NightFest is back at Commonwealth Park with new displays and a stacked musical lineup. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
NightFest is finally back for 2026, with the popular springtime event expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors to Commonwealth Park over the next four nights.
This year’s festival sees the return of the light-up Ferris wheel at the heart of Commonwealth Park, as well as installations from the world-famous production company MandyLights.
Visitors can discover countless new displays this year, including a light-up walk bridge, a neon garden, unique pond artworks, and even a section where you choose the colour of the lights.
The lights aren’t the only thing bringing the park to life; nightly shows include Drag Bingo, a Fire Extravaganza, and a bunch of street performers, all adding to the nighttime festivities.
This year’s NightFest will also have one of the strongest musical lineups in the event’s near 18-year history. Split Enz frontman Tim Finn headlines opening night, with ARIA winners Busby Marou and Christine Anu taking to the stage on Friday.
Saturday night will see one of Australia’s favourite new-generation rock bands, Pacific Avenue, rock Commonwealth Park before the legendary Temper Trap wrap up NightFest on Sunday.
Events ACT executive branch manager Ross Triffitt said NightFest has only grown year on year by creating an exciting way to enjoy Floriade.
“NightFest is all about creating an exciting evening experience during Floriade. The flowers are the centrepiece during the day, but all the lighting, the installations and the entertainment transform the park once it goes dark,” he said.
“The lighting displays this year really interact with the garden beds, so the different themes of the beds have got different lighting treatments.
“They’re all going to be lit up and transformed. There was a real focus on having a walk-through and interactive experience for visitors.”
Mr Triffitt said he is excited for visitors to enjoy the stacked entertainment lineup.
“This year’s festival definitely has the strongest lineup of entertainment we’ve had over the full four nights,” he said,
“In terms of music, Tim Finn, Christine Anu, Busby Marou, Pacific Avenue and The Temper Trap are all extremely talented.
“We also have a lot of really special local musicians who really add to the fantastic schedule of entertainment we have over the course of NightFest.”
Over 30,000 people are expected to attend across the four nights, with Mr Triffitt projecting over $4 million to be injected into the ACT economy from NightFest alone.
“Last year, the whole Floriade festival contributed about $56.7 million in visitor spend coming into the territory, and a total economic spend of $71.5 million,” he said.
“Night Fest contributed about $4 million of that in terms of visitor spend. Close to 50 per cent of our audience are from interstate, so it’s really about Canberra owning the season of spring nationally and attracting international visitors as well.
“Floriade, along with NightFest, just continues to grow. We’ve now got over 100 local businesses and local community groups getting involved in some way or another.
“This time of year really brings not just Commonwealth Park to life but the entirety of Canberra.”
Tickets for all four nights of NightFest can be purchased on the Floriade website.
