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What’s On in Canberra: May 2026
The only guide you need to what's on in Canberra this month and beyond.
May is when Canberra quietly becomes its best self. The summer crowds have moved on, the leaves have turned every shade of amber and rust, and the city settles into a slower, more satisfying rhythm. With crisp mornings, golden afternoons, and cool evenings, you can finally justify pulling out that coat you’ve been eyeing since February.
This month’s calendar is genuinely stacked. Whether you’re after free cultural experiences, a reason to finally explore the lake foreshore, a well-earned truffle dinner (season’s almost here), or a Saturday morning lost in markets stalls, May has something worth getting out of bed early for.
Here’s everything worth knowing about what’s on in Canberra this May.
Read on for our pick of things to do…
In This Guide
Editor’s Pick:
Experience Epic Country at the National Gallery
Thirty monumental paintings. Thirty windows into some of the most powerful cultural storytelling in the country. Ngura Pulka — Epic Country is now open at the National Gallery in Kamberri/Canberra, running until 23rd August, and it’s as epic as the name suggests. Led by senior First Nations artists and collectives from the APY Lands, the canvases pulse with colour, Tjukurpa and a deep connection to Country. Six brand new large-scale works make their public debut here too, which has been years in the making. This is a must-see.
Parkes Pl E, Parkes ACT 2600
Eat & Drink:
Canberra Truffle Season
Every June, Canberra becomes the most delicious city in Australia. The Truffle Festival runs from 1 June through 29 August across restaurants, cafés, bars, wineries and farms throughout the Canberra region, celebrating the harvest of the prized black Périgord truffle with degustation dinners, truffle hunts, cooking demonstrations, tastings and markets.
Book a truffle hunt at The Truffle Farm or Beltana Farm for the full paddock-to-plate experience, or simply work your way through the city’s restaurants while chefs make the most of the season’s haul. Either way, you’re winning.
Where: Various locations, Canberra region
When: 1 June – 29 August 2026
Cost: Varies depending on event/activity
Best For: Food & drink lovers, Wine lovers, Regional travel, Couples, Visitors
Need To Know: Truffle hunts available at The Truffle Farm and Beltana Farm. Restaurant, café, bar and winery events run throughout the season
Festivals & Major Events:
Abbie Chatfield Is Back With More Live Show Chaos
If you’ve not seen one of Abbie Chatfield’s live shows, you’re kind of missing out. The podcaster has just announced a new Australia-wide show, and it’s entirely dedicated to…men. As you’d imagine, you can expect plenty of hot and sharp takes on modern masculinity, dating and more, plus in-person interviews and surprise guests.
Tickets go on-sale tomorrow here.
Where: Canberra Theatre Centre
When: Thursday 29 May
Cost: From $79.90
Best For: Girls’ nights, Group catch-ups, Comedy fans, Locals, Visitors
Need To Know: Tickets on sale now. Book early as they’re known to sell out
Outdoors & Active:
Walk the Shores of Lake Burley Griffin
If you do one thing in Canberra that costs absolutely nothing, make it a walk along Lake Burley Griffin. The 35km loop around the lake takes in some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks (including the National Carillon, the National Museum, the National Gallery and the Parliamentary Triangle), all framed by the kind of wide-open sky that makes you remember why Canberra is actually beautiful. You don’t need to do the whole thing; the foreshore between Acton and Kingston is the sweet spot, with great coffee stops, the Canberra Glassworks and the Old Bus Depot Markets nearby on Sundays. Best enjoyed in the crisp winter morning light with a takeaway flat white in hand.
Markets & Shopping:
Handmade Canberra Market
Canberra’s favourite design and food market is back for its June edition and it’s a big one. Over 260 stalls from Australia’s best artists, designers and producers fill the Exhibition Park pavilions with jewellery, art, textiles, clothing, homewares and a dedicated indoor food and wine pavilion that makes it very easy to stay longer than planned. Free to enter, easy to get to via light rail, and genuinely one of the best markets in the country. Go hungry.
Where: Exhibition Park
When: Saturday 13 – Sunday 14 June, 10am–4pm
Cost: Free
Best For: Markets, Free events, Food & drink lovers, Families, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Accessible via light rail. Over 260 stalls across art, design, fashion, homewares and a dedicated indoor food and wine pavilion
Free Things to Do:
Australian War Memorial
Free to enter and genuinely one of Australia’s most important cultural sites, the Australian War Memorial is worth building an entire Canberra day around. Beyond the permanent galleries, the daily Last Post Ceremony at 4:55pm is a quietly moving experience that stops visitors in their tracks every single time.
Treloar Cres, Campbell ACT 2612
Reconciliation Day
The Reconciliation Day community event is a family-friendly afternoon of live music, cultural performances and community activities and one of the ACT’s most significant public holidays. It’s a meaningful and completely free way to spend a winter Monday.
Where: Commonwealth Park
When: Sunday 1 June
Cost: Free
Best For: Free events, Families, Kids, Community events, Cultural experiences
Need To Know: Held on the ACT public holiday. Expect live music, cultural performances and community activities throughout the afternoon
What’s On This Month in Canberra: FAQs
May marks the beginning of proper Canberra autumn — cool and crisp, with average daytime temperatures sitting between 7°C and 17°C. Mornings and evenings can get cold (pack a layer or three), but clear, sunny days are common and genuinely beautiful for being outdoors. It’s one of the most photogenic times of year in the city.
Yes — arguably one of the best. The autumn foliage is still on display early in the month, crowds are thinner than in April, accommodation is generally easier to book, and the events calendar is busy without feeling overwhelming. It’s a sweet spot for both locals looking to explore and visitors making a weekend of it.
Plenty. The Australian War Memorial is free to enter and well worth a full visit — don’t miss the daily Last Post Ceremony at 4:55pm. A walk along Lake Burley Griffin costs nothing and takes in some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks. The Reconciliation Day community event is also free and family-friendly. Many of Canberra’s major museums and galleries have free general admission too.
The Handmade Canberra Market is the standout in June, with over 260 stalls of locally made art, design, food and wine, free entry, and accessible by light rail. The Old Bus Depot Markets near Kingston also run on Sundays and are a great addition to a lakeside walk.
For popular exhibitions, truffle experiences, and any ticketed live shows — yes, book ahead. Free events and markets don’t require bookings, but arriving early on busy market days is always a good idea. Restaurant bookings during the lead-up to truffle season can also fill quickly, particularly on weekends.
The Canberra Truffle Festival kicks off on 1 June, so May is the perfect time to start planning your truffle dinners, farm visits and cooking experiences before the season hits its stride. Keep an eye on our guide for June updates.
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.
