Things to do in Canberra this week (31 July - 5 August)

Canberra has a huge variety of things to get up to this week, with community festivals, market days, street food festivals, medieval combat nights, concerts, wine dinners, a blues festival, classical performances and more.

Harmonie German Club hosts two big events this week: a blues festival packed with a great lineup of artists as well as a medieval combat night, where armoured and armed modern-day knights clash.

Light Up Lyneham brings together the whole community with an evening of sport, spectacle, community stalls, live music, food stalls, a magician and more.

And music lovers have a lot to get up to, with concerts showcasing the music of Hans Zimmer, as well as Beethoven and Brahms.

All this and much, much more across the capital in this week’s guide to the best events to come.

Multiple Days

Art of the Score: The Music of Hans Zimmer

When: 31 July, 7 pm and 1 August, 2 pm and 7 pm
Where: Llewellyn Hall, William Herbert Place, Australian National University
Cost: Tickets from $63 | Book online.

Today, when you go to the movies, you’ll probably hear Hans Zimmer. If you don’t hear Zimmer, you’ll hear a composer under his influence. Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan has described him as a minimalist composer with a maximalist production sense – someone who can take a simple idea and expand it to musical and emotional extremes.

From the epic worlds of Interstellar, Inception and the Batman Dark Knight Trilogy to animated classics such as The Lion King and Kung Fu Panda and unforgettable themes from Pirates of the Caribbean and Gladiator, journey through Zimmer’s iconic scores, experiencing the highlights and exploring what makes them so great.

High Tea for a Cause at the Hyatt Hotel

When: 1 and 2 August
Where: Hyatt Hotel Canberra, 120 Commonwealth Avenue, Yarralumla
Cost: Tickets $85 per person, includes a glass of sparkling wine | Book online.

Indulge in Hyatt’s elegant (and legendary) high tea while making a meaningful difference.

On 1 and 2 August, Hyatt Hotel Canberra will donate $5 from every High Tea sold to the St Vincent de Paul Society Winter Appeal.

Gather friends and family for an afternoon of connection, indulgence and giving back.

Friday

Collector Wine Dinner at the Yacht Club

When: 31 July, 6:30 pm
Where: Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club, Lotus Bay, 1 Mariner Pl, Yarralumla
Cost: $120 Members | $145 Non-Members | Book online.

Head to the Yacht Club this Friday for a curated four-course dinner celebrating the flavours of the Canberra District, paired with premium wines from Collector Wines. Each dish has been crafted to complement a selection of Collector’s standout drops, making for a relaxed but memorable evening at the table.

Saturday

The Little Burley Market

When: 1 August, 9 am to 2 pm
Where: Queen Elizabeth Terrace, between the flags
Cost: Free entry.

The Little Burley Market is held on Queen Elizabeth Terrace the first Saturday of each month. Each market day is special, but this one is extra special as the markets are inviting you and your pooch for the Dogs Day Out.

Pets and their owners will be soaking up the sunshine and enjoying a massive range of stalls selling handmade goods, artisanal crafts, pastries, cuisine from around the world, as well as live music throughout the day and free arts and crafts events for the kids.

The Forage – Street Food Festival

When: 1 August, 12 pm to 7 pm
Where: Emu Bank Inlet, Emu Bank, Belconnen
Cost: Free entry.

More than 40 food and beverage vendors are coming to the Emu Bank to show off the best of their delicious food and drink.

There’s going to be something for everyone, with Turkish, Vietnamese, Latino, Indian, French, Italian and Thai cuisine, as well as burgers, doughnuts, fairy floss, cheese, waffles and more.

And between experiments with new food, enjoy a community bonfire, samba band, fire performances and roaming dancers.

International Blues Music Day 2026 at the Harmonie German Club

When: 1 August, 2 pm to 10:30 pm
Where: Harmonie German Club, 49 Jerrabomberra Ave, Narrabundah
Cost: Tickets from $80 to $89 online or $95 at the door.

Celebrate International Blues Music Day the right way with the Blues Guitar Roadshow, with plenty of artists making an appearance.

Get ready for more than six hours of blues music, with headliner Ana Popovic backed up by a massive schedule of performers such as Geoff Achison (Vic), Ray Beadle (Sydney), The McNaMarr Project (Andrea Marr, John McNamara) (Vic), Simon Kinny-Lewis (Sydney), Corey Legge (NSW), Angus Burchall (John Farnham Band) and more.

Light Up Lyneham

When: 1 August, 3 pm to 8 pm
Where: Lyneham shops, Wattle Place, Lyneham
Cost: Free.

Celebrate community at the Lyneham shops with Light Up Lyneham, with a massive range of activities and excitement to get behind.

There will be volleyball, scavenger hunts, frisbeeing, unicycling, juggling, samba dancing, the classic sunset lantern walk, a lion dance, community stalls, live music, food stalls, a magician, fire act, caricatures, photo competitions and more.

There’s something for everyone at this community festival event.

Sunday

Hartley Hall Markets

When: 2 August, 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.

Steins & Steel Medieval Combat Fight Night

When: 2 August, doors open at 11 am till 10:30 pm
Where: Harmonie German Club, 49 Jerrabomberra Ave, Narrabundah
Cost: Tickets from $30 | Book online.

The Harmonie German Club is welcoming you to the Steins and Steel Medieval Combat Fight Night for an exciting day of medieval combat, with plenty of clashing steel, dented helmets and flashing swords. It’s sure to be a real spectacle. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a proper medieval fight night without flowing beer, served in big hefty steins.

The family show starts at 12, with doors opening at 11 and the adult show kicks off later from 6:30 pm till 10:30 pm; doors open at 5:30 pm.

Sitkovestsky Trio & Stefanie Farrands at the Snow Concert Hall

When: 2 August from 7 pm
Where: Snow Concert Hall, Canberra Grammar School, 40 Monaro Crescent, Red Hill
Cost: Tickets $115 Premier | $95 A Reserve | $75 B Reserve | $60 C Reserve | Book online.

In this compelling program, they explore the emotional depths of the piano trio repertoire, from Beethoven’s evocative Ghost Trio to the lyrical brilliance of Cécile Chaminade’s rarely heard Piano Trio No. 2. In the second half, principal viola of the Australian Chamber Orchestra will join the illustrious trio to perform Brahms’ mammoth Piano Quartet No.1.

The program includes Beethoven’s Piano Trio in D major op.70 No.1, Chaminade’s Piano Trio No. 2 in A minor op. 34 and Brahms’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor op. 25.

Upcoming Events

• Dita Von Teese – Nocturnelle at the Canberra Theatre Centre – 10 August
• Author talk: Beyond Timbuktu with Catherine DeVrye – 13 August.
• Winter Warmers Movie Marathon: Alien Trilogy – 15 August.
• National Photographic Portrait Prize 2026 – 22 August.

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