The best places to go out in Acton
84 upcoming events
12 must-visit spots for in Acton.
The spots to know: China in the World Lotus Theatre, Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building and Chifley Library.
Venues in Acton
China in the World Lotus Theatre
2 events
Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building
11 events
Chifley Library
3 events
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA)
4 events
Kambri Cinema
3 events
Cinema Theatre, Lowitja O'Donoghue Cultural Centre
5 events
Cultural Centre Kambri (ANU Building 153)
2 events
ANU Sport
2 events
Innovation Space, Level 2, Birch Building #35
2 events
Crawford School of Public Policy
2 events
Australian National Botanic Gardens
4 events
National Museum of Australia
5 events
Events in Acton
Tue20
Today
Wed21
Tomorrow
Tomorrow · 10 AMFree
💼Career
Screen Industry Meet-Up | October
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA)
Tomorrow · 5:30 PMFree
🎬Cinema🗣️Talk
The Promised Land: From Industrial Łódź to Multicultural Australia
ANU Research School of Social Sciences (RSSS)
Tomorrow · 6 PMFree
🗣️Talk🏛️Politics & Economy
The 2026 Roncalli Lecture on Human Dignity
Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building
Tomorrow · 7:30 PMA$16–30
🎭Theatre🕺Musical
ANUMTC's High School Musical On Stage!
Kambri Cinema
Thu22
Thursday 22 October
Thu 22 · 5:30 PMFree
🗣️Talk
A Critique of Human Supremacism
RSSS Auditorium
Thu 22 · 5:30 PMFree
🗣️Talk🏛️Politics & Economy
The accountability dilemma: Impeachment, polarization, and Philippine democracy
Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building
Thu 22 · 6 PMFree
🗣️Talk📚Literature
Meet the author - Murray Goot and Tim Rowse
Cinema Theatre, Lowitja O'Donoghue Cultural Centre
Fri23
Friday 23 October
Fri 23 · 3 PMFree
🗣️Talk🔬Science
Canberra German Week 2026 - Science and Innovation Day
Allan Barton Forum
Fri 23 · 6 PMFree
🗣️Talk🎬Cinema
Special Symposium on the Tenth Anniversary of the film “The Handmaiden”
Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building
Fri 23 · 6 PMFree
🎻Classical🌐World music
Bach in Shiraz
Fellows Garden, University House
Fri 23 · 6:30 PMA$85
🎒Students
2026 ANU Formula Sport Gala
The Common Room • University House • ANU
Sat24
Saturday 24 October
Sat 24 · 9:30 AM
🗺️Guided tour🚶Walk
Bushland Nature Walk - Volunteer Guides only
ANBG Theatrette
Sat 24 · 10 AMA$17.75–35.50
📚Literature🌳Outdoors
Botanic Gardens creative writing walk
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Sat 24 · 10 AM
✂️Workshop
Botanical Art in Scratchboard
Visitor Centre, Australian National Botanic Gardens
Sat 24 · 5:30 PMA$8–22
🧢Hip-hop🎒Students
K:NOVA
Lowitja O'Donoghue Cultural Centre
Sun25
Sunday 25 October
Mon26
Monday 26 October
Mon 26 · 1 PMFree
✂️Workshop🎒Students
Craft Time Hour
Lowitja O'Donoghue Cultural Centre
Mon 26 · 6 PMFree
📚Literature🗣️Talk
Meet the author - Kim Huynh
Cinema Theatre, Lowitja O'Donoghue Cultural Centre
Mon 26 · 6:30 PMA$25–45
🎬Cinema📽️Documentary
Blank Slate City Documentary Screening
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA)
Later
Tue 27 · 10 AMFree
🧘Wellness🐣Animals
Puppy Playdate
Hanna Neumann Building #145 BBQ area
Tue 27 · 2 PMFree
🎒Students
Power Study Session
Chifley Library
Tue 27 · 4:30 PMFree
🗣️Talk🔬Science
Revisiting directors’ duties within corporate groups
Phillipa Weeks Staff Library, Level 4, Building 7, ANU Law School
Wed 28 · 10 AMFree
🎒Students
Power Study Session
Chifley Library
Wed 28 · 11 AMFree
🏋️Fitness🤾Sports & fitness
DanceFit with ANU Sport
ANU Sport
Wed 28 · 5 PMA$7
🎊Socials
ANUCAD CHEER SHOWCASE 2026
ANU Sport Old Court 1
Wed 28 · 5 PMA$10
📚Literature🗣️Talk
Living with Misinformation: Book and Guide Launch plus a Media Literacy Showcase
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA)
Wed 28 · 5:30 PMFree
🗣️Talk🏰Heritage
2026 Robert O'Neill War Studies Lecture: The Transformative War: Australia in the war of 1939–45
China in the World Lotus Theatre
Wed 28 · 5:30 PMFree
🖼️Exhibition
Exhibition viewing: The Aboriginal Robot with Mia Khin Boe
Innovation Space, Level 2, Birch Building #35
Wed 28 · 5:30 PMFree
🗣️Talk♀️Feminism
