat with expert vendors, and enjoy the thrill of hunting for one-of-a-kind statement pieces. It’s a wonderful Saturday morning outing for interior lovers, curious shoppers, and vintage enthusiasts searching for their next favorite find.
Soak up country charm at the historic Hartley Hall Markets in Hall. Operating on the first Sunday of every month, this beloved country market features dozens of vibrant stalls nestled among leafy grounds. Browse freshly harvested local produce, home-baked treats, native plants, handcrafted pottery, unique gifts, and artisan fashion. Stay for a relaxing lunch under the trees, enjoy live acoustic music, and keep kids entertained with fun outdoor activities. Proudly organized by Hartley Lifecare, every gold coin entry goes directly toward supporting people living with disability across Canberra.
Sunday 6 September, 9 am–2 pm | Hall Showground, Victoria Street, Hall | hartley.org.au
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.
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.
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.
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.
The animals of Manor Farm are taking control, and things are about to get delightfully chaotic. Green Room Award-winning ensemble Bloomshed returns to the nation’s capital with a satirical, high-energy rework of George Orwell’s classic political fable. As downtrodden farm animals rise up to seize power, Napoleon the pig steps into the spotlight with plenty of wit, muscle, and absolute ambition. Expect a bolshy, hilarious, and fiercely smart performance that holds a mirror to our current political landscape. Round up your favourite theatre companions and prepare to storm the barricades for an unforgettable night of theatrical mayhem.
Thursday 3 until Saturday, 5 September, times vary | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Exit the King by Eugène Ionesco
Step into the decaying throne room of a crumbling empire as Mill Theatre Co-Production series brings Eugène Ionesco’s absurdist masterpiece to Fyshwick. Directed with dark comedy and poignant depth, the story follows King Bérenger I, who discovers he has only the duration of the play left to live. As his kingdom literally disintegrates around him, he desperately rails against the inevitable while his Queens guide him toward reality. It’s a powerful, deeply moving meditation on mortality, ego, and the human inclination toward denial. Don’t miss this brilliant revival in an intimate local setting.
Thursday 3 until Saturday 19 September, times vary | Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, Building 3.3, 1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | milltheatreatdairyroad.com
Tom Gleeson – Out of Touch (Encore)
Gold Logie winner and comedy heavyweight Tom Gleeson is returning to Canberra Theatre Centre with his hit stand-up show, Out of Touch. Known for his razor-sharp wit and no-nonsense style as host of Hard Quiz and Taskmaster Australia, Gleeson is at the absolute top of his game. Whether he’s roasting the audience or taking aim at everyday absurdity, his relentless punchlines guarantee a brilliant night of belly laughs. Grab your tickets quick, gather your mates, and prepare yourself for an evening of relentless, top-tier Australian comedy from one of our favourite performers.
Saturday 5 September, 7.30 pm–8.45 pm | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Las Vegas International School of Stand-up Comedy Canberra
Ever fancied trying your hand at stand-up comedy? The Las Vegas International School of Stand-up Comedy is bringing its famous three-hour workshop to the Griffin Centre. Designed for both locals and visitors, this fast-paced session offers insider tips on joke writing, stage presence, and comedic timing from experienced instructors. Best of all, participants get to put their new skills into practice with a fun stage performance. Whether you want to tick off a bucket-list goal or boost your public speaking confidence, it is an entertaining, supportive way to dive into comedy.
Sunday 6 and Tuesday 8 September, times vary | The Griffin Centre, 20 Genge Street, City | lasvegascomedyschool.com.au
Sport and Wellness
Fitness in The Park
Fitness class for all levels of fitness for the whole community. Join Ginninderry local Vince as he takes you through a group fitness class in the fresh air at Paddys Park.
Get bendy on Thursday evenings at a yoga class! You don’t need any experience – just head along for the slow-flow class that will help melt away tension, build strength and mobility, and give you a chance to recharge. Take along a yoga mat, water bottle, and comfy clothes.
Every Thursday, 6.45 pm to 7.45 pm | The Link, 1 McClymont Way, Strathnairn | ginninderry.com
Raiders v Eels – NRLW Round 10
Bring your loud voices and green pride to GIO Stadium as the Canberra Raiders take on the Parramatta Eels in their final home game of the NRLW season. Soak up the thrilling game-day atmosphere and join thousands of fans for the legendary Viking Clap as our green machine takes the field. Before kickoff, families can enjoy plenty of fun interactive activities around the stadium concourse, delicious food options, and great entertainment. Whether you are a die-hard footy fan or introducing the kids to game day, it promises to be a fantastic Sunday evening out.
The Wesley Lunchtime Concert series warmly welcomes the return of Ben Hoadley (bassoon) and Ariana Odermatt (piano) in an eclectic program of music that spans the Baroque to Sally Whitwell.
Wednesday 2 September, 12.40–1.20 pm | Wesley Music Centre, 20 National Circuit, Forrest | trybooking.com/DIJJK
The Rocketman In Concert
Get ready to step into a world of sequins, soul, and timeless rock classics as The Rocketman In Concert takes the stage. This spectacular two-hour tribute celebrates the incredible musical legacy of Sir Elton John, bringing his greatest anthems back to vibrant life. Sing along to iconic hits like Tiny Dancer, Your Song, Crocodile Rock, and I’m Still Standing in a high-energy performance that will have you on your feet. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering these legendary tunes afresh, it’s a stellar night of nostalgic fun you won’t want to miss.
Friday 4 September, 7.30 pm–10 pm | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, City | canberratheatrecentre.com.au
The Grunge Show presents MTV Unplugged Live
Cast your mind back to the nineties, when flannel shirts, mood lighting, and acoustic guitars redefined rock music forever. Following a series of sold-out shows, The Grunge Show returns to Belconnen Arts Centre with a brand-new tribute to the iconic MTV Unplugged sessions. Set across two immersive sets complete with cardigans, candles, and classic tunes, musicians honor the timeless unplugged performances of Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, and Stone Temple Pilots. Hear intimate renditions of classics like Plush, Come As You Are, and Nutshell in an atmospheric concert experience that pure grunge lovers will adore.
Friday 4 September, 7 pm–9.30 pm | The Theatre, Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
One voice: The greatest hits of John Farnham
Celebrate the soundtrack of a generation as award-winning singer-songwriter Simon Shapiro pays tribute to Australia’s ultimate voice, John Farnham. Having previously toured alongside Farnham himself and played bass for legendary band 1927, Shapiro brings authentic rock royalty credentials and exceptional vocal talent to the stage. With remarkable range and deep emotional connection, he brings beloved anthems to life with electrifying energy. Gather your friends at the Zeppelin Room for a nostalgic evening packed with incredible music, soaring vocals, and iconic Australian songs that continue to unite us all.
Oh What A Night! is a musical revue celebrating the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, presented by Abstract Touring at The B. Conceived and directed by Michael Chapman, with music by George Solomon and choreography by Paul Holmquist, the production is a concert-style tribute rather than a narrative show, with a set list including Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like a Man and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. Vocals are performed live rather than mimed, closely matching the original recordings.
Ready for a fabulous night of song, laughter, and camp classics? Head down to ChiChiz Bar for Canberra’s newest, gayest piano bar experience. Featuring the talented John Milligan behind the keys, this high-energy evening lets you drive the playlist. Simply request your favourite singalong anthems, order a craft cocktail or two, and belt out beloved hits alongside a welcoming crowd. Whether you are hitting the town with your besties or celebrating a special occasion, it is a delightfully joyful spot to sing your heart out until your voice gives way.
Friday 4 September, 6.30 pm–10.30 pm | ChiChiz Bar, 32 Northbourne Avenue, City | chichizbar.com.au
Telegraph Road – The Dire Straits Legacy
Relive the timeless guitar riffs and poetic storytelling of Dire Straits with an authentic live tribute performance at the Zeppelin Room. Led by vocalist and guitarist Matt Arthur alongside a stellar lineup of respected Australian musicians, Telegraph Road captures the understated genius and iconic tone made famous by Mark Knopfler. Expect faithful renditions of classics like Sultans of Swing, Money for Nothing, and Romeo & Juliet, performed with passion and precision. It promises to be an unforgettable evening of top-tier musicianship that will transport classic rock fans back to the golden era of British guitar music.
Step back into the golden era of West Coast rock as Fleetwood Max brings the timeless music of Fleetwood Mac to life. Renowned for their incredible vocal accuracy and polished live sound, this dynamic seven-piece tribute band delivers a powerful performance packed with nostalgia. Get ready to sing along to all your favourite anthems, including Go Your Own Way, Dreams, The Chain, and Stevie Nicks’ solo hit Edge of Seventeen. It’s a high-energy night out that die-hard fans and casual listeners alike will be raving about long after the final bow.
Melbourne-based Lithuanian folk ensemble The Lost Clog presents traditional Lithuanian pagan and folk music, combining vocal harmonies, traditional instruments and comedic storytelling. Repertoire draws on themes of love, village traditions, celebration, nature and community life, offering a look at Lithuanian folk heritage through song and performance. A Lithuanian tavern-style after-party follows.
Saturday 5 September, 7–9 pm | Polish Australian Club, 38 David St, Turner | events.humanitix.com
One-Take Musical
Four musical improvisers and a pianist create a completely original musical on the spot, turning audience-inspired ideas into characters, comedy, and songs. With no script and no score, the story can go anywhere. Expect a fast, funny, and unpredictable hour of musical theatre that will only ever happen once.
Rapper TearShxtUp performs at Shadows Nightclub as part of his Its All Red national tour, appearing alongside fellow artist Diskusting. The show showcases material from TearShxtUp’s upcoming mixtape, Project RED, and features members of his collective, The Militia. Local Canberra artists join the lineup, with each stop on the tour featuring a different supporting cast reflecting the local scene. The performance sits within the rage music scene, a high-tempo, aggressive strand of hip-hop built around mixtape releases and touring line-ups.
