Canberra is settling into warmer weather, with plenty of great family-friendly events. Photo: National Arboretum Canberra.
Canberra is busy this week, with a packed schedule full of events suitable for just about everyone. Whether you’re after school holidays camps for young athletes, film festivals bringing the best of world cinema, kite festivals, symphonic debuts, sport, AFL Grand Final parties and more, there’s something here for you.
The National Arboretum’s Kite Festival expands to two days for the first time, bringing more family-friendly fun, entertainment, spectacle and community atmosphere than ever before across a whole weekend.
The NFSA hosts the Japanese Film Festival, with some of Japan’s best movies gracing the big screen, all absolutely free!
And for busy parents looking around for things to do for their kids these school holidays, there are school holiday camps for young athletes looking to improve their basketball skills and for passionate young people who love to tinker and build.
All this and everything in between across the capital this week.
Multiple Days
Calling all basketball enthusiasts! Join UC Caps for their Holiday Camp during the October school holidays. Photo: UC Capitals.
UC Capitals September/October Holiday Camp
When: 28 September to 1 October
Where: G Wigg Sports Centre, Radford College (1 College Street, Bruce)
Cost: Tickets from $100 per session to $450 for a full week | Book online.
Lace up your sneakers, grab your friends, and join the UC Capitals for an epic week of basketball led by the Capitals’ very own coaches and athletes!
The UC Caps Holiday Camp gives young basketball enthusiasts the chance to build their skills alongside UC Caps players and coaches in a fun, supportive environment.
What’s included? This holiday camp includes expert coaching led by UC coaches, an access code for tickets to attend a UC home game during the 2026/27 season and complimentary snacks during the day, like fruit, snow cones and popcorn.
The NFSA has plenty of great films for everyone this week. Image: NFSA.
When: 25 September to 1 October
Where: Arc Cinema, 1 McCoy Circuit, Acton
Cost: Japanese film festival tickets are free | Non-festival tickets from $10 | Book online.
Film buffs young and old will find a lot to love at the NFSA this week, with a packed schedule of great flicks across all genres.
Check out a double-feature disaster flick on Friday, with two Scandinavian films pitting human tenacity against the forces of nature: The Wave and The Quake.
The Japanese Film Festival has plenty of great movies to check out this week, including Japanese New Wave classics about identity, explorations of the samurai code of honour, adaptations of classic Kobo Abe novels and more.
Saturday’s schedule also features Tarantino’s modern classic Inglourious Basterds. On Tuesday, check out Pixar classic Up, a perfect school holiday film.
Wednesday’s feature is Spike Jonze’s film starring Joaquin Phoenix, Her, which tells the story of a lonely man forming an unexpectedly close relationship with an AI chatbot.
Finally, Thursday caps it off with Frozen 2, the sequel to the Disney hit, and But I’m a Cheerleader, an indie queer classic about a cheerleader sent to a conversion camp when her family decides she’s a lesbian.
For the first time, Kite Fest will run all weekend. Image: National Arboretum Canberra.
When: 26 September and 27 September, 10 am to 3 pm
Where: National Arboretum Canberra, Forest Drive, Molonglo Valley
Cost: Free | Kite-making workshop $20 | Book online.
Kite Fest is back at the Arboretum, and it’s better than ever, with plenty of excitement for the whole family to enjoy.
For the first time, Kite Fest is running across two days, doubling the colour and fun from previous Kite Fests.
Join the day’s festivities by flying your own kite, enjoying live entertainment, sampling delicious food on offer, or simply walking around and taking in the community atmosphere.
You can bring your own kite or book into a kite-making workshop, using your creativity to light up the sky.
The Junior Builders School Holiday Program is the perfect hands-on activity for your creative child. Image: Master Builders ACT.
Junior Builders School Holiday Program
When: 28 September to 1 October, various times
Where: Master Builders ACT, 1 Iron Knob Street, Fyshwick
Cost: Tickets start from $100 | Book online.
Calling all junior builders! Are you looking for a fun, engaging, and educational activity for your child this spring school holidays?
Join Master Builders ACT for their Junior Builders program, a hands-on, construction-themed holiday experience for kids aged 6 to 15. This unique program will ignite your child’s creativity and curiosity while teaching fundamental construction skills in a safe, supervised environment.
Kids can make all sorts of fun things, from nameplates to pencil caddies, wall frames, planter boxes or birdhouses.
Friday
Get in the Spring mood with Floriade-themed cocktails at the Yacht Club. Image: CSCC.
Floriade Cocktail Dinner at The Yacht Club
When: 25 September, 6:30 pm
Where: Canberra Southern Cross Yacht Club, Lotus Bay, 1 Mariner Place, Yarralumla
Cost: Tickets $120 Members | $145 Non-Members | Book online.
Celebrate spring flavours with a curated cocktail experience featuring Canberra’s own Underground Spirits. Enjoy five handcrafted cocktails, each thoughtfully paired with a specially designed four-course menu, inspired by the colours, aromas and fresh seasonal produce of Floriade.