Launching an Australia-first strategy for gender-responsive climate action
Cinema Theatre, Lowitja O'Donoghue Cultural Centre
Wed 28 · 5:30 PMFree
🗣️Talk
ANU Archives Annual Lecture 2026: Remembering Ballandella: re-reading the archive
146 Ellery Cres
Wed 28 · 6 PMFree
🗣️Talk
Thinking about political elites in Indonesia and beyond: Some normative and methodological reflections
Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building
Wed 28 · 6 PMFree
🗣️Talk🔬Science
Public Lecture by Veritasium's Dr Derek Muller
Kambri Cinema
Thu 29 · 10 AMFree
🎒Students
Power Study Session
Chifley Library
Thu 29 · 12 PMFree
🖼️Exhibition🔬Science
ANU College of Systems and Society Showcase Semester 2, 2026
ANU Sports Hall
Thu 29 · 12:45 PMFree
🧘Wellness
Lunchtime Meditation with ANU Sport
ANU Sport
Thu 29 · 1 PMFree
✂️Workshop🌳Outdoors
Seeding and Weeding in the Kitchen Garden
ANU Kitchen Garden
Thu 29 · 4 PMFree
🗣️Talk🏰Heritage
Unearthed | Taking It With You: A Journey to the Chinese Afterlife
Australian Centre on China in the World Tearoom
Thu 29 · 5 PMFree
🎬Cinema📽️Documentary
Movie Night @ McCusker Institute
McCusker Institute Ground Floor, John Yencken Building
Thu 29 · 5 PMFree
🗣️Talk🕊️Human rights
Special Lecture: Oman's History of Religious Diversity
127 Ellery Cres
Fri 30 · 5:30 PMA$15
🖼️Exhibition🗣️Talk
October Friends Night: Curator in Conversation - Unearthed
China in the World Lotus Theatre
Sat 31 · 7:30 PM
🏃Running🤾Sports & fitness
The Canberra Times Run Canberra 2026
Rond Terrace
Sun 1 · 9:30 AMFree
💛Inclusivity🔬Science
GPN Canberra Term 4 2026
The Australian National University Skaidrite Darius (formerly CSIT) Building
Sun 1 · 10 AMA$17.75–35.50
📚Literature🌳Outdoors
Botanic Gardens creative writing walk
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Sun 1 · 10 AMA$60–80
✂️Workshop🚴Cycling
Beginner & Intermediate Bike Maintenance Workshops
Mojo Cycle Repairs
Sun 1 · 2 PMA$10–50
🗣️Talk📚Literature
Drill Hall Gallery 2026/27 Lecture Series: Artworks of significance — Lecture 6: Representational Painting and ‘The flesh of the world’ — Jude Rae
Coombs Lecture Theatre
Mon 2 · 6 PMFree
🗣️Talk📚Literature
Meet the author - Elisabeth Braw
Cinema Theatre, Lowitja O'Donoghue Cultural Centre
Thu 5 · 9 AMFree
🗣️Talk🏰Heritage
2026 Mongolia Update: Cultural heritage in a changing world
Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building
Thu 5 · 1 PMFree
🗣️Talk♀️Feminism
Inclusive Innovation Playbook
John Curtin School of Medical Research
Thu 5 · 6:30 PMA$15
🖼️Exhibition🥂Opening
The Art of Giving: Filotimo Group Exhibition - Opening Night
The Gallery
Fri 6 · 3 PMFree
🎒Students
50+ Years of Human Sciences/Human Ecology at the ANU
Fellows Garden, University House
Fri 6 · 4 PMFree
Who Wears the Crown? Artisans, Heritage, and Transformations in Kashmir’s Pashmina Supply Chain
Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building
Sat 7 · 8:30 AMA$10
🚶Walk🗺️Guided tour
Fairy Fabulous: The Secret Lives of Fairy-wrens
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Mon 9 · 6 PMFree
Meet the author - Richard Glover
Cinema Theatre, Lowitja O'Donoghue Cultural Centre
Tue 10 · 8:30 AMFree
🗣️Talk🏛️Politics & Economy
2026 Philippines Update - Sama-sama: The Philippines with Australia in a changing world
Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building
Tue 10 · 4 PMFree
Book Launch - Spies and Other Pigeons
Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building
Tue 10 · 6 PMFree
Public Lecture : Empirical Extinction Risk (In-person & Online)
Molonglo Theatre
Sat 14A$5–60
Bangladesh Community Picnic Day 2026
Black Mountain Peninsula BBQ Area
Sat 14 · 2 PMA$45
🎒Students
2026 End of Year Celebration & Prize Giving
National Museum of Australia
Mon 16 · 2 PMFree
Agents of Maoism: Communist spies and overseas Chinese in Cambodia’s global sixties
Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building
Tue 17 · 9 AMFree
CEO of Services Australia, David Hazlehurst: Artificial Intelligence, Trust and Public Service leadership
Weston Theatre, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU
Tue 17 · 11 AMFree
🗣️Talk
Re-open the social sciences?
Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building
Thu 19 Nov · 9 AMFree
China Update 2026 – China’s decarbonisation: strategy, objectives and the pathway to a low-carbon economy
Crawford School of Public Policy
Thu 19 Nov · 8 PMA$55–60
ANUCAD 2026 EOY Ball
Luna Bar
Fri 20 Nov · 4 PM
🗣️Talk🏰Heritage
2026 Jim Kerr Address
R Roland Wilson Theatre, Roland Wilson Building (#120)
Sat 21 Nov · 10 AMA$10
🗺️Guided tour🌳Outdoors
An Introduction to Australia's Remarkable Plants
Australian National Botanic Gardens
Sat 21 Nov · 5 PMFree
Across the Plateau: Pedal Power Members’ Film Night
Kambri Cinema
Sat 21 Nov · 6:30 PMA$65–90
🎉Club💿DJ set
Retro Silent Disco
National Museum of Australia
Mon 23 Nov · 9 AMFree
South Asia Forum and K.R. Narayanan Oration 2026
Weston Theatre, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU
Mon 23 Nov · 2 PMFree
Caste in Australia: Lived experiences and the struggle for dignity, equality and respect
Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building
Tue 24 Nov · 4 PMFree
🗣️Talk
2026 Emeritus Professor Lloyd Sansom AO Distinguished Lecture
National Museum of Australia
Wed 25 Nov · 4 PMA$54.54–227.27
✂️Workshop🔬Science
LLMs Unplugged: A tech-free guide to understanding (and teaching) AI
Innovation Space, Level 2, Birch Building #35
Thu 26 Nov · 8:30 AMFree
🗣️Talk✊🏿Anti-racism
Racism In Health Education First Nations Health ANU
Finkel Lecture Theatre
Fri 27 Nov · 6 PMA$200
🎪Street party🎒Students
Year 12 Formal 2026
National Museum of Australia
Wed 2 DecA$118.80–796.80
🗣️Talk
2026 Australasian AID Conference
Crawford School of Public Policy
Mon 7 Dec · 6 PMA$25
🎬Cinema💛Inclusivity
Canberra Showcase 2026
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA)
Tue 15 Dec · 9 AMFree
🗣️Talk🔬Science
2026 Economic Theory Festival: Bounded Rationality, Information and Markets
HW Arndt Building
Tue 15 Dec · 5 PMFree
🌳Outdoors
Pedal Power End-of-Year Party
Black Mountain Peninsula
Wed 16 Dec · 4 PMA$5–28
🎪Street party
NFSA 2026 End of Year Party
NFSA Acton Courtyard
Sat 19 Dec · 7:30 PMA$60
🎤Stand-up
Troy Kinne & Monty Franklin: Live
Manning Clark Centre ANU
Wed 10 Feb · 4 PMA$120–300
Asia Pacific Economic and Business History Conference 2027
ANU Research School of Economics Arndt Building
Sun 7 Mar · 5 PM
🎤Stand-up
Go Back To America! by Joe Wong Live Canberra
Cultural Centre Kambri (ANU Building 153)
Fri 19 Mar · 9:30 PM
🏃Running🤾Sports & fitness
2027 MarchMingle
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA)
Sat 15 May · 7 PM
🎤Stand-up😂Comedy
Aise Kaise by Amit Tandon — Live Canberra
Cultural Centre Kambri (ANU Building 153)
See also in Acton
Tomorrow · 7 PM
🎫Concert
TSIM "No Mistakes Tour" | Wed 21 Oct 2026 | Canberra Theatre, Canberra
Canberra Theatre Centre
Thu 22 · 7 PM
✨Pop🎫Concert
Louis Tomlinson in Canberra
Qudos Bank Arena, Canberra
Thu 22 · 8 PM
🎫Concert
Jet in Bruce
UC Refectory, Canberra
Fri 23 · 9 AM
🪕Folk / Acoustic🎫Concert
The High Kings in Canberra
Enmore Theatre, Canberra
Fri 23 · 6 PMFree
🎫Concert
Blue Room Sessions #4 (2026)
Big Band Room, Canberra
Sat 24 · 4 PMA$10–30
🎶Singer-songwriter🪕Folk / Acoustic
Bloom
Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest
Sat 24 · 6:30 PM
🎻Classical✨Pop
Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA in Canberra - Tickets