Experience the magic of The Beatles like never before as acclaimed tribute band The Beatnix join forces with the Sgt. Pepper String Quartet. Fresh off successful shows at Liverpool’s iconic Cavern Club, this world-class act delivers a rich, orchestral journey through the Fab Four’s greatest hits. From early rock ‘n’ roll classics to complex arrangements from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the performance showcases phenomenal musicianship. It’s an essential afternoon for Beatles fans of all ages seeking a nostalgic, soaring celebration of history’s most iconic pop music.
Learn to photograph the night sky with multi-award-winning photographer David Magro. Starting with a classroom theory session on camera settings, composition, and noise-reduction, participants will head out to nearby dark-sky spots along the Murrumbidgee River to capture breathtaking images of the Milky Way.
Rebus Theatre presents Resilience Workshops, a five-part series for performers, actors, community artists and facilitators, led by Koko Shie and Lucien Simon. Designed to support sustainable creative practice, the workshops explore practical strategies for building resilience, strengthening wellbeing and fostering connection within Canberra’s creative community. Sessions run across five evenings from 12 August to 2 September at the Ralph Wilson Theatre, Gorman Arts Centre, offering a supportive, inclusive environment for learning, reflection and collaboration. Full-price and concession tickets are available, along with a limited number of scholarships for those needing financial support to attend the series.
Expand your cultural horizons with the Drill Hall Gallery’s dynamic lecture series at the ANU. Delivered by prominent national art theorists, artists, curators, and academics, this series offers deep, engaging insights into the world of visual art. Topics explore everything from Yolŋu abstraction and contemporary painting traditions to global artistic movements. Featuring distinguished guest speakers like Louise Marshall, Ian McLean, Brenda L. Croft, and Terence Maloon, each session promises to spark creative thought and rich discussion. It’s a wonderful Sunday afternoon pursuit for art lovers and lifelong learners alike.
Uncover a century of capital history with a fascinating guided tour of East Block. Now home to the National Archives of Australia, this heritage-listed 1920s building played a pivotal role in shaping local democracy. Walk through historic corridors that once housed Canberra’s first General Post Office, early Prime Ministers, and ASIO headquarters. Expert guides will share captivating stories of the people, architecture, and political moments that defined the precinct over the last hundred years. Slip on comfortable walking shoes and enjoy an inspiring journey through local heritage right in the Parliamentary Triangle.
Sunday 6 September, 11 am–12 pm | National Archives of Australia, Kings Avenue, Parkes | naa.gov.au
Exhibitions
Elisa Crossing: Move Me!
Discover Move me!, a striking solo exhibition by Canberra artist Elisa Crossing that champions the practice of “slow looking.” Countering the fast-paced, frictionless nature of the digital age, Crossing’s oil paintings explore the active, embodied relationship between the viewer, the studio, and the canvas. Moving between intimacy and distance, her works dissolve into abstract textures up close while revealing rhythmic structural scenes from afar, reminding us that seeing is never static.
Until Monday 31 August | Civic Art Bureau, Level 1, 76 Alinga Street, Canberra | civicartbureau.com
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026
Marking the final chapter of one of the Gallery’s longest-running exhibitions, the 2026 prize features finalist works alongside a curated retrospective celebrating two decades of Australian portrait photography.
Since 2007, the Prize has celebrated the vitality and diversity of contemporary portrait photography from across the nation. From the joyful and playful to the strong, intimate and vulnerable, it has showcased the stories, people and moments that mattered.
To celebrate the remarkable photography and thank the community of artists, supporters and visitors who have cherished this prize over the years, the Gallery will present a curated retrospective alongside the 2026 finalists’ exhibition.
Until Sunday, 11 October | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | portrait.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
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
Vessels of Dialogue: Sarit Cohen
Influenced by Bauhaus architecture and early 20th-century Decorative Arts, Vessels of Dialogue presents whimsical ceramic sculptures by Sarit Cohen. Crafted from delicate porcelain clay, these serene, minimal forms use subtle linear rhythms and a muted color palette to explore architectural memories and space.
Until Saturday 12 September | Craft + Design Canberra, Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra | craftanddesigncanberra.org
Correspondence: Jude Muduioa
Celebrating patience and sustained craft, Correspondence showcases Jude Muduioa’s exploration of ceramic accumulation. Each delicate element is individually shaped by hand before joining a larger structure. With restrained surfaces, the exhibition invites viewers to focus on rhythm, subtle detail, and the interplay of light and shadow.
Until Saturday 12 September | Craft + Design Canberra, Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra | craftanddesigncanberra.org
Dwell: Suzanne Knight
Through intricately woven tapestry forms shaped like discarded plastic bottles, Suzanne Knight’s Dwell examines the complex interplay between migration, consumer culture, and ecological change. The exhibition reflects on how introduced materials and settler traditions have permanently reshaped Australian landscapes.
Until Saturday 12 September | Craft + Design Canberra, Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra | craftanddesigncanberra.org
Fragile Structures: The Architecture of Decay
Step into a captivating collaborative exhibition by visual artists Madeline Cardone and Fran Romano. Working across glass and ceramics, the duo explores the built environment, ruins, decay, and architectural space through the deconstruction and abstraction of form. Their sculptural works examine dualities of strength and fragility, permanence and transience, creating a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.
Until Saturday, 12 September (Opening night & artist talks Thursday, 30 July from 5.30 pm) | Craft + Design Canberra, Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra | craftanddesigncanberra.org
Halfway Seen Halfway Home
Halfway Seen Halfway Home (半窥半归) opens in Gallery 3 at PhotoAccess, presenting the debut project by artist collective Guylieuzy. Formed by first-generation Chinese-Australians Ming Liew and Will Wang, the collective travelled to China to explore questions of identity and belonging. The moving-image exhibition features eight autoethnographic works, each reflecting an aspect of the artists’ perspective as both Chinese and Australian. The exhibition examines Chinese Australian hybrid identity, shaped by migration, memory and the ongoing negotiation between two worlds, and considers the liminality of the first-generation immigrant experience, where home remains both familiar and foreign, present yet out of reach.
Until Saturday | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | photoaccess.org.au
LUCKY ROCKET
LUCKY ROCKET presents new work by documentary photographer Yani Clarke, opening in Galleries 1 and 2 at PhotoAccess. The series comprises medium-format photographs of Bun Bang Fai, a traditional rain-making festival celebrated in Laos and Thailand’s Isan region, captured a decade apart. Clarke, based in Lismore, began the project after the 2022 Northern Rivers floods prompted her return home following ten years working elsewhere. The photographs form a visual diary revisiting the same festival twice, exploring themes of place, ritual and return. Clarke’s work has previously been published in VICE and F-Stop Magazine, and shortlisted for the Head On Portrait Prize.
Until Saturday | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | photoaccess.org.au
Vulnerable
This exhibition explores what it means to be vulnerable in today’s world. Through textiles, painting, eco-printing, and mixed media, the artists examine themes of resilience, change, loss, and adaptation. Inspired by personal experiences and the natural world, the works reflect on the connections between people, communities, and the environment, offering different perspectives on issues such as environmental change and social issues to health, identity, and belonging.
8Studios is a group of artists from widely varying age groups, who are connected through friendship, shared creative interests, and a belief in the value of artistic community.
Until Saturday 19 September | Rusten House, 87 Collett Street, Queanbeyan | qprc.nsw.gov.au
Land’s Edge: Sarah Ormonde & Jo Victoria
Land’s Edge brings together ceramicists and friends Sarah Ormonde and Jo Victoria, exploring the meeting point of cliffs and water, sand and rock along the coastal fringe that shapes their lives and practices. The exhibition combines Ormonde’s large sentinel forms with Victoria’s delicate porcelain fragments, reflecting the shifting, dynamic nature of the landscape. Ormonde turns her attention to the headlands, while Victoria is drawn to the surf, where air meets water and vision and touch become entwined. Together, the pair use the gallery to explore how their distinct practices, both grounded in landscape, evoke the passage of time.
Until Sunday 20 September | Canberra Potters, 1 Aspinall Street, Watson | canberrapotters.com.au
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
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
Weaving the Coast by Christiane Keller
Weaving the Coast is a new solo exhibition by Canberra-based fibre artist Christiane Keller. Featuring fifteen sculptural works crafted from natural fibres, recycled materials, and salvaged beach debris, the collection translates the distinct geological patterns and sediment layers of coastal rock formations into intricate, three-dimensional woven forms. Informed by her decades spent working alongside Indigenous fibre artists across Arnhem Land and Central Australia, Keller’s sustainable practice creates a deeply tactile connection to place and Country.
Until Saturday 17 October (Official Opening Friday 21 August, 6 pm) | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com
Arthur Boyd: Tapestries
Culture lovers have a world-first opportunity to witness a monumental artistic achievement right in the heart of the National Triangle. The National Gallery is presenting the inaugural exhibition of the complete cycle of twenty monumental tapestries by renowned Australian artist Arthur Boyd. Hand-woven in Portugal and acquired in 1975, these breathtaking textiles creatively retell the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. Displayed alongside the original lithographs, pastels, and drawings, this astonishing exhibition illuminates the immense collaborative and technical processes required to translate Boyd’s intensely creative visions into millions of rich, physical stitches.
Until Sunday 18 October. Times vary | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes | nga.gov.au
GR’AFT
Canberra Glassworks presents GR’AFT, a new exhibition by Thirroul-based artist Lynda Draper, developed in partnership with Sullivan + Strumpf. Created over two years, the exhibition marks Draper’s first major body of work in bronze and glass, following four decades as a leading figure in Australian ceramics. GR’AFT draws on the ancient horticultural practice of grafting, joining separate elements into a single living form, as a method and metaphor for transformation. Draper worked alongside glass artists Annette Blair and Spike Deane, and Nick Stranks of Carwoola Casting, bringing glass, ceramics and bronze together across three ancient material practices.
