Things to do in Canberra this week (27 February to 5 March)

Canberra is buzzing with excitement this week. Some of the most anticipated events on the calendar are kicking off this week, including the French Film Festival and the Enlighten Festival, as well as plenty of live music, giveaways, Women’s Day events, workshops, the Chinese Lantern Festival, and more.

Enlighten Festival brings plenty of live music, short film festivals, art installations, unique experiences and more. It’s one of Canberra’s best-known events for good reason; don’t miss out this week.

And the film and culture scene is really kicking off, with both the Chinese Lantern Festival and the French Film Festival representing the exciting diversity of cultures present in the capital.

All this and plenty more in Canberra in the coming days.

Multiple Days

Enlighten Festival

When: 27 February to 9 March
Where: Various locations across Canberra; see website for more details.
Cost: Prices may vary.

Enlighten Festival is back, lighting up the capital with culture and creativity for the whole community.

Visitors and excited festival-goers can expect amazing artworks, public programs, installation art, unique experiences, sights and sounds.

There’s almost too much to cover, with interactive installations, the Enlighten Food Park, late-night events, symphonies and live music, short film festivals and just about everything in between.

Check out the Enlighten Festival’s schedule for more information on where to go and what to do over the next week of excitement.

Curiosity lanterns at the National Archives of Australia

When: 27 February, 6:30 pm to 9 pm and 28 February, 6:30 pm to 9 pm
Where: National Archives of Australia, Kings Ave, Parkes
Cost: Free | Registrations essential.

Spark your creativity by crafting your own curiosity lantern for Enlighten 2026!

Embrace themes of wonder and exploration as you design a lantern that reflects your unique ideas and interests. Whether you aim to create a standout piece or share a personal story, this is your chance to let your imagination shine.

Open to all ages and completely free, this workshop offers a fantastic opportunity to be part of this year’s Enlighten Festival.

International Women’s Day Events in Canberra

When: Events spread across numerous days
Where: Various locations across Canberra
Cost: Prices vary.

There are plenty of events across Canberra to celebrate International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is “Balance the Scales”, prompting women and men across the country to consider inequities in the justice system and how we can address and solve them.

We’ve put together a list of the best panel discussions, lunches, speeches and dinners across town, with plenty of opportunities to hear from some of the region’s and Australia’s most extraordinary women in government, business and non-profit spheres.

Saturday

Figurine painting workshop with Eleanor & Giovanni

When: 28 February, 2 pm to 3 pm
Where: National Library of Australia, Parkes Place West, Canberra
Cost: Tickets are $15 per participant | Book online.

Join award-winning animators and artists Eleanor & Giovanni for a workshop based on their Enlighten Festival 2026 illumination, The Page Turner, created for the National Library of Australia.

In this session, participants will paint and keep a limited-edition maquette (model) of the page-turner character featured in the beautiful stop-motion animation projected onto our building during the Enlighten Festival.

Eleanor and Giovanni will guide participants, show some examples, and discuss their creative practice.

This workshop is suitable for children aged between six and 12 years. All materials will be provided.

Chinese Lantern Festival 2026

When: 28 February, from 6 pm to 8:30 pm
Where: Beijing Garden, Flynn Drive, Yarralumla (behind the Hyatt Hotel)
Cost: Free entry | More information on the Australia-China Friendship Society’s website.

The Australia-China Friendship Society (ACFS) ACT Branch is once again hosting its annual Lantern Festival in Canberra.

The evening will feature a lively program of Chinese classical music, dance and martial arts, as well as traditional dragon and lion dances. The celebrations will conclude with a lantern parade along the edge of the lake and through the Canberra Beijing Garden. Attendees are welcome to bring their own lantern or purchase one on site.

ACT Brumbies vs Blues – Super Rugby Pacific Round 3

When: 28 February, 7:15 pm to 9:35 pm
Where: GIO Stadium, Battye Street, Bruce
Cost: Tickets from $15 to $65 | Book online.

The ACT Brumbies are kicking off their first home game of this year’s Super Rugby Pacific season against the Blues at Canberra’s own GIO Stadium.

This will be the first visit the Blues have come to Canberra since 2022, and it’s in the wake of the Brumbies’ stunning victory over Auckland in 2025 – and over the Crusaders in Christchurch last week. There’ll be a lot to cheer about!