James Fairfax Theatre at National Gallery of Australia, Parkes Pl E, Parkes ACT 2600, Australia, Canberra
Sun 25 · 3 PM
🎫Concert
Smith's Showtunes Singalong
Smith's Alternative, Canberra
Fri 30 · 6:15 PMA$35–75
🎻Classical🎫Concert
Clásicos Argentinos
Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture, Barton
Fri 30 · 6:30 PM
🎸Rock🎫Concert
Men At Work | Canberra ACT
Royal Theatre, Canberra
![Big Gay Piano Bar #4 CANBERRA [Fri 30 October]](https://wsrv.nl/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.humanitix.com%2Fi%2F32ff9702-5870-4448-b21a-fca96e01579f.png%40original&w=640&output=webp&q=78&we)
Fri 30 · 6:30 PMA$20–35
🏳️🌈LGBTQ+🎫Concert
Big Gay Piano Bar #4 CANBERRA [Fri 30 October]
ChiChiz Bar, Canberra
Fri 30 · 7 PM
🎸Rock🎫Concert
THE EXPLODING UNIVERSE OF ED KUEPPER | The Street, Canberra
The Street Theatre, Canberra
Sat 14 · 8 AM
🌐World music🎫Concert
George Wassouf in Canberra
Darling Harbour Theatre, Canberra
Sat 24 · 2:30 PMFree
🎪Street party🎊Socials
66th Nigeria Independence & Community Day Celebration
Nigeria High Commision, Canberra
Thu 29 · 9:30 PMA$12.49–22.87
🎉Club
Canberra's Biggest Halloween Party
Fiction Club, Canberra
Thu 22 · 1 PMFree
🎪Street party
Sausage Sizzle - ACCOLADE ON MOORE RESIDENTS ONLY
Accolade on Moore (formerly Y Suites on Moore), Canberra
Thu 22 · 7 PMA$82.50–87.50
🎉Parties
Griffin Hall Valedictory 2026
QT Canberra
Fri 23 · 6:30 PMA$27.75–42.75
🎉Parties
Canberra | Balkan Singles Mixer | Embassy Bar | Friday 23rd October
38 Northbourne Ave, Canberra
Fri 23 · 7:45 PMA$8–10
🎊Socials
Friday 23 October 2026 Request night 🎤🎤🎤
Canberra Dance Theatre
Fri 23 · 10 PM
🎉Club💿DJ set
One22 Pres. Oots
One22, Canberra
Sat 24 · 1 PMA$18–149.90
🎪Street party🌳Outdoors
Oktoberfest in the Gardens - Canberra 2026
Patrick White Lawns, Canberra
Fri 30 · 6:30 PMA$5–7
🎉Parties
ATCS Youth Wing presents Party with Pei: Halloween 2026
Function Room -Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, Canberra
Fri 30 · 7 PMA$28.25–43.25
🎉Parties
Canberra | Halloween Singles Mixer | 88mph | fri 30th October | Under 35s
10 Hobart Pl, Canberra
Fri 30 · 7:30 PMA$7.50–69.67
🎉Club
The Fright Crawl | Canberra's Hottest Halloween Bar Crawl 2026 | Fri, Oct 30
TBA, Canberra, AU
Fri 30 · 9 PMA$10–33.08
💿DJ set🌐World music
Halloween Bollywood Night | Friday 30 October | Embassy CBR
The Embassy CBR, City
Fri 30 · 9 PMA$20–35
🎉Club
Into The Dark - EMOWEEN
Mooseheads Pub & Nightclub, Canberra City
Sat 31 · 10 AMA$30
🎪Street party
La Grande Fete 2026 Rides All Day Pass
Telopea Park School, Barton
Sat 31 · 6 PMA$30–132
🎉Parties
GOE HALLOWEEN COCKTAIL PARTY AT MONSTER
Monster Kitchen and Bar, Canberra
Sat 31 · 7 PM
🎉Parties
The Lost Boys | Halloween Party at the NFSA
Mccoy Cct , Canberra, ACT, Australia, Australian Capital Territory 2601
Sat 7 · 1 PM
🎪Street party🌐World music
La Fiesta | Canberra’s Latin American Festival
Latin American Plaza, Canberra
Tue 10 · 6:30 PM
🎪Street party
Australian Region Formal Dinner, Canberra, 2026
Commonwealth Club, Yarralumla
Sat 14 · 7:30 PMA$85.47
🪗Folk dance🪕Folk / Acoustic
Canberra Bushdance 2026
Yarralumla Woolshed, Weston
Tue 10 · 6 PMA$22.90–27.69
🎭Theatre📜Poetry
Everyone On The Bus Fell Down (Not Just Me) – Canberra
National Library of Australia, Canberra
Sat 24 · 7:30 PM
🎭Stage
CANBERRA THEATRE - Saturday 24 October from 7.30pm.