Explore innovative contemporary sculpture at Canberra Glassworks with GR’AFT, a solo exhibition by artist Lynda Draper. Developed during a residency at the Kingston precinct, the body of work blends glass, ceramics, and bronze through skilled collaborations with local artisans and foundry specialists. Drawing inspiration from botanical grafting techniques, the tactile sculptures feature wax-like surfaces, biomorphic forms, and funnel shapes that evoke natural growth and transformation. The exhibition offers visitors a chance to contemplate material exchange, layered artistic histories, and collaborative craft. Drop by this iconic lakeside venue to experience stunning contemporary art firsthand.
Until Monday 26 October | Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | canberraglassworks.com
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
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
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
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.
Until 1 November 2026 | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.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.
Explore Yarning, a vibrant new exhibition at Australian Parliament House showcasing the creative voices and stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students from across the nation. Featuring artworks from over 70 young artists, the display showcases entries from the Yarning competition exploring themes of Country, identity, family, and reconciliation—including the three winning pieces. Located in the public area on the Level 1 Senate side, this inspiring collection offers a powerful platform for young First Nations storytellers.
Open daily until February 2027 | Australian Parliament House, Capital Hill | aph.gov.au
Floral Impressions: Coins in Bloom
The Royal Australian Mint’s exhibition Floral Impressions: Coins in Bloom draws on never-before-seen objects from the National Collection to explore the rich symbolism of flowers on coins from around the world. The exhibition traces how floral designs struck into metal carry stories of national identity, cultural heritage and remembrance — from Australia’s kangaroo paw and the South African protea to the Western Samoan Teuila.
Decorative motifs such as laurel, olive and oak wreaths, used for centuries as symbols of victory, peace and strength, also feature. Commemorative coins in the exhibition show how flowers have honoured significant historical moments and individuals across cultures.
Until March 2027 | Royal Australian Mint, 62–114 Denison Street, Deakin | ramint.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
Fresca is bringing the warmth of an Italian family table to Canberra city, with a new venue that pairs old-school hospitality with a modern, luxe fit-out. It opens Monday 31 August.
Born from owner Melinda Koteski’s memories of freshly baked bread, homemade salami and long days spent in her Nonna Rosa’s kitchen, Fresca reimagines the simple Italian sandwich shop as a polished city destination for schiacciata, coffee, sweets, drinks and share-style moments.
At the heart of the story is Rosa, the 91-year-old matriarch of a large Calabrian-Australian family whose food traditions have shaped the business from the beginning.
“She came to Australia at 19, one of 10 children, and like so many migrant families of that generation, they arrived with very little and relied on the kindness of people who helped them find their feet,” says Melinda.
But this big family has subsequently given back. Nonna Rosa once served former Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies at a fancy dinner. Her extended family has worked on projects including the Lake Burley Griffin fountain and Snowy Hydro, and built businesses of their own, from fruit shops and restaurants to the building industry.
To pay homage to all that Nonna Rosa has built, Melinda now features her face in Fresca’s refreshed branding, wearing the headscarf she once wore while baking bread, while the menu pays tribute to family members through schiacciata named after grandparents, parents, aunties and uncles.
There’s the Carmela (Nonna Rosa’s mum) with prosciutto, Pecorina crema, rocket and semi-dried tomato, the Luigi (Nonna Rosa’s brother) with hot sopressa, truffled eggplant crema, hot honey and parmesan and the Rosa (the woman of the hour) featuring potato crema and roasted Mediterranean vegetables.
With a small front counter holding each day’s fresh ingredients, you can also choose your own adventure. Take a sneak peek through the arches to see the massive ovens cranking out the bread at the back. And because these bad boys are larger than your average sandwich, you can choose to have a half serve.
The signature schiacciata is the star: house-baked using a long fermentation process to create a crisp exterior, light centre and satisfying chew, then filled with quality Italian produce. One of the simplest options, the Fresca, is also the most personal – warm schiacciata with your choice of Italian deli meat, a direct nod to Melinda’s childhood memories of bread fresh from the family forno.
“For me, the best way to have bread is fresh from the oven slathered in butter,” she says. Who dares to disagree?
The new city-based Fresca is designed to be more tha a place to grab lunch. Inspired by the way Italian families gather without needing an occasion, the venue invites people to stop for coffee (Zest beans from Melbourne) and something sweet, linger over a drink, or settle in for something to share when hours extend in the warmer weathers to Friday afternoon aperitivos. Many of the sweets will continue to be made by Melinda’s mum Mala, carrying another piece of the family’s food tradition into the new space.
For regulars of the original Queanbeyan Fresca, which opened in 2024, favourites will remain part of the story, appearing as specials alongside new and seasonal additions.
But city workers will appreciate the new and aesthetic pod-like eatery which sits close to Mee’s sushi near No Name Lane. With its blend of family history, Italian simplicity and elevated styling, Fresca’s next chapter is about doing the simple things well – and making guests feel as though they’ve pulled up a seat at Nonna’s table.
Photos by Georgina Smith
THE ESSENTIALS
What: FRESCA Civic Where: 27/40 Marcus Clarke Street City When: Opening Monday 31 August. Regular hours: 7 am to 2.30 pm Monday to Friday Web: instagram.com/fresca.au
More than 110 events, 200 artists and hundreds of books across four days – the countdown to the 2026 Canberra Writers Festival is on!
One of the most exciting events on our literary calendar, the Canberra Writers Festival will be taking over the city from Thursday 15 until Sunday 18 October, transforming the Parliamentary Triangle into a hub celebrating the magic of books.
The festival brings together Australian and international authors, bestselling novelists, political thinkers, comedians, journalists, children’s writers and illustrators – and features some of the country’s most exciting new voices. The 2026 festival is extra special, marking the 10th anniversary year.
To celebrate the milestone moment, this year the Canberra Writer’s Festival also has a powerful theme: For the Love of Books.
Artistic Director Andra Putnis says that at its heart, it’s all about reminding people why books matter.
“People often tell me how much joy and relief books bring them. They share memories of favourite books read years ago and wish they had more time for reading,” she says.
“For the Love of Books is about taking a stand and making that time. It’s about coming together to celebrate the books and authors we already love, discover something completely unexpected and share the excitement of brilliant conversations.”
“At a time when our attention is constantly being pulled in different directions, books give us the space to think and reflect. They allow writers and readers to explore ideas with nuance, complexity and imagination – and I think celebrating and protecting that kind of storytelling has never been more important.”
With so much happening, we’ve pulled together a bumper guide with some festival highlights. And with something for all ages and every kind of reader, there are plenty of opportunities to both honour the precious books you love and discover something new!
If you love local stars and Canberra connections
This year’s program is a celebration of authors who not only live in Canberra, but also those whose lives and books have connections to the ACT and surrounds. Chris Hammer, Karen Viggers, Jack Heath, Ludy Ridge, Saskia Beudel and Amy Remeikis are just some of the names you’ll recognise, along with Canberra-raised bestselling fantasy author Garth Nix.
Other local highlights include award-winning writer Mirandi Riwoe bringing A Short History of Longans to the National Archives on Sunday 18 October – with parts of the story set in nearby Queanbeyan – and Petronella McGovern (who lived in Canberra for 14 years). She’ll be returning with her latest work after setting her debut novel Six Minutes around Weston Creek and the Brindabella Mountains.
Looking for even more Canberra connections? Rebecca Higgie’s futuristic political thriller The Book of the After features scenes in Parliament House and Kingston, while Johanna Bell recalls the birds of Canberra before it’s too late in Department of the Vanishing. Check out the full program to see when and where you can catch these authors!
If you’re looking for something female-focused
This year, the Canberra Writer’s Festival program is packed full of some incredible female voices.
Women of Crime on Friday 16 October will see Jane Caro, Naïma Brown and Petronella McGovern come together for an unmissable conversation about women-centred fiction and what fictional stories can teach us about the society we really live in.
On Saturday 17 October, bestselling author Pip Williams will be talking about her new book about an English nurse and a German doctor and the Australian artist who captures their secret love, while Mother Rage will see Lauren Novak, Ilka Tampke and Karen Viggers come together to talk about mum rage, and the stigma that keeps mums quiet.
Angry wives, furious femmes and searching sisters are uniting during Faithful and Furious Sisters, where Gabbie Stroud, Ayesha Inoon and Sophie Green explore women of all ages who want to create something else for themselves, while The Way Women Lead celebrates books that speak boldly about the vital role of women in leadership roles across the media, economics, history and space and technology sectors. Go along to hear a panel conversation between Elise Stephenson, Sita Sargeant, Catie Bradbear, Melissa Bray and Amy Remeikis about the way women lead and why it matters more than ever.
If you’re having an existential crisis
Who isn’t? On Saturday 17 October, Verity Lane is hosting two events that will make you feel less alone.
At 1 pm, Love, Career…Sadness: Cue Quarter-Life Crisis will see Georgie Tunny, Josh Hortinela and Emma Pei Yin come together to celebrate quarter-life and everything that comes with it. Then, at 3.30 pm, HerCanberra’s Erin Cross will be in conversation with Jordan Prosser in Millennial Despair: When You Just Can’t Even, where he will read from, and reflect on, his savagely funny and tender work about millennial ennui.
Whether you’re experiencing deep inner conflict where you question the meaning of life, your personal identity, and your purpose or you’re just looking for a laugh, these events will deliver in spades.
If you’re looking for something family-friendly
The Canberra Writers Festival has plenty for kids of all ages! In fact, on Saturday 17 October, the Icon Water Festival Lawn will be a Family Friendly Festival Hub, so you can spend a whole day celebrating books.
