Iconic favourites return to Canberra including Enlighten Festival and Canberra Balloon Spectacular in autumn, truffle celebrations in winter, Floriade in spring, and the SpringOUTW pride festival as we head into another hot and fabulous summer.
These signature events, along with live music, festival and vibrant celebrations, promise something for everyone in 2025.
JANUARY 2025 EVENTS
NATIONAL MUSEUM : POMPEII : UNTIL 4 MAY
Discover what life was like in the ancient city of Pompeii before the fateful eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. See remarkable artefacts including frescoes, jewellery, and sculptures at this exhibition at the National Museum of Australia.
WOMEN’S ASHES T20 : 23 JAN 2025
The action continues as we celebrate women in sport at Manuka Oval with the CommBank Women’s Ashes T20 International as Australia play England.
CANBERRA FESTIVAL OF SPEED : 25-26 JAN 2025
Speed quuens it's time to get up close to the world's rarest motorsport vehicles at the Canberra Festival of Speed. Enjoy an immersive AV experience, along with exhibitors, music, and a European food village.
NATIONAL GALLERY : JAN - APR 2025
Explore the lives and artistic legacies of important female artists and innovators in the Australian art world at the National Gallery of Australia's Ethel Carrick and Anne Dangar retrospectives (until 27 April 2025).
FEBRUARY 2025 EVENTS
SUNSET CINEMA : FEB - NOV 2025
Few things say ‘summertime tradition’ in Canberra more than an outdoor movie. Bask in balmy weather at Sunset Cinema (November - February) nestled in the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Set amongst iconic scenery, make sure to gather your friends, family, drinks, and snacks to make a night of it or cheer on Australia's best batters and bowlers during the summer of cricket at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
NATIONAL MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL : 7-9 FEB 2025
Taste food from around the globe at the National Multicultural Festival which brings together more than 170 unique nationalities. Beloved by locals for the food stalls, the festival stages will be filled with cultural performances so you can enjoy dinner and a show.
ROYAL CANBERRA SHOW : 21-23 FEB 2025
Experience the magic of the Royal Canberra Show with over 150 captivating attractions, award-winning animals, and competitions galore.
MARCH 2025 EVENTS
ENLIGHTEN ILLUMINATIONS FEAST : 28 FEB - 10 MAR 2025
Canberra’s galleries and museums will host an array of events during the day and become artworks at night during Enlighten Illuminations Feast on tasty treats, and enjoy live music and exclusive experiences as you explore the National Triangle, transformed by thought-provoking architectural projections and artistic installations.
NATIONAL SHEEP DOG TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS : 10-16 MAR 2025
And for something different cheer on your favourite dogs at the National Sheep Dog Trial Championships.
CANBERRA BALLOON SPECTACULAR : 15-23 MAR 2025
Wake up to surreal scenes as dozens of hot air balloons float across the capital each morning during the Canberra Balloon Spectacular. Grab breakfast from a local food truck or take to the lake to watch the balloons inflate and float into the sky.
CRAFT BEER AND CIDER FESTIVAL : 15 MAR 2025
Go butch and head to the Canberra Craft Beer and Cider Festival to learn about Australia's incredible craft beer evolution and taste the brews for yourself.
HANDMADE MARKETS 29-30 MAR 2025
Support local makers and handmade. Meet the makers at over 250 stalls within the Handmade Canberra food and design market to grab the next gift on the wish list for yourself or someone special.
APRIL & MAY 2025 EVENTS
NATIONAL FOLK FESTIVAL : 17-21 APR 2025
For four days of music, folk dance, and community, head to the National Folk Festival. With multiple stages, workshops, dance spaces, markets, food stalls, and even on-site camping, this festival has your long weekend sorted. Be warned though, the saying goes that once you’ve gone to the festival just once, you’ll want to come back year after year.
JUNE, JULY, & AUGUST 2025 EVENTS
Winter in Canberra does not mean hibernation for most, with a wide array of things to do across the cooler months.
FIRED UP FESTIVAL : TBA AUG 2025
Fired Up is Canberra Potters’ annual winter festival celebrating Canberra’s ceramics community. The celebration promises an enchanting evening under the winter night sky, where visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant world of ceramics and connect through clay in the heart of Canberra.
CANBERRA TRUFFLE SEASON : JUN - AUG 2025
Sample the delights of the Canberra region’s truffle growers from June through August. The prized black Perigord truffle is on the menu at restaurants, cafes, and wineries across the capital thanks to the region’s cool climate growing conditions. Enjoy a paddock-to-plate experience or join a truffle hunt at one of the newest jewels in Canberra’s culinary experience crown, Beltana Farm.
