Due to COVID-19 restrictions, bookings are essential for most events. Please contact event organisers/venues, or visit the relevant website for bookings and conditions of entry.
I Dance Film Festival: An online mini film festival showcasing excellence in dance films curated and created by artists with disability, 3 December 8-9.30pm; register via eventbrite.
NFSA: Guide Dog puppies, Clueless, Christmas classics, and the much-anticipated return of ghost tours are just some of the events planned at the NFSA this December; nfsa.gov.au
Lightbulb Improv: Presents a Christmas special completely made up on the spot, 3 December 7-9pm at Smiths Alternative, Civic, $15; smithsalternative.com
Strathnairn Arts: Hosts the first exhibition of Lily Sharrock, Creativity on Wheels at their Holt gallery, 3-20 December; strathnairn.com.au
Japanese Film Festival: A free classics program at the NFSA, Acton, 4-13 December; japanesefilmfestival.net
Songs & Sonnets over Dinner: Enjoy a three-course dinner and a show of original compositions by Lakespeare & Co, Manuka Lawns, Griffith, 4 & 12 December; lakespeare.eventbrite.com
Canberra Sinfonia: Returns for their only performance of 2020, Natalie Nicolas & Lachner, 5 December 2pm, Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest; canberrasinfonia.com
Music for Canberra: Their upcoming end of term concert, A Musical Celebration, at Llewellyn Hall, ANU School of Music, 5 December; musicforcanberra.org.au
Australian Dance Party: Presents new work Symbiosis, in development, at Australian National Botanic Gardens, Acton, 5 December 5.30pm; events.humanitix.com/symbiosis-development
Sign of the Times: A new exhibition of Canberra signs representing the city from the early 1900s to the present day on display at CMAG, Civic, until 20 February 2021; cmag.com.au
CIT Visual Arts Graduating exhibition: Open to the public 4-5 December 10am-4pm at the Design Space Gallery, CIT Reid Campus; cit.edu.au
Open Studio: Isla Patterson watercolour studio is open 4-6 December 10am-4pm at 10 Mainoru Place, Hawker; register via [email protected]
Canoes, Champagne and Canapés: Experience Lake Burley Griffin in a new way by paddling and dining on delicious local produce, 5 December 11.30am-2pm and 2.30pm-5pm; wildfest.com.au
Humble House Gallery: Beings, a joint exhibition by Anna-Karina Hermkens and Deborah Van Heekeren, at their Fyshwick space until 6 December; humblehouse.com.au
Music at Midday: Major Darren Cole and the Royal Military College Band return to Canberra Theatre Centre, 8 December 12pm, gold coin donation on entry; registration essential.
Nature Observed: An exhibition presented by the Gumnuts Artists’ Collective at The Old Barn, 18 Beltana Road, Piallago, 10-13, 17-20 December 10am-4pm.
Sunset Cinema: Showing an array of Christmas films, cult classics and new releases at the ANBG Eucalyptus Lawns, Acton, 10 December – 9 January; sunsetcinema.com.au
A Luminous Christmas: Celebrate the festive season with Luminescence and the CIMF by way of a host of events across Canberra, 11-13 December; cimf.org.au
Me and My Mates vs the Zombie Apocalypse: A special one-off anniversary screening with Q&A at Limelight Cinemas Tuggeranong, 11 December 6.30pm; sanguinetimedia.com.au
Paco Lara: The Spanish flamenco guitarist brings the tour of his new album The Andalusian Guitar to The Street, City West, 12 December 7.30pm; thestreet.org.au
Rising Star Music Festival: Five local talents – Lucy Sugerman, Kim Yang, Lisa Richards, Marty K, and Miss M – on the one bill at Tallagandra Hill Winery, Gundaroo, Sunday 13 December 2.30-6pm; tallagandrahill.com.au
Faulty Towers the Dining Experience: The world’s longest running, and most successful Fawlty Towers tribute comes to Mercure Canberra for one show only 13 December; faultytowersdining.com
Lazy Summer Sundays: Beer, beats and yoga takes over Braddon’s Haig Park from 4pm on 13 December; localyogaproject.com
Emma Rani Hodges: The Tuggeranong Arts’ 2019 EASS award winner’s solo exhibition at the arts centre’s foyer displays her mixed-media works until 18 December; tuggeranongarts.com
Tuggeranong Arts Centre: Double Vision: Corin Dam Residency from the 2019 Craft ACT Spring Residency, until 18 December; tuggeranongarts.com
HERE I AM: Art by Great Women festival presents a free program of films celebrating female artists at Kambri, ANU until 18 December; kambri.com.au
Nancy Sever Gallery: Tim Johnson’s Inter – Are exhibition until 20 December at their Braddon space; nancysevergallery.com.au
Bilk Gallery: Hosts group exhibition Full Circle at their new Carwoola location, until 20 December; bilk.com.au
Canberra Glassworks: Adaptation presented by Canberra Glassworks and Suki & Hugh Gallery at the Kingston glass facility, until 20 December; canberraglassworks.com
AWM: Presents a new exhibition exploring the role of the Soviet Union in the Second World War, Shared Victory, at the Campbell museum until late 2020; awm.gov.au
Australian War Memorial: A new online exhibition, 3D Treasures, featuring three-dimensional digital scans of 25 objects from the National Collection; awm.gov.au
Free yoga classes: Local Yoga and Gorman Arts Centre are offering free fundraising yoga classes all through the upcoming summer months, every Sunday 9am until March 2021.