Start the morning by listening to the Woden Valley Youth Choir as they honour the role of rhythm, repetition and music in helping with those very first steps into literacy, before heading off to enjoy one of the many events happening.
At 12 pm, Sue Whiting and Danielle Binks will discuss the memorable girl characters they loved growing up and how these amazing heroines shaped the writers they’ve become in Fearless Girls Who Make Their Own Adventures, while Deadly Science, Deadly Storytelling will celebrate First Nations Children’s authors with Corey Tutt and Marly Wells in conversation with Lisa Fuller.
Little readers will love story time sessions with Jemima Parker, Maura Pierlot, Sue Whiting, Krys Saclier and Nicole Godwin and Young Adults also have something to look forward to with The Future Of Fiction Is Fan, where Amie Kaufman and Garth Nix will be in conversation with Charlie Jane Anders about the power and importance of fan fiction, where it might go next and how it just might save us from AI.
Sunday 18 October will also have plenty for the kids to do with Let’s Chat with R.A. Spratt, the launch of Before It Was Called Science and Andy Griffiths, Bill Hope and The Gigantic Knucklehead all happening at the National Library of Australia!
If you want something unexpected
My Dirty Awkward Rom Com! on Saturday 18 October should be at the top of your list. Come along to watch Briony Winchester and a brave team of local and interstate authors – including Alyx Gorman and Josh Hortinela – create an entirely improvised rom-com live on stage.
Ever wondered how you survive reality TV? Catch Survivor legend Stephen Fishbach at Verity Lane where he’ll join fellow author and contestant on Australian Survivor: Brains vs Brawn, Wai Chim, to shed light on the entertainment machine of reality TV and its creative triumphs, heartbreaks and devastations during How Do You Survive Reality TV?
And for those who can’t resist some old-fashioned trivia, the Canberra Times Literary Trivia at Louie Louie on Saturday 17 October promises to be a lot of fun. Hosted by comedian Chris Ryan, there will be prizes to be won – including bundles of books!
If you love food as much as a good book
Because why choose between the two? On Friday 16 October, join Durkhanai Ayubi, Lucy Ridge and Sita Sargeant at Stepping Stone Café for She Who Tastes, Knows: Food & Storytelling. During the event, they will be talking about how cooking can preserve cultural memory, empower women to share their stories and create sustainable livelihoods. Your ticket will include canapés, a three-course dinner and the author talk.
Pop Sunday 18 October into your diary to catch international award-winning chef, restaurateur and author, Chef Josh Niland in conversation with HerCanberra’s Amanda Whitley in Curiosity and Philosophy of Chef Josh Niland. Known for his practice of cooking fish with little waste, go along to hear how, as a young kid, Josh followed his curiosity and instincts all the way to becoming a global superstar, revolutionising how we cook, transport, age and store fish.
If you want to think
Big conversations about politics, democracy, education, social equity, media, AI and technology are all taking place at the Canberra Writer’s Festival this year.
Harry Hobbs, Stephen Young and Royce Kurmelovs will be in conversation about pseudolaw, sovereign citizens and conspiracy movements in Outlawed: The Rise of Sovereign Citizen Ideology, while George Megalogenis and Matt Bevan will be talking about the shocks that must change how we think about Australia in the 21st Century in Australia In The World.
For those interested in learning about how debates over free speech, identity and equality of opportunity are transforming our politics, make sure to catch Waleed Aly, Niki Savva and Jordan McSwiney in Political Rupture: Identity, Equality and Opportunity. And don’t miss former Media Watch host and Walkley Award-winning journalist Paul Barry in a live Follow the Money podcast recording with Ebony Bennett during The Big Steal, where they’ll ask: why do we buy into ‘corporate saviour’ myths?
If you want to get hands-on
Have you ever dreamed of writing your own book? The Canberra Writer’s Festival will give aspiring and established writers opportunities to learn directly from leading authors and illustrators including Michael Robotham, Kris Kneen, Queenie Chan and Christof Bogacs.
Make sure to book tickets early, because these sessions are expected to sell out quickly.
What: The Canberra Writer’s Festival
When: Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 October Where: Various national cultural institutions and festival venues
Web: canberrawritersfestival.com.au
Dads, stepdads, grandads, father figures – no two are built the same.
One might insist on a white-tablecloth French bistro, while another just wants a 300g pub steak and a clear line of sight to the footy. Whatever their style, Canberra’s food scene is putting on a masterclass for Father’s Day this year.
Here’s where to take the father figure in your life based on how he loves to dine. Pick his vibe, book a table, and take all the credit.
The carnivore dad
Capitol Bar & Grill
Premium cuts and ice-cold beers. What’s not to love? This Father’s Day Capitol Bar & Grill is pulling out all the stops with a flame-fuelled feast.
The all-you-can-eat spread will go big on premium cuts fresh from the flame, including Wagyu skirt, whole sirloins, lamb rumps and roasted whole chooks. Add in sides like Mum’s potato salad and slaw and dessert – which includes sticky date pudding and pavlova – and he’ll have to loosen the belt a notch.
There will also be cold beers and games, with prizes from BentSpoke Brewing Co., and QT Canberra!
Cost: $99 per adult, $39 per child and free for kids under two.
Sunday 6 September, 12 pm | 6 Marcus Clarke Street, City | Book here.
The Inn
Home to Canberra’s only Asado Grill, head to The Inn for a special Father’s Day lunch that will include a few good bottles on the table and a menu made for celebrating. They’ll be serving a choice of two set menus on the day, with lunch seatings from 12 pm or 2 pm.
Make sure to book a table – seats are limited.
Sunday 6 September, 12 pm or 2 pm | Level 1/1 Edgar Street, Ainslie | Book here.
Chifley’s Bar & Grill
With a menu featuring pulled beer-braised beef sliders, grilled corn on the cob, and rich rum chocolate mousse, this is one delicious way to spend Father’s Day. Make sure to try the garlic and rosemary lamb loin chops and the decadent Biscoff crème brûlée, and make a stop at the live BBQ chef station.
Plus, on arrival, Dad will enjoy a complimentary beer, while Mum will be welcomed with a refreshing cider. Kids are catered for too, with their own menu and a fun activity pack to keep them entertained!
Cost: $99 per adult, $39 per child (12 and under) or $219 for a family ticket (two adults and one child).
Sunday 6 September, 12 pm – 3 pm | Hotel Kurrajong, 8 National Circuit, Barton | Book here.
Wine Room
Make Dad feel special this Father’s Day with bottomless drinks and a three-course set menu at Wine Room.
Along with tap beers, wines by the glass and some selected cocktails, he’ll indulge in 400g Wagyu MB5+ with beef jus and chimichurri, patatas bravas with miso butter and cheesecake brûlée with hazelnut.
Cost: $90 per person.
Sunday 6 September, 5 pm | 24 Mort Street, Braddon | Book here.
The “I don’t want you paying $100pp for dinner” dad
Ostani
Celebrate Father’s Day with the ultimate Steak & Shiraz experience at Ostani! Priced at just $50 per person, he’ll enjoy a 300g MB2 Scotch fillet served with chips and salad, paired with a glass of Shiraz.
Simple, delicious and perfect for an unforgettable day out.
Cost: $50 per person.
Sunday 6 September, 12 pm | 18 National Circuit, Barton | Book here.
Ambrosia Lounge
Dad is sure to love this all-you-can-eat tapas feast. Ambrosia Lounge’s delicious lunchtime offering includes a selection of crowd favourites like BBQ meatballs, pulled pork wontons, chicken sliders, and chef-crafted shared plates. All dads will also receive a complimentary drink on arrival (beer, wine, or Ambrosia spirit).
Cost: $55 per person
Sunday 6 September, 1 pm | Building 2/2 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | Book here.
Canberra Southern Cross Club Jamison
Looking for something relaxed to do this Father’s Day? Take Dad along to this Father’s Day Buffet Breakfast at Jamison. Including an all-you-can-eat-spread – fruit, pastries and a full cooked breakfast – it’s something the whole family will enjoy.
And if you’re planning on staying for lunch, every father in your group will receive a complimentary schooner of beer, a glass of Tatachilla wine, or a soft drink! Cheers.
Cost: $55 per person (members) or $63 per person (non-member), $39 for children under 12
Sunday 6 September, 8.30 am | Corner Catchpole and Bowman Street, Macquarie | Book here.
Canberra Southern Cross Club Tuggeranong
It’s their shout at Canberra Southern Cross Club in Tuggeranong. Take Dad out to lunch and sit back as he enjoys a complimentary drink with his meal.
Plus, every dad on the day will go into the pool to win two tickets to their Parrilla Masterclass and a Capital Brewing prize pack!
Sunday 6 September, 11 am – 2 pm | Corner Pitman and, Holwell Street, Greenway | Book here.
Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden
At Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden, Dad’s first drink is on them. Available during lunch service only, book a table to enjoy a complimentary schooner of beer, glass of Tatachilla wine, or soft drink with his meal.
Sunday 6 September, 11 am – 2 pm | 92-96 Corinna Street, Phillip | Book here.
The Alby
Looking for something a bit more casual? Celebrate Father’s Day at The Alby with Steak & Shiraz experience. For just $50 per person, Dad will enjoy a 300g MB2 Scotch fillet served with chips and salad and paired with a glass of Shiraz.
Cost: $50 per person
Sunday 6 September, 11 am | Albemarle Building, G05/45 Furzer Street, Phillip | Book here.
The unapologetic foodie dad
OHNO!
Treat Dad with a table of his favourite people and a delicious yum cha-style set menu! Along with dishes like sesame prawn and blue swimmer crab toast, salt and pepper squid and Cantonese pan-fried noodle, Dad will also get a gift from the OHNO! team.
Add bottomless drinks for an extra $40 per person and don’t worry – a kid’s menu will also be available for $20 per person.