NATHIONAL GALLERTY : CÉZANNE TO GIACOMETTI : 31 MAY - 21 SEP 2025
See the moments of contact and exchange between groundbreaking European artists and their Australian counterparts at Cézanne to Giacometti: Highlights from Museum Berggruen / Neue Nationalgalerie at the National Gallery (31 May - 21 September). This exhibition marks the first time works from this internationally significant collection will be seen in Australia.
SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2025 EVENTS
FLORIADE : 13 SEP - 12 OCT 2025
Australia’s biggest celebration of spring, Floriade, returns to Commonwealth Park. Featuring more than one million blooms, this flower festival is also renowned for its marketplace, food stalls, live music, and workshops. And when the sun goes down, NightFest (dates TBC) transforms the floral displays with artistic illuminations and hosts evenings filled with entertainers, fantastic food, and Insta-worthy photo opportunities.
STRATHNAIRN ARTS OPEN DAY : TBA OCT 2025
Sitting on a picturesque 23-acre block on Canberra’s outskirts with uninterrupted views of the Brindabella Ranges, Strathnairn Arts has been home to a variety of world-renowned artists since it’s transformation from a working homestead to an arts facility in the 1970s.
With over 20 artist studios, a working foundry, ceramics studio, three galleries, a shop and cafe, this gem of a place is only 20 minutes from the centre of town and a magical place to visit – and there’s no better time than their Open Day in October. Date TBA.
NARA CANDLE FESTIVAL : 25 OCT 2025
Celebrate peace, goodwill, and the sister city relationship between Canberra and Nara at the Nara Candle Festival. This popular festival features thousands of shimmering candles, delicious street food, and cultural performances.
NOVEMBER 2025 EVENTS
SPRINGOUT PRIDE FESTIVAL : 1 - 30 NOV 2025
Join in on all the fun at the SpringOUT festival when the streets of Canberra will fill with pride flags, love, and joy, in celebration of the queer community. SpringOUT is Canberra’s only pride festival. Held in November each year, it is a month-long pride festival that celebrates Australia’s most LGBTQIA+ friendly city and its LGBTQIA+ community in all its fabulous diversity.
BUSHDANCE : TBA NOV 2025
The Canberra Bushdance is held in Canberra every November as part of the SpringOUT Festival. It's Canberra’s largest LGBTI event and has been held for over 30 years. Held at the Yarralumla Woolshed, it is a fun night of dancing with people of all flavours. There is a bar, BBQ and a live band to lead you through those dances that you might remember from primary school – like Strip the Willow, The Waves of Bondi, crazy polkas and some more genteel promenades.
SUNSET CINEMA : FEB — NOV 2025
Few things say ‘summertime tradition’ more than an outdoor movie. Bask in balmy weather at Sunset Cinema (November - February) nestled in the Australian National Botanic Gardens. Set amongst iconic scenery, make sure to gather your friends, family, drinks, and snacks to make a night of it or cheer on Australia's best batters and bowlers during the summer of cricket at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
REMEMBRANCE DAY : 11 NOV 2025
Commemorate Remembrance Day (11 November) at the Australian War Memorial by paying your respects during the National Ceremony or placing a poppy on the Roll of Honour.
RUNNING FESTIVAL : 15-16 NOV 2025
Challenge yourself on the wide-open trails of the Stromlo Running Festival. Soak in the views of Canberra and the Brindabella Ranges as you compete. Various race lengths are on offer from a 2.5-kilometre kids cross country course up to a 42.2-kilometre marathon.
THE BIG GAY BREAKFAST : TBA NOV 2025
The bi-annual FUSE Big Gay Breakfast at Tilley's is an LGBTIQ+ and everyone-in-between event where the queer coimmunity gather, eat, drink and be merry with all our fabulous rainbow friends. Dates TBA.
DECEMBER 2025 EVENTS
WORLD AIDS DAY IN CANBERRA : 1 DEC 2025
Join MERIDAN ACT as the commemorate World AIDS Day is an international day that began in 1988. It’s held on 1 December each year to help raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.
ALL YEAR CANBERRA ACTION 2025
Canberra is not only known for its attractions and year-round events but also for its quality drinking destinations that offer mesmerising views of the city. Make sure to check out this list of the best views of the city, while enjoying a drink or two.
Be sure to check out the performance calendar at the Canberra Theatre Centre, The Street Theatre, and music venues around Canberra. Explore the bustling markets and foodie festivals, including farmers markets and specialty food and wine festivals, all while soaking in Canberra’s unique blend of culture, food, and community.