Canberra Theatre Centre
Sat 31 · 6 PM
📜Poetry slam🏆Tournament
North Vs. South Heat #3
Smith's Alternative, Canberra
Sat 31 · 8 PM
🎤Stand-up
Lawrence Mooney - Full Moon Party - Canberra
Canberra Theatre Centre
Sat 14 · 8 PM
🎤Stand-up
Marty Sheargold - The Red Card Tour - Canberra
Canberra Theatre Centre
Fri 23 · 6:30 PM
🍽️Food
St Hallett Wine Dinner at the Yacht Club
Yacht Club
Tue 27 · 6:30 PMA$1,500
🗣️Talk
Dinner with Andrew Hastie MP and Sami Omari
Dinner with Andrew Hastie MP and Sami Omari, Canberra
Wed 28 · 5:30 PMA$80–160
🍽️Food
The Champagne Experience
Royal Canberra Golf Club, Yarralumla
Tue 10 · 9 AMA$15–70
🖼️Exhibition🌳Outdoors
RELICS: A New World Rises - Low Sensory Sessions
Canberra Museum and Gallery
Tomorrow · 6 PMA$179
🍽️Food📚Literature
Champagne Masterclass and book launch
Griffin’s Lounge, Hyatt Hotel Canberra
Thu 22 · 6 PMFree
🎬Cinema
On Falling — Presented by the Embassy of Portugal
Palace Electric Cinemas, Canberra
Fri 23 · 6 PM
🎬Cinema
Young Adults' Film Night
Durie Room, St Mark's Theological College, Barton
Fri 23 · 6:15 PMA$12
🎬Cinema🎞️Arthouse cinema
German Film Night
Palace Cinemas Electric, Canberra
Sat 24 · 1 PMA$10–12
🗺️Guided tour🏰Heritage
Calthorpes House Tours 2026
Calthorpes' House, Red Hill
Mon 26 · 11 AMFree
🗣️Talk🏰Heritage
From the Archives: Germany to Australia
National Archives of Australia, Parkes
Mon 26 · 5:30 PMFree
🗣️Talk🏛️Politics & Economy
Tokyo Rising: Japan's Big Choices
Theatrette 2.02, Sir Roland Wilson Building, Canberra
Wed 28 · 5:30 PMFree
🗣️Talk📚Literature
Nation Building: How Immigration Made Australia ~ Canberra event
The Great Hall, Australian Parliament House,, Canberra
Sat 31 · 9:45 AMFree
🗣️Talk♀️Feminism
EQUALIZE: Canberra
ANU School of Music, Canberra
Sun 1 · 1 PMFree
🗣️Talk📚Literature
Vallalar 203 Birthday Commemoration Event
Old Parliament House, Parkes
Sat 7 · 9 AMFree
🗺️Guided tour💛Inclusivity
Quiet Mornings at the Mint
Royal Australian Mint, Deakin
Sat 7 · 8:30 PMA$50
🗺️Guided tour🌳Outdoors
Moonlight Meanders – Lake Burley Griffin, southern foreshore
Lake Burley Griffin Southern Shore, Parkes
Sun 8 · 3 PMA$15–20
🗣️Talk
Under the surface
Manning Clark House, Forrest
Thu 12 · 12:30 PMA$25–30
🗣️Talk♿Disability
The Disability Leadership Oration 2026
Kings Avenue, Parkes
Your passions nearby
Tap what you're into — we'll find the outings around you.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best venues in Acton?
Our favourite spots in Acton: China in the World Lotus Theatre, Lecture Theatre 2 (HB2), Hedley Bull Building and Chifley Library.