Cost: $79 per person, $20 per person for children aged six to 10.
Sunday 6 September, 11 am, 1 pm or 3 pm | 13 & 15 Flinders Way, Griffith | Book here.
natural nine
This Father’s Day, natural nine is hosting a special Father’s Day Banquet, adding a Shanghainese twist to a lavish spread. On the menu, there’s spiced lamb dumplings, grilled sesame lamb chop, shredded roast duck fried rice and passionfruit ice jelly with mango sorbet for dessert!
Available for lunch and dinner.
Cost: $85 per person
Sunday 6 September, 12 pm – 2 pm and 6 pm – 9 pm | 21 Binara Street, City | Book here.
Mrs Wang
Looking for something a little bit different? How about a Yum Cha feast at Mrs Wang this Father’s Day?
Including handmade dumplings, steaming baskets, and all your favourite shared plates – special fried rice, crispy pork belly and more – this traditional Chinese dining experience will make this Father’s Day one to remember.
Sunday 6 September, 11 am – 3 pm | FG 16 B 148 Bunda Street, City | Book here.
Tintino
What better way to celebrate Dad this Father’s Day than a bottle of his favourite plonk paired with a Tintino cheeseburger?
Take Dad along to score a free burger with any bottle purchase over $50. Walk-ins are welcome, but bookings are recommended!
Sunday 6 September | Shop 4/11 Kennedy Street, Kingston | Book here.
KOTO
At KOTO, Executive Chef Shinya Nakano has curated exclusive, one-day-only additions, honouring the day with exceptional ingredients and refined Japanese craftsmanship. Book Dad a table so he can enjoy WA lobster and crab tacos, kurozu chicken, Wagyu nigiri and 250g MBS4+ Wagyu scotch fillet, along with his favourite dishes. Plus, why not share a bottle from the wine list or discover something from their sake selection?
Sunday 6 September | 1 King George Terrace, Parkes | Book here.
Med
Book a table at Med this Father’s Day! You can choose from the à la carte menu or gather the family for a $99 per person banquet featuring vibrant meze, succulent grilled meats, flavourful seasonal dishes and more. Add a Glenmorangie whisky flight for something extra special!
Cost: $99 per person
Sunday 6 September, 11.30 am – 2 pm | 1/1 Burbury Close, Barton | Book here.
INKA
This Father’s Day, INKA is changing things up with four special editions to their menu created just for the day. Served alongside all of his favourite dishes, Dad can sink his teeth into salmon moriawase (salmon hand roll, salmon sashimi and aburi salmon nigiri), MBS4+ Wagyu striploin (250g char-grilled wagyu with jalapeño ponzu), prawn and avocado crispy rice, and chicken katsu.
Available during lunch and dinner, order several to share and raise a glass of sake to Dad.
Sunday 6 September | Shop B11A/148 Bunda Street, City | Book here.
Azuma Den
They don’t usually do Sundays, but this Father’s Day, Azuma Den is making an exception.
Opening for lunch only; book Dad a table and let him order whatever he wants from the hibachi grill.
Sunday 6 September, 12 pm – 3 pm | East Hotel, 69 Canberra Avenue, Griffith | Book here.
The low-key morning dad
Olims Bar & Bistro
This isn’t a high tea, it’s a guy-tea. Designed for dads who prefer burgers over pastries and beers over tea, Olims Bar & Bistro is hosting a Father’s Day GUY-Tea that combines hearty savoury favourites with delicious, sweet treats and a relaxed atmosphere.
The full bistro menu and cash bar will also be available on the day and a range of beers, wines, spirits, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.
Cost: $44 per person
Sunday 6 September, 12 pm – 3 pm | Corner Of Ainslie &, Limestone Avenue, Braddon | Book here.
Rosa’s
Booking a table at this outdoor garden bar is a guaranteed good idea. This Father’s Day, treat Dad to breakfast at Rosa’s. Available until 11 am, Smashed Avo, a Big Breakfast and French Toast are just some of the offerings on the menu. There’s nothing like coffee, something delicious and a little quality time.
Sunday 6 September, 7 am – 11 am | The Lawns National Triangle, 7 King George Terrace, Parkes | Book here.
Sunday in Canberra
This cosy casual dining venue is perfect for Father’s Day brunch. Open from 7 am, treat him to a coffee and something from the all-day menu as he spends some quality time with the whole family.
We also heard they might have something special available on the day…book a table so you don’t miss out!
Sunday 6 September, 8 am | 54 Ernest Cavanagh Street, Gungahlin | Book here.
The “I pulled out the good shirt” dad
Louis
If you can’t afford to treat Dad to a holiday, this is the next best thing: a relaxed European bistro-style lunch at Louis.
Featuring three delicious courses, he’ll enjoy dishes including steak tartare, tuna crudo, steak frites, short rib and white chocolate mousse or caramel choux. Add the specially curated Lark Whisky Flight to make the occasion even more memorable!
Cost: $125 per person, $55 per child (ages 12 and under).
Sunday 6 September, 12 pm – 1.30 pm | Ground Floor/18 National Circuit, Barton | Book here.
Shaw Estate
Overlooking picturesque regional landscapes and the Southern Tablelands, Shaw Estate is offering a memorable à la carte dining experience this Father’s Day. Focusing on fresh, seasonal produce from local growers – crafted to pair beautifully with Shaw’s cool-climate wines – this Mediterranean-inspired meal will leave him feeling very loved.
Sunday 6 September | 34 Isabel Drive, Murrumbateman | Book here.
The Promenade Café
For the father figure who appreciates a leisurely lunch paired with a beer, the iconic Seafood Buffet at Hyatt Hotel Canberra offers the perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day. A cherished tradition for more than 30 years, this dining experience brings together the finest seafood, refined hot dishes, salads and desserts along with a glass of beer or bubbles on arrival.
Cost: $155 per person. $77.50 for children three to 12.
Designed for the dad who appreciates the finer things in life, this high tea at the Hyatt offers comforting classics, substantial savouries and thoughtfully crafted themed desserts. Including a glass of beer or bubbles on arrival, it promises to be a memorable experience.
Cost: $125 per person. $62.50 for children aged three to 12.
Sunday 6 September, 11 am | 120 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla | Book here.
Poachers Pantry
Take a trip to the country this Father’s Day! Poachers Pantry is hosting a three-course feast that is well worth the trip.
Including Wagyu beef striploin with sauce béarnaise and Jerusalem artichoke, roasted potatoes and chocolate mousse with orange custard and hazelnut praline for the adults, and either house-made lasagne or buttermilk fried chicken with chips and salad, along with chocolate ice cream for the kids, it’s something the whole family will enjoy.
Cost: $90 per person and $30 for children 12 and under.
Sunday 6 September, 11.30 am – 3.30 pm | 431 Nanima Road, Springrange | Book here.
The “Let’s just grab something in town” dad
The Canberra Centre
There are plenty of options for those looking for something delicious in the city. Kinn Thai brings bold, authentic Thai flavours, while Hunter and Barrel is perfect for steak lovers.
7 Cutz Steakhouse offers a vibrant selection of steaks and ribs in a premium dining atmosphere, while Fricken serves up crispy fried chicken for something a bit more casual. Tiger Lane has four distinctive restaurants and bars and as for dessert? You can’t go past the newly opened Yo-Bar on Bunda Street.
The ACT has a new Minister for Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity in Suzanne Orr. In a guest post, social worker and mother of two Annelies Grogan considers her own path to an autism diagnosis and how visibility leads to understanding.
Before I had my babies, I felt like I had the whole adulting thing sorted. But afterwards, everything seemed to take a huge amount of energy.
Suddenly, I could barely manage the basic interactions required to go shopping or get through a medical appointment. My toddler and my baby were relying on me, and I was falling apart. I had to figure out why.
We lost our first baby four months into my pregnancy. When a baby dies – especially a not-quite-baby, who mostly existed as hopes and dreams – there are no social scripts, no set rituals or ceremonies to follow. No one knows what to say to the bereaved parents. This left me isolated and uncertain. I wanted some structure for how to move forward at a time when I was completely stuck, and our society seemed to have nothing to offer. Until I found what I needed in books. Baby loss books, miscarriage books, grief books. Lost in their pages, I wasn’t alone. The hollow pit in my stomach, my achingly empty arms, started to make some kind of sense. The books helped me find words to talk about what had happened. I realised that reading has always helped me understand people better.
Two years and a traumatic birth later, our son was in my arms. I was astonished, in the best possible way. It didn’t feel like I would ever get here – holding our beautiful healthy baby. After we got home, I sat breastfeeding him beside the nursery window. The view was familiar, but everything felt different. I looked at my baby; touched his soft, perfect skin. Was this real? Now the moment was here, I wasn’t sure it belonged to me. Perhaps because I didn’t have much sense of a “me” who really existed. My sense of self was entirely consumed by my new parent role, and I thought this was normal. My instinct was always to fit unobtrusively into any situation. But this situation was an entirely new way of life, and I was disappearing. It felt like drowning.
When I was diagnosed with postnatal depression, I wasn’t surprised. And yet, I wasn’t sure I was depressed. It was more like a nerve was exposed. Every sound was too loud, lights too bright. Touch was overwhelming, which was hard when breastfeeding. I struggled to talk to others, to be in busy or noisy places, and especially to follow conversations with more than one person. In my sleep-deprived state my thinking was very literal, and often jokes and metaphors passed right by me.
These struggles were clues to what was going on for my brain, but events at the time meant I completely missed it. We were in and out of Covid lockdowns. Responding to the pandemic involved constant social re-adjustment, and everyone around me also seemed to be having a hard time.
By the time our second son was born, lockdowns and social distancing felt like a distant memory. There were more options for support after my second round of birth trauma. Healing began with the help of a support group, therapy, and many more books.
