With 2024 on the horizon, it’s almost time to say hello to January – the month of resolutions, fresh starts, hot days and warm nights.
CW has compiled a list of events, performances and exhibitions to keep you happy and busy for the first month of the new year.
National Indoor Hockey Championships: The best male and female players across five age divisions from around the country battle for the title. Canberra National Hockey Centre, Lyneham, 3-25 January; hockey.org.au
Summernats: The annual car festival brings motor enthusiasts from across the nation to Canberra for a weekend of fast cars, tricks, live music and good times. Exhibition Park, 4-7 January; summernats.com.au
Alice in Wonderland: The Lewis Carroll classic invites you down the rabbit hole with breathtaking costumes and engaging puppetry. Canberra Theatre Centre, 4-12 January; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Storytime Ballet: Cinderella takes to the stage in this interactive and magical performance for children aged over three and the whole family. Canberra Theatre Centre, 11-14 January; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Circus of Illusion: Escape to a world of gravity-defying escapes, mind-blowing illusions, mime and magic with colourful backdrops and stunning costumes. Canberra Theatre Centre, 13-14 January; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
White Out: From sheets to shirts, this refreshing exhibition from CIT Fashion School features upcycled garments to challenge fashion industry norms. Canberra Museum and Gallery, until 14 January; cmag.com.au
Dr Seuss’s The Cat in The Hat: A charismatic cat, Thing 1 and Thing 2 burst into the home of Sally, her brother and pet fish in this mischievous tale. Canberra Theatre Centre, Tuesday 16 January 10.30am & 1pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Juicyfest 2024: The biggest Hip-Hop and R&B festival in the southern hemisphere returns with megastars like T Pain, T.I, The Game, Ashanti, Mario, Bone Thugs N Harmony and more. Stage 88, Friday 19 January 12pm; juicyfest.co
Kate Miller-Heike: The beloved songstress embarks on a massive set of national and regional shows in the Catching Diamonds Tour. Canberra Theatre Centre, Friday 19 January 7.30pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Built Geologies: Inspired by terraforming, artist Nicholas Burridge showcases works created during his 2023 residency at Canberra Glassworks, 20 January-24 February; canberraglassworks.com
The Teskey Brothers: The ARIA Award winning band bring their The Winding Way album tour to Canberra Theatre Centre, Saturday 20 January 7.30pm; axs.com
FLIGHT: Drone SkyShow & Night Markets: A first-of-its-kind drone show flies to the skies above Lake Burley Griffin for this free community event. There will be markets, food and drink vendors, live entertainment and three nightly shows. Commonwealth Place, 25-27 January, 5pm-11pm daily; eventbrite.com.au
Australia in Harmonie: Reflect, respect and celebrate Australia was a great lineup of homegrown talent at Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah, Friday 26 January 6pm;eventbrite.com.au
M16 Artspace: Showcases Trans(ap)parencies by Anthea da Silva, un/spoken by Saskia Haalebos, Glyph by Clare Martin and There Is No Lead Mine Here by Andrew Robards, Gus Armstrong, Jo Albany. 26 January- 18 February; m16artspace.com.au
Cancon: Canberra’s biggest board, tabletop and card game convention returns with events, competitions and goodies in abundance. Exhibition Park, 26-28 January; cgs.asn.au
BLAZE: The emerging artists showcase by the Canberra Contemporary Art Space with bold and challenging works as curated by Alexander Boynes. CCAS Parkes, until 27 January; ccas.com.au
Personal Mythology: A look into the past, current and future myths of the young artists in the Messengers non-clinical support program. Tuggeranong Arts Centre, until 27 January; tuggeranongarts.com
Grapes of Mirth: Australia’s largest touring wine and comedy festival returns with some of the best in comedy accompanied by the finest drops at Contentious Character Winery, Saturday 27 January 2pm; grapesofmirth.com.au
Capturing Canberra: A display of Canberra Museum and Gallery’s recently acquired Press Photography Collection with over 3,500 images telling the story of our region. Canberra Museum and Gallery until 28 January; cmag.com.au
The ballad of sexual dependency: Nan Goldin’s career-defining work captures the intimate lives of a community of friends in the 1970s-1980s in these raw and captivating shot. Viewer discretion advised. National Gallery of Australia, until 28 January; nga.gov.au
Grit & Gold: Tales from a Sporting Nation: Relive the highs and lows of Australia through our rich sporting history. National Library of Australia, until 28 January; nla.gov.au
Archie 100: A Century of the Archibald Prize: Nearly 100 works share the rich history of the competition at the final destination of its three-year tour. National Portrait Gallery, 20 October-28 January 2024; portrait.gov.au
