Things to do in Canberra this week (21 – 27 November)

Canberra is buzzing with things to see, do and experience. We’ve found all the best things happening this week and put them into our weekly guide.

Harmonie German Club hosts a special celebration of the Mexican Day of the Dead, with Luchador Wrestling, face painting, piñatas and a costume competition.

The National Gallery of Australia has a new exhibition showcasing the works of Albert Namatjira, with watercolour paintings, ceramics and more in this exploration of uniquely Australian art.

And there is plenty of live music across the capital to get your toes tapping.

All this and more in our weekly guide to the best of Canberra in the coming week.

Multiple Days

Hermannsburg – Exhibition at the National Gallery

When: 21 November to 27 November, during normal gallery hours
Where: National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Place East, Parkes
Cost: Free entry.

The Hermannsburg School is a movement pioneered by Australian artist Albert Namatjira and this new exhibition from the NGA delves into the history of this unique part of Australia’s artistic history.

Namatjira worked within a Western landscape tradition, recreating the outback on canvas and mastering the intense colours and sunburnt haze of Australia’s vast interior.

This exhibition showcases a broad spectrum of Namatjira’s work, including painted spearthrowers, his much-lauded watercolours, and those by members of his family.

Namatjira founded the Hermannsburg School, and its legacy lives on within his family and throughout the outback, as he encouraged his contemporaries to take up the art form.

This is an opportunity to see a uniquely Australian story told through art that blends Western origins with iconic Australian scenery and Indigenous influences.

Craft + Design Canberra Undercurrent Design Market

When: 21 November, 4 pm to 8 pm, 22 November, 10 am to 5 pm and 23 November, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Gorman Arts Centre, 55 Ainslie Avenue, Braddon
Cost: Free.

The Undercurrent Design Market brings together more than 50 artisans, creatives and designers from around the country, showcasing their contemporary works across ceramics, textiles, glass, jewellery and more.

Discover handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pieces that are perfect as Christmas presents.

Tribe & Golden Ticket – Dance performance

When: 21 November, 6:30 pm and 22 November, 11 am and 6:30 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre Box Office, Civic Square, London Circuit
Cost: Tickets from $40 to $45 | Book online.

Canberra’s premier dance studio celebrates 20 years of teaching locals the joy of dance with a special double performance.

Tribe and Golden Ticket is a fast-paced showcase of movement, passion, power and talent in the art of dance. Dancers with a broad range of experience will be performing, from the smallest members of the dance group to the pros who spend up to 20 hours a week honing their art. There will be over 1000 brilliant costumes and award-winning routines.

Dance enthusiasts or newcomers can expect world-class technical skills and creativity in this celebration of two decades of dancing excellence.

Canberra EV Drive Day

When: 22 November and 23 November, 9 am to 4 pm both days
Where: Sutton Road Training Centre, 441 Sutton Road, Majura
Cost: Free but bookings essential | Book online.

EV Drive Day, hosted by the ACT Government, is a chance to test drive an electric vehicle, learn about the ins and outs of ownership, and how much you can save by switching to an EV.

Attendees will learn about charging their vehicles and receive general tips for ownership, and they will get to explore a wide range of EVs available on the market.

If you’ve been thinking about making the switch but don’t quite know enough, this is your chance to ask experts about everything you need to know.

This event is supported by the NRMA.

Friday

Meet the Makers 2025

When: 21 November, 5:30 pm
Where: Midnight Bar, Braddon
Cost: Tickets are $139 | Book online.

Celebrate Canberra’s finest local winemakers with premium tastings and community connection for a great cause.

Every ticket purchased helps families at Ronald McDonald House ACT & SE NSW, your local Ronald McDonald House, supporting families across our Canberra Hospitals.

This year, Ronald McDonald House Charities have blended the highlights you love with fresh new experiences, crafting a night perfectly suited to your palate.

Katnook Estate Wine Dinner at the Yacht Club

When: 21 November, 6:30 pm
Where: Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club, Mariner Pl, Yarralumla
Cost: Tickets $120 Members | $140 Non-members | Book online.

Iconic Coonawara winery, Katnook Estate, is hosting a four-course wine dinner at the Yacht Club. The lead winemaker, Daniel McNicol, will take you on a journey of Katnook wines, perfectly matched with a delicious menu prepared by the Canberra Southern Cross Club’s executive chef.

Saturday

Geek Markets Expo: Christmas Edition

When: 22 November, 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Exhibition Park, Lyneham
Cost: Free.

Head to the Exhibition Park for the Christmas edition of the Geek Markets Expo. This day-long celebration of pop culture will have stallholders selling handmade items, original, unique art, action figures, movie and TV merchandise, comic books and more.

