Haven’t locked in Easter plans yet? Good news: Canberra is having a massive one this year. We’re talking one of the country’s biggest folk festivals, the city’s trees turning every shade of orange and red you can imagine, and an events calendar so packed you’ll wish the long weekend was longer. Whether you’re a local or making the trip from Sydney, Melbourne or further afield, here’s everything worth knowing about Easter in Canberra in 2026.
The National Folk Festival is celebrating 60 years
This is the big one. The National Folk Festival runs from 2 to 6 April at Exhibition Park in Canberra, and 2026 marks its 60th anniversary. That’s six decades of folk music, dance, circus, markets and community, and the program this year reflects exactly how significant that milestone is.
Across five days, you’ll find 500+ events spread across 13 venues, with world-class performers from Australia and overseas, workshops you can actually join in on, food stalls, a dedicated family program, and on-site camping if you want to go all in. It’s genuinely one of those events where you show up not knowing what to expect and leave already planning next year.
Grab your tickets at folkfestival.org.au before they sell out.
Autumn in Canberra is genuinely something else
Easter weekend sits right in the middle of Canberra’s best season. From mid-March through to early May, the city’s trees go through a full colour change, and it looks spectacular. This is something Canberra does better than anywhere else in Australia, and it’s a big reason interstate visitors keep making the trip every autumn.
The spots worth visiting:
Lake Burley Griffin — Walk or bike the foreshore, hop on an electric picnic boat, or just find a good spot and sit with a coffee. The views don’t get old.
The National Arboretum — 94 forests of rare trees from around the world, all doing their autumn thing at once. The hilltop views across the city are well worth the visit.
Mount Ainslie Lookout — Drive or hike to the top for a panoramic view of the whole city in full colour. Great at sunset.
Telopea Park — A quieter local spot in the inner south with maples, oaks and good walking paths. A solid morning walk before brunch.
For a completely different perspective, book a sunrise flight with Balloon Aloft and see the whole city from above. It’s a stretch but genuinely worth it.
What else is on over Easter
The Folk Festival aside, Canberra’s Easter calendar has plenty more to work with:
Canberra and Region Heritage Festival (11 April to 10 May) — 150+ events exploring Canberra’s mid-century history, including family-friendly activities that line up perfectly with school holidays. Free entry to most events.
Canberra Times Marathon Festival (11 to 12 April) — Australia’s oldest city marathon, with five distances running past the city’s most iconic landmarks across two days. Whether you’re racing or watching, the atmosphere around Lake Burley Griffin on race weekend is hard to beat.
Gallery and museum exhibitions — the National Gallery of Australia‘s After the Rain Indigenous Art Triennial runs until 27 April, and the National Museum of Australia‘s Hallyu! The Korean Wave exhibition continues through 10 May. Both are excellent.
Canberra wine country — 40+ wineries within 35 minutes of the city. A long lunch at a cellar door in autumn is one of those experiences that’s hard to top. Shaw Wines, Lerida Estate and Four Winds Vineyard are all worth the drive.
Anzac Day (25 April) — if you’re extending your trip, the Dawn Service at the Australian War Memorial is one of the most moving things you can do in this city. Worth the early alarm.
Make The Statesman your base for Easter weekend
A good Easter weekend needs a good base. The Statesman Hotel in Curtin has been part of Canberra since 1967, and after a full renovation, it’s got everything you need for a great long weekend in one spot.
We’re a short drive from Exhibition Park (home of the National Folk Festival), minutes from Parliament House, and well placed for everything else on this list. After a big day out, you can settle into Nancy B, our cocktail bar with a double-sided fireplace that’s perfect for a cool autumn evening. Grab dinner at Policy Dining where our award-winning chef runs an open kitchen, start your mornings at Ballot Box cafe, and have the sports bar on hand if there’s a game on. Sixty-four comfortable rooms, on-site parking, and no unnecessary fuss.
With the Folk Festival’s 60th anniversary drawing a big crowd this year, rooms in Canberra are going to go quickly.
Book your Easter stay at The Statesman Hotel and get sorted before it’s too late.