That Poetry Thing: A fix of poetry and spoken word with featured performers every Monday night accessible either via Zoom or live at Smith’s Alternative, Civic, space permitting.
Lunchtime concerts: Wednesdays 12.40-1.20pm at Wesley Music Centre, Forrest with a featured artist or group each week; entry $10.
Cox Gallery: Presents Jakub Beseda’s photographic exhibition, The Space Between, at their Kingston gallery until 29 January; coxarchitecture.com.au
Australian Dreams – Picturing our Built World: An exhibition at the National Library featuring a variety of artistic works of iconic Australian buildings on display until 31 January 2021; nla.gov.au
NGA: Know My Name: Australian Women Artists 1900 to Now on display at the National Gallery of Australia until 31 January 2021, free entry; nga.gov.au
Sarah Wilson: One of Australia’s most celebrated authors brings her The Wild and Precious Tour to The Playhouse, Civic, 8 February 7.30pm; canberratheatrecentre.com.au
Country Roadshow 2021: A multi-artist travelling mini festival of country music Friday 12 February at the Royal Theatre; ticketek.com.au
Eishan Ensemble: return to The Street Theatre, City West with their newly released album Afternoon Tea at Six 13 February, 7.30 pm; thestreet.org.au
Bruce Mathiske: A uniquely Australian concert experience combining guitar, didgeridoo, percussion and live painting at The Street, City West Friday 26 February, 8pm; thestreet.org.au
Summersalt: A music festival featuring The Teskey Brothers, The Cat Empire, Montaigne and more at Stage 88, Commonwealth Park, 27 February 2021; ticketmaster.com.au
National Library of Australia: New exhibition Birds of Paradise: Ellis Rowan in New Guinea until 8 March 2021; nla.gov.au
Pub Rock: An exhibition celebrating the people, places and sounds of Australian pub rock at the National Portrait Gallery until 14 February; npg.gov.au
Botticelli to Van Gogh: Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London: The first major international exhibition in Australia since COVID-19 hit at the NGA, 5 March – 14 June; nga.gov.au
Out of This World – Australia in the space age: Learn about Australia’s involvement in the space race from the 1950s through to the 1970s at the NAA, Parkes until 14 March; naa.gov.au
Delta Goodrem: The Australian songstress who requires no introduction will play Royal Theatre, Canberra 13 April; ticketek.com.au
2021 CIMF: Brings Vienna and its 250 years of musical history to Canberra with a dynamic program of events, 30 April to 9 May; cimf.org.au
Tina Arena: The pop sensation brings her Enchanté: The Songs of Tina Arena tour to Llewellyn Hall, ANU 29-30 May; tegdainty.com
Red Hot Summer Tour: Brings a massive line up including Jimmy Barnes, Hoodoo Gurus, Vika & Linda and more to Patrick White Lawns, Parkes, 31 October; ticketmaster.com.au
Rod Stewart: Plays A Day on the Green at Centennial Vineyards, Bowral, 27 March 2022; ticketmaster.com.au
