Major events

Come to Thoroughbred Park to see the race that stops the nation on the big screen! Help celebrate the Melbourne Cup's 150th year. Enjoy local thoroughbred races on the course proper. The Myer Fashions on the Field will be run on the day with some great prizes. Release your inner show pony and dres...

Canberra’s ANZAC Day Dawn Service is one of the nation’s most moving ceremonies. Gather with thousands of Australians in the pre-dawn light to commemorate the 96th anniversary of the first military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. Experience the emoti...

Australia Day is this country’s ultimate celebration! Come and celebrate what's great about being an Aussie in the nation's capital. If you’re visiting from overseas, come and learn more about Aussie culture. Enjoy something for everyone, from bush picnics and live music festivals to children's ...

Australia Day Live is a national tribute to everything that is great about Australia and being Australian. It brings together the Australian of the Year Awards and some of Australia’s hottest home-grown music talent. Celebrate underneath the national flag at the apex of Parliament House, which is ...

Delight in this major exhibition of the Gallery's renowned collection of Serge Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. See magnificent costumes by artists Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Be amazed at the way artists Natalia Goncharova, Michel Larionov and André Derain use costumes as their canvas. Your heart ...

Don't miss Canberra's prestige day of thoroughbred racing. Experience the colour and excitement of Spring racing at the Canberra Cup. First prize in the Classic Ladies Race for Fashions on the Field is a trip for two to the United Kingdom to attend Ascot races in June 2012, so get your outfit ready...

This is not a night of tribute bands – these guys are the real thing! Help Grammy Award winners America celebrate their 40th anniversary as they perform a mix of greatest hits, such as A Horse With No Name, Sister Golden Hair and You Can Do Magic and more! Hear Chicago play their hits including ...

Step back in time and experience the incredible inventions of Leonardo da Vinci as they are brought to life. See exact replicas of more than 60 of da Vinci’s machines. Be wowed by amazing flying machines, nautical, hydraulic and architectural innovations, and groundbreaking applications of civil e...

Unlock your imagination in 2010 with Floriade, Australia’s celebration of spring. See over a million flowers bloom; setting the scene to stimulate your imagination – the theme for Floriade 2010. Be intrigued by the inspired garden bed designs. Get captivated by the artistic entertainment. Take par...

NightFest returns to Floriade with style in 2010! Experience an array of live entertainment and great activities set amongst spectacularly lit garden beds. See breathtaking views of the park and our city at night from the top of the giant ferris wheel. Shop for something special at the bustling ...

Visit this major exhibition to see dramatic sculpture, jewellery and textiles. Discover the power of art made for rituals of life and death from prehistoric to recent times. View the Gallery's renowned collection of Southeast Asian textiles and gold objects. See important new acquisitions of animis...

Join in singing, dancing and non-stop entertainment at the National Folk Festival over Easter. Take part in a cultural celebration of traditional and contemporary music, dance, poetry and storytelling in the nation’s capital. See hundreds of the world’s best folk musicians perform daily. There's ...

Eat, drink, laugh and dance your way around the world at the National Multicultural Festival 2011. Celebrate difference, share traditions and see performances from all parts of the world. There will be comedy, performance art, food and wine stalls, street parties, live music, circus-style acts and...

At 11.00 am on 11 November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years of continuous warfare. This year marks the 92nd anniversary of the armistice on 11 November. Australians pause to remember those who fought and died for Australia’s cause in all wars and armed conf...

This event is the total triathlon package: a sumptuous banquet of triathlon for athletes and spectators. There is a children's race, novice event, sprint and olympic distances and the Sri Chinmoy Peace Triathlon. All the action revolves around the sublime Yarralumla Bay; utilising Canberra's superb ...

Join national and international car enthusiasts for the Street Machine Summernats car festival to see the best street machines, hot rods, sport compacts and special interest vehicles. Experience four days of high octane entertainment including burnout and driving competitions, bands, stunt spectac...

Wine, Roses and all that Jazz celebrates the art of the grape in Canberra. Over 30 cellar doors in the Canberra District come alive with entertainment, food, activities and wine tastings during the Wine, Roses and all that Jazz festival. Sample award-winning wines, indulge in gourmet food, relax ...