Sunday

Hartley Hall Markets

When: 1 March, 9 am to 2 pm
Where: Hall Showgrounds, Gladstone St, Hall
Cost: Entry by gold coin donation.

Hartley Hall Markets are held on the first Sunday of the month. Open between 9 am and 2 pm, you will find stalls offering a variety of products including food, locally grown vegetables and fresh produce, baked goods, plants, furniture, clothing, pottery, children’s toys, arts and crafts, unique gifts and more.

Stroll among the trees, stay for lunch and enjoy the fresh air, live entertainment and children’s activities.

This family and dog-friendly market is proudly organised and operated by Hartley Lifecare to assist people with disability to live their best lives.

Front Yard Fest

When: 1 March, 11:30 am
Where: Capital Brewing, Building 3/1 Dairy Rd, Fyshwick
Cost: Free | Find out more.

Capital Brewing Co is turning the taproom front yard into a banging Sunday sesh! Free entry, 20+ froths pouring and a lineup that’ll make you forget Monday.⁠

Here’s who you can enjoy:

• Deep Sea Arcade Band: Sydney’s psych-rock icons bringing cinematic, surf-hazy vibes. Think smooth melodies and fuzzy guitars built for a cold school.⁠
• Apricot Ink x Miya Zawa: A local powerhouse collab. Lush R&B meets soul-folk. Sit back, take stock and let their tunes meander through your melon.⁠
• Barley Passable: High-energy French Disco grooves from the guys who skipped uni to make you dance. Expect a bit of chaos (the good kind).⁠
• ⁠33n45cbr | Dj Buz: Keeping the energy bubbling and the plates spinning all afternoon.⁠

It’s free, it’s loud, and the beers are calling your name.

Tuesday

Lunar Eclipse at Australian Parliament House

When: 3 March, from 8:50 pm to 11 pm
Where: Australian Parliament House, Parliament Drive, Canberra
Cost: Free | Registrations essential.

Head to the Parliament House on Tuesday to watch the Lunar Eclipse. Delivered in partnership with Dr Brad Tucker of the Mt Stromlo Observatory and the Canberra Astronomical Society, there will be high magnification telescopes and guidance from Dr Tucker and other experienced astronomers.

This is a great chance to both witness the eclipse and gain fascinating astronomical insights into our place in space.

Wednesday

Free Plant Giveaway from City Renewal Canberra

When: 4 March, 11:30 am to 1 pm
Where: Latin American Plaza, Marcus Clarke St, City
Cost: Free.

The City Renewal Authority is hosting its plant giveaway. Every six weeks, the authority refreshes the city’s public spaces and plants with new flowers to beautify the city. After this replanting, they give away 600 plants to members of the public for their own use in their gardens.

So if you want to refresh your own garden for free, head to the Latin American Plaza for free plants.

Bleak Squad at the Canberra Theatre Centre

When: 4 March, 7:30 pm
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, London Circuit, Canberra
Cost: Tickets from $67 to $77 | Book online.

Bleak Squad is a new Melbourne four-piece comprised of true Australian art-rock royalty. Featuring Mick Turner (Dirty Three, Mess Esque) Mick Harvey (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, PJ Harvey, The Birthday Party), Adalita (Magic Dirt) and Marty Brown (Art of Fighting), the unlikely quartet unite for the first time on Bleak Squad’s brooding, noir-rock debut LP, Strange Love, which has been shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize.

Born from spur-of-the-moment jam sessions, Strange Love sees all four members juggle multiple instruments, songwriting, their own idiosyncrasies, and lead vocal duties between Adalita and Harvey.

The result is a confident nine-song set of love, loss and lonesomeness, set to fizzing guitars, slippery basslines, and the signature illogical squawk of Turner’s guitar. With Strange Love, Bleak Squad announce the boldest of entries into the Australian music landscape.

Upcoming Events

• Scenery – 7 March
• Bubbly & Bites in the Patio – 15 March
• Enigma Variations – 18 March
• 2026 Ann Moyal Lecture: Professor Georgina Long AO – 19 March

Submit your event here to be considered for our weekly What’s On guide.