Don’t miss the Sydney Symphony’s debut at Snow Concert Hall! Photo: Snow Concert Hall.
When: 25 September, from 7:30 pm
Where: Snow Concert Hall, Canberra Grammar School, 40 Monaro Crescent, Red Hill
Cost: Tickets from $75 | Book online.
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra returns to Canberra with a program of music for – and inspired by – dance.
With folk dances and music for ballet, Conductor in Residence Benjamin Northey leads the Orchestra in this program, including high-energy works by Stravinsky, Kodály, Debussy and Holly Harrison.
Saturday
Andy Griffiths is coming to the National Portrait Gallery on 26 September for a day full of family fun! Photo: National Portrait Gallery.
Andy Griffiths – Art. Make. Create. – At the National Portrait Gallery
When: Saturday 26 September from 10 am to 4 pm
Where: National Portrait Gallery
Cost: Free | Find out more.
Join best-selling children’s author Andy Griffiths for a seriously silly day celebrating the launch of his new portrait by artist Ronnie van Hout.
Be prepared to laugh your head off with Andy in his interactive session and learn more about his portrait with playful talks and family tours. Let your imagination run wild in our Holiday Space, or practice your skills with Andy’s book illustrator, Bill Hope, in his drawing workshops. Roll up your sleeves for Andy-inspired temporary tattoos, rock out to live music or find your next read at our community book swap.
There’s no better place to enjoy the AFL Grand Final. Photo: CSCC.
AFL Grand Final Live & Loud at Southbound
When: 26 September, 2:30 pm
Where: Southbound Clubhouse & Grill, Canberra Southern Cross Club, Tuggeranong
Cost: Free entry.
Get ready for the ultimate footy experience. Gather your crew and witness the AFL Grand Final live and loud on Southbound’s massive big screens. They are turning up the volume and bringing you the closest thing to being at the stadium.
They have lined up an unbeatable menu of game-day deals to keep the crowd roaring, like an $18.90 burger deal, $1 wings, and happy hour from 3:30 pm.
Once the premiers are crowned, the celebration keeps going with live music starting from 7 pm.
The spiritual music of Sufism at the Wesley Music Centre. Photo: Wesley Music Centre.
The Sufi & The Dervish at the Wesley Music Centre
When: 26 September, 2:30 pm to 4 pm
Where: Wesley Music Centre, 20-22 National Circuit, Entrance via Fitzroy St, Forrest
Cost: Tickets from $40 to $50 | Kids under 12 free | Book online.
This unique concert at the Wesley Music Centre focuses on sacred Sufi and Islamic music, embodying the ethos of Sufism by longing for the divine through sound. The melodies are often simple yet profound, inviting deep listening, as great religious music does. Whether through chants, poetic verse or mystical rhythms, this concert is a great way to experience the sounds of Sufism. Instruments used include ney, kanun, percussion and the voice.
Sunday
The Brumbies and the Queensland Reds go head-to-head this Sunday. Image: Eventbrite.
2026 Super Rugby AUS | ACT Brumbies vs Queensland Reds
When: 27 September, 12 pm
Where: Viking Park, Erindale, McBryde Crescent
Cost: Tickets from $10 to $50 | Book online.
Watch the Brumbies take on the Reds in Round 3 of Super Rugby AUS at Viking Park Erindale.
The ACT Brumbies are reloaded and ready, with Tevita Alatini and Lachlan Lonergan returning and Dan Nelson earning his first start.
With their first Viking Park fixture of the Super Rugby AUS campaign in front of them, the Brumbies will be looking to turn pressure into points, bring greater physicality and accuracy, and unleash a performance that sets the standard from the opening whistle.
Head to Thoroughbred Park for Hops & Hooves Festival Race Day and catch the AFL Grand Final live and loud! Photo: Thoroughbred Park.
Hops & Hooves Festival Race Day 2026
When: 27 September from 12 pm
Where: Thoroughbred Park, 1 Randwick Road, Lyneham
Cost: General admission from $37.25 | Race day packages available | Book online.
Enjoy the region’s best flavours at Hops & Hooves Festival Race Day at Thoroughbred Park for Canberra’s biggest AFL Grand Final watch party.
Local breweries, wineries and distilleries are partnering with Thoroughbred Park to make this a day to remember, so don’t miss out.
Come join the Oktoberfest Extravaganza fun from 1 October to 30th at Woden, Tuggeranong and Jamison Canberra Southern Cross Club. Photo: CSCC.
Oktoberfest Extravaganza at Canberra Southern Cross Club
When: 1 October
Where: Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden, Tuggeranong & Jamison
Cost: Prices vary | More information online.
Throughout October, Canberra Southern Cross Clubs are bringing the ultimate Bavarian feast straight to you, with traditional German classics completely taking over the specials board. Gather your crew, come hungry, and enjoy an exclusive, limited-edition menu packed with authentic, comforting dishes cooked to perfection.
Whether you are catching up with mates over an ice-cold brew or bringing the whole family together for a hearty meal, your plans are sorted (and life doesn’t get much better than pork knuckle and apple strudel!)
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