HomeEvents > Canberra After Dark
Young couple dances in the coloured lights of a live music performance at Smith's Alternative.

Canberra After Dark

As the sun sets and the stars illuminate the sky, Canberra's vibrant atmosphere and endless after-dark possibilities come to life. Whether you're drawn to the popular family-friendly festivals, intimate gigs featuring emerging artists or renowned classical musicians performing in grand concert halls, our vibrant capital offers a plethora of unforgettable night-time activities that cater to all ages.

For those seeking a night of entertainment, Canberra's live music and performance scene is not to be missed. See electrifying gigs and performances at popular pubs and bars like Transit Bar and Smiths Alternative serving more than good tunes. Be sure to secure your ticket to blockbuster musicals, comedy festivals, and year-round concerts at the Canberra Theatre Centre. For a classical experience, head to Llewelyn Hall at the Australian National University School of Music Building with regular performances from the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, Australian Chamber Orchestra and Musica Viva. 

Experience the thrill of Canberra's iconic annual festivals and events. Step into a world of enchantment at Illuminations @ Enlighten Festival during autumn where the iconic cultural attractions become vibrant canvases for stunning artworks. And make sure to mark your calendar for Floriade's NightFest, an extraordinary after-dark twist on Australia's largest celebration of spring filled with dazzling light installations, live music, and delicious food stalls.

Explore this selection of Canberra's best night-time events to elevate your after-dark plans and ensure a fun-filled evening.

Art installation in front of National Portrait Gallery at Enlighten Illuminations
Enlighten Festival
A live performance from Lights! Canberra! Action! 2021, a short film festival that takes place on the lawns outside Old Parliament House.
Lights, Canberra, Action
Floriade Nightfest

Browse Canberra after dark

A photo of a teapot pouring a cocktail into a teacup at a bar.
13 Sep – 12 Oct 2025

Springtime Gin Garden

Midnight Bar, Braddon
Next on today from 3:00pm to 10:00pm
Drawing of naked humans next to a glass of wine
13 May – 15 Oct 2025

Long Pose in the Lounge

QT Canberra, Canberra
Next on today from 6:30pm to 9:00pm
BACKBAR
6 Feb 2025 – 6 Jun 2026

Blackbird Live Music

Blackbird Bar - Live Music - Cocktails - Nightclub - Underground Speakeasy, Canberra
Next on today from 7:30pm to 11:59pm
Group of actors in Opera finery
17–27 Sep 2025

Lend Me A Tenor

ACT Hub, Kingston
Next on tomorrow from 7:30pm to 10:00pm
REP presents Joanna Norland's Lizzy, Darcy & Jane
4–20 Sep 2025

Lizzy, Darcy & Jane

Canberra REP Theatre, Canberra
Next on tomorrow from 7:30pm to 10:00pm
A young woman with short dark curls rests her chin on her hands on top of a brown vintage suitcase.
3–27 Sep 2025

Peter/Wendy

Mill Theatre at Dairy Road, Fyshwick
Next on tomorrow from 7:30pm to 9:00pm
The Story of the Oars
19–21 Sep 2025

The Story Of The Oars

The Street Theatre, Canberra
Next on 19 Sep 2025 from 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Portrait of photographers under the Milky Way
3 May – 25 Oct 2025

Milky Way Workshop Canberra By Ari Rex

Wildbark, Throsby
Next on 19 Sep 2025
Belly dancer performing at Bar Beirut. She is balancing a sword on a seated customer's head.
17 Jan 2025 – 28 Mar 2026

Belly Dancing at Bar Beirut

Bar Beirut, Canberra
Next on 19 Sep 2025
Be captivated by the grace and allure of Luna’s Cabaret Dancers while our DJs create the rhythm of t
20 Jan 2024 – 20 Dec 2025

Luna Saturdays

Luna, Canberra
Next on 20 Sep 2025 from 12:00pm to 11:00pm
Group of people outside pub
20 Jan – 15 Dec 2025

Smith's Poetry Thing

Smith's Alternative, Canberra
Next on 22 Sep 2025 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Trent Dalton’s Love Stories
24–27 Sep 2025

Trent Dalton’s Love Stories

Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra
Next on 24 Sep 2025 from 7:30pm to 9:10pm
ANTHONY MARWOOD &  JAMES CRABB
25 Sep 2025

Anthony Marwood & James Crabb - Snow Concert Hall Season 2025

Snow Concert Hall - Canberra Grammar School, Red Hill
Next on 25 Sep 2025 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Michael Dooley on keyboard and singer Rachel McNally
26 Sep 2025

Lakeside at 5: In2Deep

Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Greenway
Next on 26 Sep 2025 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
People walking in the rainforest at night time
26 Sep 2025

After Dark Walk in the Gardens

Australian National Botanic Gardens, Acton
Next on 26 Sep 2025 from 6:30pm to 7:45pm
Moonstruck
26 Sep 2025

Ensemble Offspring - Moonstruck

The Street Theatre, Canberra
Next on 26 Sep 2025 from 6:30pm to 8:20pm
A young female aerialist in denim overalls and a t-shirt hangs from aerial silks
26 Sep – 5 Oct 2025

Canberra Circus Festival

The May Wirth Big Top, Chifley Community Oval, Chifley
Next on 26 Sep 2025 from 9:00am to 10:00pm
Older man sitting behind jail bars looking suspiciously at camera
26 Sep – 21 Nov 2025

Serial Spring | Cult Classics with Venus Mantrap at the NFSA

National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Acton
Next on 26 Sep 2025 from 8:00pm to 10:00pm
Rubiks Collective
27 Sep 2025

Rubiks Collective The Big Idea

The Street Theatre, Canberra
Next on 27 Sep 2025 from 8:30pm to 9:30pm
ACT Brumbies
27 Sep 2025

ACT Brumbies vs NSW Waratahs - Super Rugby AUS Round 3

Viking Park, Wanniassa
Next on 27 Sep 2025 from 1:00pm to 7:00pm
19-Twenty posing with audience in the Zeppelin Room at the Harmonie German Club
27 Sep 2025

19-Twenty 'HIPS' 10th Anniversary Tour at The Zeppelin Room

Harmonie German Club, Narrabundah
Next on 27 Sep 2025 from 7:00pm to 11:00pm
A Circus examination of life and everything in it.
27 Sep – 4 Oct 2025

Canberra Circus Festival Presents: Circoscope

The May Wirth Big Top, Chifley Community Oval, Chifley
Next on 27 Sep 2025 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Vince Jones
28 Sep 2025

Vince Jones Celebrates 50 years

The Street Theatre, Canberra
Next on 28 Sep 2025 from 4:00pm to 5:50pm
Sound Healing Canberra
24 Aug – 26 Oct 2025

Breathwork & Sound Healing Journey

Soma Woman's Wellbeing, Dickson
Next on 28 Sep 2025 from 6:00pm to 7:15pm
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