Bonding with a new baby while my broken body slowly recovered was the most vulnerable experience I’ve ever had. It opened the door to caring more for myself. As my self-compassion unfurled, I began to think there must be a bigger picture to the way I show up in the world. A pattern to the things my brain and body struggle with. I began to realise that things did not have to feel this difficult.
That realisation was partly thanks to all those books. Reading about trauma led me to books by women who had discovered how to support their nervous systems through times of adversity. Grace Tame, Amy Thunig, Chloé Hayden. Strong, articulate, autistic women. Reading their words felt like coming home. My lifelong fear of not fitting in eased, as it dawned on me there was probably a whole group of people I did belong with. It was time to find out if I was right.
I had my autism assessment with a private psychologist, aware of my privilege in being able to afford it. I was also lucky that my mother was happy to be interviewed about my childhood. I diligently filled out questionnaires, provided a selection of awkward adolescent diary entries, and finally had my three hour interview.
When I received my diagnosis, I was so relieved. The excitement of what I’d discovered about myself had been justified. There was sadness too. For my past self, and for my babies. Their mother could have been in better shape emotionally, if I’d understood more about what I needed. But mostly, there was the overwhelmingly reassuring feeling of being seen and understood.
Autistic Canberrans may be feeling more seen recently, with autism now explicitly named within an ACT ministerial portfolio. Suzanne Orr’s appointment as the new minister for Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity is significant. Meaningful progress will take time to emerge, but the recognition speaks to the needs of autistic people. We are here, and the better our needs are recognised, the more we can participate in our community. This is especially timely now that many of us who were missed are discovering our autistic identities.
Autism in women and girls is often missed, because understandings of the neurotype are mostly based on the way it presents in males. But according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there was a 95.5% increase in the number of diagnosed autistic females in Australia between 2018 and 2022 – the numbers almost doubling in four years. I find it encouraging that a significant proportion of these newly diagnosed women and girls were under 25.
An earlier diagnosis could not have lifted my crushing grief. It would not have stopped me having babies, or prevented the physical and mental trauma during their births. But I would have felt a little less broken after each of these events, if I had understood more about what my brain and body needed. If I’d known that my needs are important. Knowing that I’m autistic, it’s much easier to give myself grace. It’s easier to be me.
Now I work as a social worker with expectant and new parents. Every new baby is different, and there’s a lot to cover in a short amount of time. Every parent is different too, and many are neurodivergent – diagnosed or not. Amongst it all, there’s one message I bring with me every time. “Your needs matter. YOU matter. And if you’re not sure who that ‘you’ is, I’m here to help you figure it out.”
From French pop-up markets and alpine-themed high teas to quiet reading circles and hands-on masterclasses, Canberra is packed with rich experiences this weekend.
Discover our curated edit of what’s on across town and design your perfect escape.
Looking for even more to do in Canberra? Check out our What’s On section to find hundreds of events happening around town.
DON’T MISS…
Ginninderry Festival
The Ginninderry Festival comes to The Link in Strathnairn for an afternoon of free family entertainment and community celebration. Rugby league great Mal Meninga will host a meet-and-greet from 3 pm, alongside live music from Michael Bray, Azlan Bathusha, Maddy Proud, The Po Boys and the Amosa Family. Attendees can enjoy free rides including the Giant Slide, Cups and Saucers, Pirate Ship, The Storm and a Bungee Trampoline, alongside local market stalls, food vendors and open studios at Strathnairn Arts. Additional activities include face painting, roving performers, games and a free bicycle tune-up station.
Dust off your leg warmers, strap on your helmet, and roll around Lake Burley Griffin on a fun, slow-paced 80s-themed bike ride organised by Canberra by Bike. Open to bicycles, scooters, and roller skates, the social ride loops through the National Triangle while a portable sound system pumps out classic 80s pop hits.
Saturday 29 August, 7 pm–9 pm | Departs from The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, City | canberrabybike.au
Disco Revolution
Step back into the golden era of studio dance floors with Disco Revolution, a high-energy party featuring live sets, interactive entertainment, and DJ Diggz on the decks. Expect explosive live tributes to ABBA, Donna Summer, The Bee Gees, Earth Wind & Fire, and Gloria Gaynor that will keep you dancing all night.
Joanna Murray-Smith’s acclaimed play Bombshells takes the stage at The Q, stripping back social masks to reveal five women balancing internal chaos with external composure. Moving from crisis to hilarity, the production delivers five distinct monologues featuring a nervous bride, an exhausted mother, a broken-hearted cactus lover, a widow, and a feisty teenager. Unlike traditional one-woman stagings, this production casts five separate actors, bringing unique vulnerability and depth to each character’s story. Relatable and fiercely honest, it provides a night of pure storytelling, comedy, and connection for theatre lovers.
Until Saturday 29 August, 2 pm and 7.30 pm | The Q, 253 Crawford Street, Queanbeyan | theq.net.au
Slow Pages Society
Slow Pages Society hosts a quiet Sunday gathering for readers, held on the last Sunday afternoon of each month at Capital Brewing Co in Fyshwick. The August session follows a loose theme of memoirs, essays and reflective nonfiction, though attendees are welcome to bring whatever they are currently reading. The two-hour format includes time to settle in with a drink, two blocks of quiet reading, and a break for conversation and reflection using optional prompts.
Sunday 30 August, 3–5 pm | Capital Brewing Co, Building 3/1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | events.humanitix.com
Paris to Canberra: French Market
Sydney’s award-winning Le Marché French Market comes to Canberra for a special one-day pop-up at Thoroughbred Park! Browse over 45 stalls filled with authentic French delicacies (including raclette, tarte flambée, crêpes, fresh pastries, and saucisson) alongside French linen, antiques, perfumes, and local artisan goods.
Capital Brewing Co. and Alpha Fresh present Pints and Produce, a new weekly Sunday market at Capital’s Fyshwick taproom, beginning 30 August. The pop-up combines seasonal produce with beer, food and live acoustic music. Central to the event is the $40 Alpha Box, filled with as much seasonal fruit and vegetables as customers can fit, provided the lid closes. Additional entertainment includes face painting and access to the nearby LESS garden. An hourly Harvest Raffle runs from 1 pm to 4 pm, open to anyone who buys an Alpha Box or spends over $20, with winners receiving an Alpha Fresh voucher and Capital merchandise.
Sunday 30 August, 12 pm–4 pm | Capital Brewing Co. Taproom, Building 3/1 Dairy Road, Fyshwick | capitalbrewing.co
Club Art
Transform your winter evenings with Club Art, a seasonal visual arts activation bringing local creativity to city venue ONE22. Throughout August, the space showcases a rotating exhibition of contemporary works by Canberra visual artists, culminating in a special Local Artist Bonanza evening on Friday night. Attendees can hear short artist talks, enjoy live music, and celebrate the formal unveiling of new winter installations. It provides a warm, welcoming venue to connect with regional art, socialise with local creators, and support independent culture. Drop by for a drink and experience Canberra’s vibrant artistic scene in an urban setting.
Until Monday 31 August | ONE22, 122 Alinga Street, City | one22.com.au
THE CULTURAL WEEKEND
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change
Free-Rain Theatre Company brings the second-longest-running Off-Broadway musical revue to Kingston’s ACT Hub. I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change takes a hilarious, honest look at the modern dating landscape, tackling everything from awkward first encounters and wedding stress to family road trips and senior dating. Performed by a cast of six playing 58 distinct characters, this updated version features catchy songs and relatable vignettes that celebrate romantic chaos in all its messy glory.
Until Saturday 5 September | ACT Hub, Causeway Hall, 14 Spinifex Street, Kingston | freeraintheatre.com
Top Dog Film Festival World Tour 2026
Celebrate the unbreakable bond between humans and their canine companions at the 2026 Top Dog Film Festival. Featuring an inspiring lineup of independent short films from around the globe, this screening showcases heroic rescues, athletic working dogs, and heartwarming tales of loyalty that dog lovers won’t want to miss.
Saturday 29 August, 2 pm–9.15 pm | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, McCoy Circuit, Acton | tickets.nfsa.gov.au
Bonegilla: The Migrants’ Journey
Experience an emotional, multi-media stage production honoring post-war European migrants who journeyed to Australia. Featuring live piano and violin accompaniment alongside authentic filmed interviews, vintage home movies, and personal belongings brought over on ships, Bonegilla offers an inspiring and touching tribute to the pioneers who helped shape modern Australia.
Sunday 30 August, 2 pm | Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au/bonegilla
NFSA’s Winter Film Series
Take a cinematic journey through time and space in the Winter Film Series at Arc Cinema.
From mind-bending time travel and fractured narratives to intergalactic adventures, alien encounters and cosmic odysseys, join us for stories stretching across eras and into the far reaches of the universe.
Whether you’re drawn to contemplative tales or epic escapism, you can explore worlds reshaped by technology, desire and chance.
Until 31 August | NFSA, McCoy Circuit, Acton | nfsa.gov.au
Life in the Great Barrier Reef 360° VR Documentary
Submerge yourself in a breathtaking underwater world without leaving the inner north. Premiering at the National Museum of Australia, Life in the Great Barrier Reef is an immersive 35-minute cinematic documentary utilising custom-built 8K 360° virtual reality technology. Guided by leading scientists, reef stewards, and Traditional Owners, audiences are transported to the depths of two UNESCO World Heritage sites to encounter manta rays, whales, and rare coral spawning events, while gaining a deeper understanding of current conservation efforts.
Ongoing, session times vary | National Museum of Australia, Acton Peninsula | nma.gov.au
THE FOODIE WEEKEND
Wines of Western Australia Dinner
Treat your palate to a curated four-course winemakers’ dinner showcasing Western Australia’s distinctive wine regions at the Southern Cross Club Jamison. Each course is carefully paired with cool-climate and coastal varietals, offering a relaxed and informative evening dedicated to great food, fine wine, and long conversations.
