Canberra - Events

Canberra, the nation's capital, celebrates a diverse calendar of events each year which draw visitors from all over Australia and overseas. In addition to a range of wonderful travelling exhibitions held at Canberra's national attractions, there are many special events held each year that are unique to Canberra.

The year begins with Summernats in January, a car show of burning rubber and street machines. Australia Day also falls in January, when the national celebrations centre on Canberra over two days of action packed activities, including the Prime Minister's XI cricket match and a live music concert in the grounds of Parliament House. February continues the excitement with the National Multicultural Festival, when performers from all over the world converge on Canberra for over a week of entertainment, food and dance.

In March, Canberra's autumn skies fill with hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes for the Canberra Balloon Fiesta and the local region wineries celebrate the Canberra District Wine Harvest Festival. Every Easter the National Folk Festival celebrates music, song, dance and spoken word with hundreds of performers, while in April the dust begins to fly with the Subaru Rally of Canberra, part of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship.

From mid-September to mid-October every year, millions of bulbs and annuals transform Canberra's Commonwealth Park into Floriade – Australia's Celebration of Spring. Each year, Floriade presents new floral displays, as well as great entertainment, displays, demonstrations and special events in what is now Australia's largest floral festival.

The busy year ends with lively celebrations in the city, complete with fireworks, entertainment and great music to bring in the new year.

Articles

Canberra's Must-Dos

Canberra has so many fantastic things for visitors to see and do. This list of must-dos will help you plan your trip to make the most of your stay in the nation's capital. more

Food, Wine and Nightlife

Canberra is bursting with fabulous restaurants, stylish cafes, fashionable bars and award winning wineries. Indulge in fresh pastries from one of Canberra's best breakfast spots, lunch with a difference at a national attraction, sample some of the region's cool-climate wines, enjoy a dining experience fit for a king and then top it all off at one of Canberra's hottest lounge bars. more

Fun for families

Keep the kids entertained with a great range of activities and things to see and do. Many national attractions provide free entry and there is an excellent range of facilities to suit every budget. A trip to Canberra can also be very educational, where you can learn lots of fun science facts, the meanings of Aussie words like “chook” and “yakka” and so much more! more

Getting Active

Canberra reveals Australia's passion for sports and the great outdoors in so many ways. Witness this passion by visiting the Australian Institute of Sport, seeing a football game, going bushwalking, floating through the skies in a hot air balloon, horse riding, playing a round of golf or watching high performance cars burn rubber. more

National Attractions

From the internationally recognised architecture of Parliament House to the moving exhibits at the Australian War Memorial, visitors to the nation's capital are spoilt for choice. Each attraction tells the story of Australia and its people in different ways, so take the time to fully explore all that the nation's capital has to offer. more

Surrounding Region

Canberra is a fantastic base from which to explore the surrounding region. Within only a few hours drive from the city you will find historic townships, beautiful beaches, great skiing, abundant wineries and a stunning natural environment. more