The Grande Reveal

When: 22 November, 10 am to 3 pm
Where: The Grande, 70 Allara Street, Canberra
Cost: Free | Register online.

This is your first chance to experience city-edge living at The Grande on London.

The Grande on London opens its doors for the first time, inviting locals and future residents to walk through display apartments, explore resident amenities, and see what happens when thoughtful design meets Canberra’s most connected address.

Enjoy a day of food, music and experiences that bring The Grande precinct to life, with plenty to see and do, including a quick snack from The Dumpling Diplomat, Sushi Sushi, Le Petit Breton, Café Loko, Wagyu Blacks and What The Pho Xpress.

Day of the Dead Fiesta by Lucha Fantastica

When: 22 November, family show from 1 to 4 pm, adult show from 8 pm to midnight
Where: The Zeppelin Room, Harmonie German Club, 49 Jerrabomberra Avenue, Narrabundah
Cost: Tickets from $34 to $65 | Book here for the family show and book here for the adult show.

Celebrate the Día de los Muertos at the Harmonie German Club. The family show starts at 1 pm, and the adult show begins at 8 pm.

The family show will feature Mexican wrestling, where more than 10 masked luchadores go head to head in a theatrical, acrobatic, action-packed performance sure to keep the family entertained, along with an Aztec shaman performing an opening ceremony in Nahuatl. There will also be a mini market with piñatas, face painting, food and goodies.

While the adult show has the same action, including a costume competition for the best Day of the Dead attire and makeup, with a $500 prize for the best get-up, there will also be a Mariachi band playing to get you in the spirit of things.

There will also be a traditional Day of the Dead altar, where anyone can bring a photo or leave a note of remembrance to honour a deceased loved one.

Sunday

Canberra Community Chest Race Day

When: 23 November, 12 pm
Where: Thoroughbred Park, 1 Randwick Road, Lyneham
Cost: General admission free, packages available for purchase | Book online.

The Canberra Community Chest race day is back, with $50,000 up for grabs for 12 Canberra charities.

Charities include Rise Above, Bosom Buddies, Water Wombats, Project Independence, Respite Care for Queanbeyan, Palliative Care ACT and more.

Food and beverages are available at the Thoroughbred Cafe, the Winning Post Bar and the Black Opal Room (Members).

Call 6204 0000 for further information.

Tuesday

Benedicte Maurseth | Polar Night and Midnight Sun

When: 25 November, 6 pm to 7 pm (Bar open from 5 pm)
Where: Tuggeranong Arts Centre, 137 Reed Street North
Tickets: Tickets from $50 to $55 | Book online.

Acclaimed Norwegian fiddle player, composer and author Benedicte Maurseth is poised to make her Australian debut this November, bringing a uniquely visionary fusion of folk tradition, ecology and experimental sound to eastern‑coast venues.

Her new album Mirra — a rich, immersive exploration of her homeland’s high‑mountain landscape, wild reindeer and Hardanger‑fiddle tradition — has received international praise and sets the stage for this landmark tour. It has been hailed by critics as an immersive modern folk masterpiece, bridging minimalism, krautrock, improvisation and folk.

Benedicte’s extraordinary, evocative storytelling and deep connection to Norwegian folk traditions invite audiences into a rich, immersive landscape shaped by nature, myth, and sound. Her concert, Polar Night and Midnight Sun will be a haunting, intense evocation of Norway’s uplands and wildlife and an unforgettable evening of music.

Thursday

The craft of historical fiction at the National Library

When: 27 November, 6 pm to 7:30 pm
Where: National Library of Australia, Parkes Place
Cost: $25 Friends members | $30 general | $15 Friends members online | $20 general online | Book online.

The Friends of the National Library present two multi-talented, award-winning authors in conversation – Alison Goodman and Sue Williams.

Professor Kate Mitchell will join Alison and Sue from the Australian National University to explore the craft of historical fiction writing. Together, they will untangle the role of research, character development, crafting fictitious worlds and the representation of historical figures.

Alison is the author of nine novels, including two recently published historical novels, with reviews noting their intelligence, wit, pace and scrupulous research.

Sue’s Australian series is a bestseller, praised for meticulous research and an empathetic treatment of characters, particularly women, who are brought back from the shadowy reaches of the past into the spotlight.

Tickets cost $25 for Friends members, $30 for general admission, $15 for Friends members online and $20 for general admission online.

Upcoming events

• Round 7: UC Capitals v Perth Lynx – 29 November
• John Bishop – 25 Years of Stand Up – 5 December.

Submit your event here to be considered for our weekly events guide.