Friday 28 August, 6.30 pm–9 pm | Canberra Southern Cross Club Jamison, Corner Catchpole and Bowman Street, Macquarie | cscc.com.au
Merrick Watts: An Idiot’s Guide to Wine (Vol. 3)
Comedian and certified wine expert Merrick Watts brings his hit wine-tasting comedy show back to Canberra. Sipping through six handpicked wines, audience members will enjoy sharp stand-up commentary, food pairing tips, and hilarious anecdotes. It’s the ultimate combination of stand-up comedy and top-shelf wine tasting.
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.
Good Goodies flea market returns to Gang Gang Cafe in Downer, giving local creatives free stall space to sell their wares. Stalls will feature handmade art, preloved and vintage clothing, pottery, cakes and sweet treats, alongside other locally made goods and curiosities. The market runs alongside the cafe’s usual service, with visitors able to order coffee and food while browsing stalls set up around the venue and its garden area. The event is free to attend, drawing local makers and shoppers to the Downer shops precinct.
Sunday 30 August, 3–6 pm | Gang Gang Cafe, Shop 4/2 Frencham Place, Downer | facebook.com
Hotel Kurrajong Canberra wedding showcase
Hotel Kurrajong Canberra hosts a wedding showcase, giving engaged couples the opportunity to meet a range of Canberra wedding professionals under one roof. The event includes access to the hotel’s styled ceremony and reception spaces, allowing visitors to explore how different setups might suit their own celebrations. The showcase is designed to help couples at any stage of planning, from those just starting out to those finalising details, by bringing suppliers and venue options together in one visit.
Sunday 30 August, 12.30–3.30 pm | Hotel Kurrajong Canberra, 8 National Circuit, Barton | trybooking.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.
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.
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.
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.
The Lions Club of Googong and Surrounds is inviting residents across Googong, Queanbeyan, Burra, Royalla and the wider Canberra region to take part in a free Community Book Exchange Event at the Googong Community Centre. This is a family‑friendly initiative designed to promote reading, sustainability and neighbourly connection.
The event encourages locals to bring along pre‑loved books and swap them for something new to read. All genres are welcome, including children’s books, fiction, non‑fiction, cookbooks and hobby guides.
Saturday 29 August, 11 am–3 pm | Googong Community Centre, Corner Gorman Drive and McPhail Way, Googong
The National Zoo and Aquarium celebrates International Primate Day
International Primate Day will be celebrated at the National Zoo and Aquarium with special Keeper Talks throughout the day. Guests can learn the ins and outs of the zoo’s highly intelligent residents as well as opportunities to ask the keepers questions about their day to day work as a Primate Team. Talks will showcase primate species across Africa, Asia and South America and is the perfect weekend for families with budding zoo keepers or animal enthusiasts alike. All activities are free with admission and memberships.
Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August | National Zoo and Aquarium, 999 Lady Denman Drive, Weston Creek | tickets.nationalzoo.com.au
Once Upon a Paws: Book Week Paws Party in Haig Park
Canberra dog lovers and bookworms are invited to a special Book Week edition of the much-loved monthly Paws Party in Haig Park this Sunday. The storybook-themed Once Upon a Paws will feature the fabulous Ms Constance Spry’s Letter Writing Service, turning stories about you and your dog into beautifully typed letters to take home alongside a book swap, photobooth and live music, promising plenty of fun for pups and their humans.
Discover one of Australia’s most unique, magical wildlife experiences during Platypus Month across the stunning Upper Murrumbidgee region. Running from late July through August, this annual celebration shines a spotlight on the iconic, elusive platypus through a diverse calendar of guided walks, citizen science surveys, family activities, expert talks, and local film screenings. The local waterways are home to highly active, healthy platypus populations, and the month offers a rare opportunity to join guided dawn or dusk platypus-spotting walks at picturesque river corridors. It’s an authentic outdoor adventure perfect for nature enthusiasts, families, and wildlife photographers looking to connect with local conservation teams.
Until Monday 31 August | Various regional waterways and locations | act.waterwatch.org.au
THE ACTIVE WEEKEND
Miss/Mx Pole Dance ACT 2026
Witness high-flying athleticism and showgirl glamour as the ACT’s top pole dancers compete for a place in the national finals.
Saturday, 29 August, 7 pm–10 pm | Canberra Theatre Centre, London Circuit, Canberra | canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Capital to Coast 100km Multistage Trail Run
Calling all endurance runners! The Capital to Coast 100km Multistage Trail Race returns for a weekend of off-road adventure spanning nine distinct stages from Canberra all the way to the NSW South Coast. Entrants can compete solo or in relay teams of two to four, traversing fire roads, singletrack, and technical terrain across Bungendore, Braidwood, and Batemans Bay.
Until Sunday 30 August | Various locations between Canberra and Batemans Bay | capitaltocoast.com.au
THE WORKSHOP WEEKEND
Matcha Masterclass with Teddy’s Matcha
Discover the art, science, and history of Japanese matcha in a hands-on workshop led by Teddy’s Matcha. Participants will learn how to evaluate matcha quality, understand distinct flavour profiles, and practice traditional whisking methods before crafting customised iced matcha beverages using house-made syrups.
Saturday, 29 August, 10 am–11.30 am | Canberra and Region Visitors Centre, Barrine Drive, Parkes | events.humanitix.com
Intro to Beadmaking Class
Learn to tame molten glass over an open torch in a beginner-friendly beadmaking workshop at Canberra Glassworks. Taught by local jewellery artist Sarah Murphy, this three-hour session covers essential flameworking techniques, including glass manipulation, pattern application, making glass threads, and proper annealing practices.
Kickstart your textile practice with a three-hour hands-on tapestry workshop led by master weavers from the Australian Tapestry Workshop. Held exclusively at the National Gallery, participants will experiment with frame weaving techniques, colour combinations, and upcycled materials to create a custom woven wall piece.
Saturday 29 August, 12.30 pm–3.30 pm | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au
Artists in Conversation: Josie Cosgrove & Katrina Barter
Gain deep insights into contemporary visual art during an informal artist talk with Josie Cosgrove (Where the Light Dances) and Katrina Barter (Happy Places). The pair will discuss process-driven eco-printing, botanical pigments, abstract grid paintings, and how personal memory shapes artistic creation.
Saturday 29 August, 2 pm–3 pm | Belconnen Arts Centre, 118 Emu Bank, Belconnen | belcoarts.com.au
AJ Lamarque: A Beginner’s Guide to Ancient Egypt
Comedian and amateur Egyptologist AJ Lamarque breaks down 5,000 years of mummies, magic, and gods in a hilarious crash course on ancient history.
Saturday 29 August, 6 pm–7 pm | The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, Canberra | thestreet.org.au
Canberra Milky Way Editing Masterclass
Take your astro-photography skills to the next level with a dedicated full-day editing masterclass led by astrophotographer David Magro. Designed to help photographers turn RAW night-sky captures into stunning Milky Way landscapes, the course provides real-time feedback, workflow refinement, and advanced processing techniques.
Join bestselling novelist, veterinarian, and explorer Karen Viggers for the NLA’s Winter Tales talk, presented in association with the National Foundation for Australian Women. Viggers will reflect on her adventures, her passion for native wildlife, and the human-animal bond that shapes her fiction, followed by an afternoon tea raising funds for the Australian Women’s Register.
Sunday 30 August, 2 pm–4 pm | National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Parkes | library.gov.au
Canberra Milky Way Photography Masterclass
Learn to photograph the night sky with multi-award-winning photographer David Magro. Starting with a classroom theory session on camera settings, composition, and noise-reduction, participants will head out to nearby dark-sky spots along the Murrumbidgee River to capture breathtaking images of the Milky Way.
An 80-member community band delivers a free afternoon concert packed with classic British hits, from The Beatles and James Bond themes to band classics.
Between Silence and Song: Clarinet & Piano Recital
Enjoy an afternoon of expressive chamber music featuring clarinettist Helena Maher and pianist Stuart Long. Tracing themes of quiet lyricism and deep emotion, the program showcases classical and romantic masterworks by Fauré, Weber, Schumann, and Rachmaninov in the intimate setting of Wesley Music Centre.
Sunday 30 August, 3 pm–4 pm | Wesley Music Centre, 20-22 National Circuit, Forrest | wesleymusiccanberra.org
Maruki Community Orchestra Concert
Maruki Community Orchestra presents ‘Wildest Dreams’ to be held on Sunday 30 August. The program will feature music from Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Berlioz and Borodin .
Sunday 30 August 2026, 3–5 pm | Lyneham High School Performing Arts Centre, 61 Goodwin Street, Lyneham | trybooking.com
THE ART LOVER’S WEEKEND
National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026
Marking the final chapter of one of the Gallery’s longest-running exhibitions, the 2026 prize features finalist works alongside a curated retrospective celebrating two decades of Australian portrait photography.
Since 2007, the Prize has celebrated the vitality and diversity of contemporary portrait photography from across the nation. From the joyful and playful to the strong, intimate and vulnerable, it has showcased the stories, people and moments that mattered.
To celebrate the remarkable photography and thank the community of artists, supporters and visitors who have cherished this prize over the years, the Gallery will present a curated retrospective alongside the 2026 finalists’ exhibition.
Until Sunday, 11 October | National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes | portrait.gov.au
Vulnerable
This exhibition explores what it means to be vulnerable in today’s world. Through textiles, painting, eco-printing, and mixed media, the artists examine themes of resilience, change, loss, and adaptation. Inspired by personal experiences and the natural world, the works reflect on the connections between people, communities, and the environment, offering different perspectives on issues such as environmental change and social issues to health, identity, and belonging.
8Studios is a group of artists from widely varying age groups, who are connected through friendship, shared creative interests, and a belief in the value of artistic community.
