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Subscribe What’s On in Canberra: March 2026
The only guide you need to what's on in Canberra this month and beyond.
This month in Canberra (March 2026) is all about soaking in the Autumn sun and enjoying the onset of cooler evenings. The events schedule is particularly packed with festivals, plenty of free events and markets, including our editor’s favourite, the Handmade Market. Ready to make the most of your March?
Read on for our pick of things to do…
In This Guide
Editor’s Picks
Coming Soon: Canberra Times Marathon Festival
Canberra’s biggest running weekend (and Australia’s oldest city marathon) is back this April, with The Canberra Times Marathon Festival returning in an expanded two-day format from 11–12 April 2026. Whether you’re chasing a personal best or simply keen to soak up the atmosphere, the festival welcomes seasoned runners, first-timers and families alike. Saturday kicks things off with the 10K, 5K and a fun 2K Kids Dash, while Sunday sees marathon and half-marathon runners take to the capital’s closed roads.
The scenic courses wind past some of Canberra’s most iconic landmarks, including Parliament House and Lake Burley Griffin, while a lively event village adds to the festival feel with local food, culture and entertainment. With record participation in recent years, the 2026 edition is shaping up to be the biggest yet.
Where: John Dunmore Lang Place, Canberra
When: Saturday 11 April – Sunday 12 April 2026
Cost: Kids fun dash entry $45; Adults entry from $72 to $240
Best For: Sports fans; Outdoor enthusiasts; Families; Community events; Weekend plans
Handmade Markets
Everything at the Handmade Markets is certified Australian made which makes shopping an absolute delight. Save your pennies because you’re going to have over 250 food, drink and curated shopping stalls to browse, complete with all kinds of goodies from ceramics and prints through to natural wine and ready-to-eat treats. The Handmade Market even offers a low sensory hour for shoppers who would like to enjoy shopping with fewer lights, smells and sounds — you’ll just need to register ahead of time.
Where: Exhibition Pavillion, Canberra
When: Saturday 21st March to Sunday 22nd March
Cost: Free admission (donations appreciated)
Best For: Markets, Shopping, Food & Drink, Family-friendly
Need to Know: Low sensory hour available (registration required).
Eat & Drink
Canberra Beer & Cider Festival
Canberra Beer & Cider Festival is back again, this time with over 40 exhibitors showcasing locally made beer, ciders, seltzers and spirits. There will be plenty of food stalls to keep you fuelled, as well as live entertainment and activities for the kiddos.
Where: Mercure, Canberra
When: Saturday 21st March, 11am to 6pm
Cost: From $30
Best For: Food & Drink, Festivals, Live Entertainment, Family-friendly
Need to Know: Tickets include one drink voucher up to the value of $8
Festivals & Major Events
Enlighten Festival
A highlight of Canberra’s event calendar, it’s the time of year again when Canberra’s cultural icons are lit up in waves of vibrant colours. Enlighten Festival will take place across 11 days with a series of events, activations, live music and, of course, the Enlighten Food Park. We recommend making the most of the late-night access to museums and cultural icons, too!
When: 27th February to 9th March
Where: Locations across Canberra
Cost: Free
Best For: Festivals, Art & Culture, Live Music, Food & Drink
Need to Know: Includes late-night access to museums and cultural institutions.
Canberra Balloon Spectacular
Don’t let this be another year where you forget to set an alarm! You’ve got nine days to make the most of it, with candy floss skies filled with vibrant balloons. The Canberra Balloon Spectacular returns for a glorious sunrise moment. There are plenty of ways to get involved, whether you fancy getting in a balloon yourself or watching with your feet firmly planted on the ground, coffee in hand.
Where: Lake Burley Griffin
When: 14th March to 22nd March
Cost: Free to observe
Best For: Outdoor Events, Family-friendly, Festivals, Photography
Need to Know: Runs across nine days with sunrise launches; arrive early for best viewing.
Art, Culture & Performance
Hallyu! The Korean Wave
Ever wondered what’s behind the global Korean culture phenomenon? Hallyu! The Korean Wave dives deep into every facet, from K-Pop to street food, Squid Game to K-beauty. The exhibition features over 200 objects curated by the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
Where: National Museum of Australia
When: Until 10th May, 2026
Cost: $25
Best For: Art & Culture, Exhibitions, Pop Culture, Museums
Need to Know: Join a free gallery talk in the exhibition, at quarter past the hour from 10.15am to 3.15pm daily.
Super Kaylene Whisky
This dynamic, colourful and endlessly bold exploration by proud Yankunytjatjara woman Kaylene Whiskey is a must-visit for lovers of contemporary art. Whiskey combines pop culture, humour and Aṉangu culture in her works, which take viewers on a rich visual journey. The mixed media exhibit brings together public and privately owned works that range from painting to video and installation.