On the Move: This new child and family exhibition takes you on a journey through different modes of transport in an interactive space. Canberra Museum and Gallery, until 28 January; cmag.com.au
Continuing
Belconnen Arts Centre: Hosts four exhibitions – Visual Expression from The Bunker Studio Artists; Scenes from the Mall from Spiros Coutoubas; Hesitation from Eliza Adam; DISCRIMINATE from John Brookes, until 11 February; belcoarts.com.au/exhibitions
Sunset Cinema: Watch a new release, classic or family favourite film outdoors while you sit back and relax with snacks and drinks available on site. The Australian National Botanic Gardens, until 24 February; visitcanberra.com.au
Holding Time: Bungendore Wood Works Gallery presents an exhibition of works by Harp Kiddle. Bungendore Wood Works Gallery, until 28 February; bwoodworks.com.au
Madonna40: A Celebration: Experience this incredible homage to the Queen of Pop, as one Canberra fan shares their collection of Madonna memorabilia. Canberra Museum and Gallery, until 3 March; cmag.com.au
Emily Kam Kngwarray: This exhibition celebrates the timeless art of the pre-eminent Anmatyerr artist who devoted her final years to painting and creating work capturing the experience of her extraordinary life. National Gallery of Australia, until 28 April; nga.gov.au
Deep Inside My Heart: Bringing together sculptures, drawings and other works from the national collection by female artists of the 20th and 21st centuries. National Gallery of Australia, until 19 May; nga.gov.au
Focus: Australian Government Photographers: Undertake a journey spanning six decades of Australian life with works from some of the government photographers working between 1939 and 1996. National Archives of Australia, until 10 June ; naa.gov.au
Discovering Ancient Egypt: On loan from the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities is a deep dive into the culture of this ancient society with more than 220 objects, spanning several thousand years. National Museum of Australia, until 8 September; nma.gov.au
William Yang’s Mardi Gras: An exhibition celebrating the works of the photographer, artist and filmmaker with his works from the 1981-2003 Mardi Gras events. National Library of Australia, until 3 November; nla.gov.au
Recurring
Night Markets: The community-run event runs [almost] every Friday 4-8pm at Anketell Street, Tuggeranong.
Capital Region Farmers Market: Fresh seasonal produce and gourmet goods at EPIC, Saturdays 7-11.30am (except during Summernats); capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au
The Little Burley Market: Bringing gourmet food and artisan handicrafts lakeside Saturdays 9am-1.30pm during the warmer months. Queen Elizabeth Terrace, Parkes; thelittleburleymarket.com.au
Trash and Treasure: Hunt for second-hand goods, fresh produce and homewares every Sunday at the Jamison Centre, 7am-12.30pm; trashandtreasuremarketjamison.com.au
Haig Village Markets: Haig Park hosts a community hub of local makers and sellers offering a range of fresh food, handicrafts and vintage goods. Braddon, Sundays 8am-2pm; haigparkvillagemarkets.com.au
Bric-a-Brac Rummage: Hunt for second-hand treasure in front of South.Point, Tuggeranong, Sundays 9am-3pm.
Old Bus Depot Markets: The much-loved markets continue at the Old Bus Depot in Kingston, Sundays 9.30am-2.30pm; obdm.com.au
Kippax Marketplace: Indoor market at Kippax Uniting Church Community Centre on the 3rd Saturday of the month 8am-12pm; free entry.
Community Market: Monthly market at Calwell shopping centre on the 3rd Saturday of the month 9am-3pm and Queanbeyan Park on the 3rd Sunday 9am-2pm.
Lunchulele: Mondays 12.30-1.30pm, ukulele players perform at Smith’s Alternative; smithsalternative.com
Behind-the-Scenes History Tour: Go behind the scenes of Canberra’s oldest public building and see its evolution. Canberra Glassworks, Kingston, every Wednesday and Friday 10.30am and 2pm; canberraglassworks.com
Mt Ainslie Music Club: The community ensemble meets for improvisation every first Thursday of the month 8-10pm, Ainslie Arts Centre; ainslieandgorman.com.au
Sing Australia: Weekly sessions at: Belconnen, Thursday 9.30am; Duntroon, Monday 7.30pm; Greenway, Monday 1pm. Costs apply; singaustralia.com.au
Smith’s Alternative: Irish Jam each Friday from 4pm; Comedy Open Mic, first Sunday of the month 7pm; smithsalternative.com
ANU Classics Museum: Voluntary guides conduct free tours on the second Friday of each month at 11am in the A D Hope Building, ANU; call 0438 883 373.
MoAD: Home to a host of exhibitions, such as Behind the Lines 2023, at Old Parliament House, free entry; bookings encouraged.
Canberra/Kamberri, Place & People: Discover the story of Canberra as the place where nationhood found a home – the people, places and history that make up this city and region. Canberra Museum and Gallery, ongoing; cmag.com.au
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