Saturday 29 August to Saturday 19 September | Rusten House, 87 Collett Street, Queanbeyan | qprc.nsw.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
Spirit Dwellings by Sarah Hickey
Brisbane artist Sarah Hickey brings her latest solo exhibition, Spirit Dwellings, to Grainger Gallery. Developed following an artist residency in County Cork, Ireland, the collection explores ancestry, folklore, and the quiet memory contained within ancestral landscapes. Featuring large-scale figurative paintings inhabited by blue-faced figures, botanical motifs, and animal companions, Hickey’s richly layered work examines the unseen threads connecting past and present.
Until Sunday 30 August, 11 am – 5 pm | Grainger Gallery, 1/34 Geelong Street, Fyshwick | graingergallery.com.au
Afternoon of the Harpies
Grainger Gallery presents Afternoon of the Harpies, a joint exhibition by Canberra-based photographic artist Judith Nangala Crispin and sculptor Stephen Harrison. Crispin’s Lumachrome glass prints are made through a camera-less process she developed while living and working with Warlpiri communities in the Tanami Desert, combining images of roadside-found animals and birds with local plant matter, ochre and clay on light-sensitive paper exposed to the sun. Harrison, a Canberra School of Art graduate whose work has featured at Sculpture by the Sea, contributes bronze figures including sphinxes, harpies and heads. Together the works explore themes of mythology, mortality and transformation.
Until Sunday 30 August | Grainger Gallery, 1/34 Geelong St, Fyshwick | graingergallery.com.au
Elisa Crossing: Move Me!
Discover Move me!, a striking solo exhibition by Canberra artist Elisa Crossing that champions the practice of “slow looking.” Countering the fast-paced, frictionless nature of the digital age, Crossing’s oil paintings explore the active, embodied relationship between the viewer, the studio, and the canvas. Moving between intimacy and distance, her works dissolve into abstract textures up close while revealing rhythmic structural scenes from afar, reminding us that seeing is never static.
Until Monday 31 August | Civic Art Bureau, Level 1, 76 Alinga Street, Canberra | civicartbureau.com
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
Vessels of Dialogue: Sarit Cohen
Influenced by Bauhaus architecture and early 20th-century Decorative Arts, Vessels of Dialogue presents whimsical ceramic sculptures by Sarit Cohen. Crafted from delicate porcelain clay, these serene, minimal forms use subtle linear rhythms and a muted color palette to explore architectural memories and space.
Until Saturday 12 September | Craft + Design Canberra, Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra | craftanddesigncanberra.org
Correspondence: Jude Muduioa
Celebrating patience and sustained craft, Correspondence showcases Jude Muduioa’s exploration of ceramic accumulation. Each delicate element is individually shaped by hand before joining a larger structure. With restrained surfaces, the exhibition invites viewers to focus on rhythm, subtle detail, and the interplay of light and shadow.
Until Saturday 12 September | Craft + Design Canberra, Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra | craftanddesigncanberra.org
Dwell: Suzanne Knight
Through intricately woven tapestry forms shaped like discarded plastic bottles, Suzanne Knight’s Dwell examines the complex interplay between migration, consumer culture, and ecological change. The exhibition reflects on how introduced materials and settler traditions have permanently reshaped Australian landscapes.
Until Saturday 12 September | Craft + Design Canberra, Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra | craftanddesigncanberra.org
Fragile Structures: The Architecture of Decay
Step into a captivating collaborative exhibition by visual artists Madeline Cardone and Fran Romano. Working across glass and ceramics, the duo explores the built environment, ruins, decay, and architectural space through the deconstruction and abstraction of form. Their sculptural works examine dualities of strength and fragility, permanence and transience, creating a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.
Until Saturday, 12 September (Opening night & artist talks Thursday, 30 July from 5.30 pm) | Craft + Design Canberra, Level 1, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra | craftanddesigncanberra.org
LUCKY ROCKET
LUCKY ROCKET presents new work by documentary photographer Yani Clarke, opening in Galleries 1 and 2 at PhotoAccess. The series comprises medium-format photographs of Bun Bang Fai, a traditional rain-making festival celebrated in Laos and Thailand’s Isan region, captured a decade apart. Clarke, based in Lismore, began the project after the 2022 Northern Rivers floods prompted her return home following ten years working elsewhere. The photographs form a visual diary revisiting the same festival twice, exploring themes of place, ritual and return. Clarke’s work has previously been published in VICE and F-Stop Magazine, and shortlisted for the Head On Portrait Prize.
Until Saturday | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | photoaccess.org.au
Halfway Seen Halfway Home
Halfway Seen Halfway Home (半窥半归) opens in Gallery 3 at PhotoAccess, presenting the debut project by artist collective Guylieuzy. Formed by first-generation Chinese-Australians Ming Liew and Will Wang, the collective travelled to China to explore questions of identity and belonging. The moving-image exhibition features eight autoethnographic works, each reflecting an aspect of the artists’ perspective as both Chinese and Australian. The exhibition examines Chinese Australian hybrid identity, shaped by migration, memory and the ongoing negotiation between two worlds, and considers the liminality of the first-generation immigrant experience, where home remains both familiar and foreign, present yet out of reach.
Until Saturday | PhotoAccess, 30 Manuka Circle, Griffith | photoaccess.org.au
Land’s Edge: Sarah Ormonde & Jo Victoria
Land’s Edge brings together ceramicists and friends Sarah Ormonde and Jo Victoria, exploring the meeting point of cliffs and water, sand and rock along the coastal fringe that shapes their lives and practices. The exhibition combines Ormonde’s large sentinel forms with Victoria’s delicate porcelain fragments, reflecting the shifting, dynamic nature of the landscape. Ormonde turns her attention to the headlands, while Victoria is drawn to the surf, where air meets water and vision and touch become entwined. Together, the pair use the gallery to explore how their distinct practices, both grounded in landscape, evoke the passage of time.
Until Sunday 20 September | Canberra Potters, 1 Aspinall Street, Watson | canberrapotters.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.
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
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
Weaving the Coast by Christiane Keller
Weaving the Coast is a new solo exhibition by Canberra-based fibre artist Christiane Keller. Featuring fifteen sculptural works crafted from natural fibres, recycled materials, and salvaged beach debris, the collection translates the distinct geological patterns and sediment layers of coastal rock formations into intricate, three-dimensional woven forms. Informed by her decades spent working alongside Indigenous fibre artists across Arnhem Land and Central Australia, Keller’s sustainable practice creates a deeply tactile connection to place and Country.
Until Saturday 17 October (Official Opening Friday 21 August, 6 pm) | Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street, Greenway | tuggeranongarts.com
Arthur Boyd: Tapestries
Culture lovers have a world-first opportunity to witness a monumental artistic achievement right in the heart of the National Triangle. The National Gallery is presenting the inaugural exhibition of the complete cycle of twenty monumental tapestries by renowned Australian artist Arthur Boyd. Hand-woven in Portugal and acquired in 1975, these breathtaking textiles creatively retell the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. Displayed alongside the original lithographs, pastels, and drawings, this astonishing exhibition illuminates the immense collaborative and technical processes required to translate Boyd’s intensely creative visions into millions of rich, physical stitches.
Until Sunday 18 October. Times vary | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes | nga.gov.au
GR’AFT
Canberra Glassworks presents GR’AFT, a new exhibition by Thirroul-based artist Lynda Draper, developed in partnership with Sullivan + Strumpf. Created over two years, the exhibition marks Draper’s first major body of work in bronze and glass, following four decades as a leading figure in Australian ceramics. GR’AFT draws on the ancient horticultural practice of grafting, joining separate elements into a single living form, as a method and metaphor for transformation. Draper worked alongside glass artists Annette Blair and Spike Deane, and Nick Stranks of Carwoola Casting, bringing glass, ceramics and bronze together across three ancient material practices.
Explore innovative contemporary sculpture at Canberra Glassworks with GR’AFT, a solo exhibition by artist Lynda Draper. Developed during a residency at the Kingston precinct, the body of work blends glass, ceramics, and bronze through skilled collaborations with local artisans and foundry specialists. Drawing inspiration from botanical grafting techniques, the tactile sculptures feature wax-like surfaces, biomorphic forms, and funnel shapes that evoke natural growth and transformation. The exhibition offers visitors a chance to contemplate material exchange, layered artistic histories, and collaborative craft. Drop by this iconic lakeside venue to experience stunning contemporary art firsthand.
Until Monday 26 October | Canberra Glassworks, 11 Wentworth Avenue, Kingston | canberraglassworks.com
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
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
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
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.
Until 1 November 2026 | National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes | nga.gov.au
Yarning: Sharing Stories, Celebrating Culture
Explore Yarning, a vibrant new exhibition at Australian Parliament House showcasing the creative voices and stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students from across the nation. Featuring artworks from over 70 young artists, the display showcases entries from the Yarning competition exploring themes of Country, identity, family, and reconciliation—including the three winning pieces. Located in the public area on the Level 1 Senate side, this inspiring collection offers a powerful platform for young First Nations storytellers.
Open daily until February 2027 | Australian Parliament House, Capital Hill | aph.gov.au
Floral Impressions: Coins in Bloom
The Royal Australian Mint’s exhibition Floral Impressions: Coins in Bloom draws on never-before-seen objects from the National Collection to explore the rich symbolism of flowers on coins from around the world. The exhibition traces how floral designs struck into metal carry stories of national identity, cultural heritage and remembrance — from Australia’s kangaroo paw and the South African protea to the Western Samoan Teuila.
Decorative motifs such as laurel, olive and oak wreaths, used for centuries as symbols of victory, peace and strength, also feature. Commemorative coins in the exhibition show how flowers have honoured significant historical moments and individuals across cultures.
Until March 2027 | Royal Australian Mint, 62–114 Denison Street, Deakin | ramint.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