Where: National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes, Canberra
When: Until Monday 9th March 2026
Cost: Tickets from $16
Best For: Art & Culture, Exhibitions, Contemporary Art, Museums
Need to Know: Mob are invited to view the exhibition for free
Outdoors & Active
Majura Valley Farm Sunflower Maze
Soak in Autumn on a working farm, surrounded by sunflowers. For two weeks only, Majura Valley Farm are inviting you to take a wander, snap some pictures, enjoy some lawn games and interact with farm animals.
Where: Majura Valley Farm
When: 14th March to 22nd March
Cost: $10 admission
Best For: Family-friendly, Outdoor Events, Seasonal Events, Photography
Need to Know: Due to growing conditions, there will be no pick-your-own stems this year.
Markets & Shopping
Harvest Stall
It’s your chance to lean in to the season and stock up on homemade jams, chutneys and herbs straight from the garden. All the goodies on offer have been made using seasonal and organic produce from the Arboretum‘s kitchen garden. There will also be a host of other homemade goodies on sale as well as seedlings for your own garden.
Where: The National Arboretum
When: 14th March, 10am to 2pm
Cost: Free admission
Best For: Markets, Food & Drink, Seasonal Events, Gardening
Need to Know: Purchases can be made with card only.
Free Things to Do
Skyfire
Head down to the Lake Burley Griffin foreshore this March for an annual highlight. Skyfire is back, and with it an evening of vibrant skies. There will also be entertainment hubs, markets and food trucks to help you make the most of it. With the event thanks to Hit 104.7 and Mix 106.3, you’ll want to tune in to add the soundtrack to the spectacular show.
Where: Lake Burley Griffin foreshore
When: 14th March
Cost: Free
Best For: Festivals, Outdoor Events, Family-friendly, Food & Drink
Need to Know: Tune in to Hit 104.7 or Mix 106.3 to listen live alongside the fireworks soundtrack.
What’s On This Month in Canberra: FAQs
Some of the top events in Canberra this March include Enlighten Festival, lighting up the city’s cultural icons across 11 days, the Canberra Balloon Spectacular over Lake Burley Griffin, and Skyfire’s much-loved fireworks display. The Handmade Markets return with over 250 Australian-made stalls, while the Canberra Beer & Cider Festival brings together more than 40 exhibitors. For art lovers, Hallyu! The Korean Wave and Super Kaylene Whiskey are standout exhibitions to see before they close.
The Canberra Beer & Cider Festival is the headline food and drink event this month, featuring over 40 exhibitors pouring locally made beer, cider, seltzers and spirits, alongside food stalls and live entertainment. The Enlighten Food Park also forms part of the wider Enlighten Festival program. You can also browse gourmet treats, natural wine and ready-to-eat bites at the Handmade Markets, or stock up on seasonal produce, jams and chutneys at the Harvest Stall at the National Arboretum.
Hallyu! The Korean Wave at the National Museum of Australia explores the global rise of Korean culture through more than 200 objects curated by the Victoria & Albert Museum. Super Kaylene Whiskey at the National Portrait Gallery is another must-see, showcasing bold mixed media works that blend pop culture, humour and Aṉangu culture. Enlighten Festival also offers late-night access to museums and cultural institutions, alongside large-scale light installations across the city.
Enlighten Festival is one of the major festivals this March, combining light installations, activations and live music across multiple locations. Skyfire returns to Lake Burley Griffin with fireworks, entertainment hubs and food trucks, while the Canberra Beer & Cider Festival features live entertainment throughout the day. Together, these events make March one of the liveliest months on Canberra’s events calendar.
Families can head to the Canberra Balloon Spectacular for colourful sunrise launches over Lake Burley Griffin or enjoy the entertainment and fireworks at Skyfire. The Handmade Markets offer a family-friendly shopping experience, and the Canberra Beer & Cider Festival includes activities for children. For an outdoor adventure, the Majura Valley Farm Sunflower Maze invites families to wander the farm, enjoy lawn games and meet farm animals.
There are plenty of free events to enjoy this March. Enlighten Festival offers free light displays and activations across the city, while Skyfire is free to attend along the Lake Burley Griffin foreshore. You can also observe the Canberra Balloon Spectacular at no cost, browse the Handmade Markets with free admission (donations appreciated), and visit the Harvest Stall at the National Arboretum.
Major events currently underway include Enlighten Festival, which runs until 9th March, and the Canberra Balloon Spectacular and Skyfire on 14th March. The Majura Valley Farm Sunflower Maze also runs for a limited time from 14th to 22nd March, offering a seasonal outdoor experience before it closes.
Need more ideas on what to do in Canberra this month? Here’s our guide to the best weekend activities in Canberra and, if you’re heading to Sydney for the weekend, here are our tops picks.
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