FAQs

Enlighten Festival is back for 2025 and will light up the Nation’s capital over 11 days between Friday 28 February to Monday 10 March.

• Illuminations – 28 February to 10 March
• Enlighten Beyond – 28 February to 10 March
• Lights! Canberra! Action! – 7 March
• Symphony in the Park – 9 March

The Canberra Balloon Spectacular is now its own festival, taking flight over nation’s capital after Enlighten finishes, running from Saturday 15 March – Sunday 23 March. More information will available soon.

Canberra Day will be stand-alone event this year, with the Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run at Commonwealth Park on Monday March 10. Canberrans are invited to raise money for local charities by participating in the Fun Run, followed by a morning of family activities in Commonwealth Park including markets, food vendors and entertainment. Find out more on the website canberra-day.events.canberra.com.au

Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages, and subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page to be notified of the most up to date information on Enlighten Festival!

The Enlighten Festival is located in the National Triangle, centred around the Festival Hub on the lawns of John Dunmore Lang Place.

From this central hub you can visit the Illuminations on six of Australia’s National Cultural Institutions, as well as a number of art installations across the site. Events in the Enlighten: Beyond program are happening all across Canberra during the event period, and you can find out more about these on the Enlighten: Beyond page.

Enlighten: Beyond takes the sense of excitement and discovery of the Enlighten Festival in the National Triangle and entices audiences to explore the wealth of experiences on offer all over Canberra during the Festival period.

The program offers audiences surprising and entertaining experiences from Canberra’s arts organisations, institutions and business outside the festival site at the National Triangle. Tickets will go on sale on 29 January 2025.

The Enlighten Festival will post information on the website if the weather affects event operations. Information will also be communicated through the Enlighten Festival social channels (Facebook and Instagram), and the Events ACT channels.

Yes, you can bring dogs to the Enlighten Festival. Please bear in mind, that the festival has large crowds full of unfamiliar faces and can be noisy at times, which some pets may find stressful. Please note that dogs are not allowed at Symphony in the Park.

Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, must be socialised and generally non-aggressive to people or other dogs. For the comfort, safety and enjoyment of patrons, management reserves the right to refuse entry at their discretion, to any dog deemed to be unsafe. In consideration of all attendees and as per ACT law, dogs must be picked up after and all waste disposed of responsibly

Most events at the Enlighten Festival are free to attend and do not require tickets or registration.

The Enlighten: Beyond program also features a range of other events around Canberra, both ticketed and non-ticketed. Look out for ‘Ticketed Events’ specified on applicable event pages to reserve your place.

Registration is required to participate in the Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run. For further details and to register, visit our Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run event page.

Yes, most of Enlighten is cash free.

Enlighten is a family friendly event and is smoke-free within its boundaries of the festival hub. We kindly ask that you respect other patrons and refrain from smoking or vaping in the site.

Yes, this year the Enlighten Festival Hub is fully fenced and licenced, allowing patrons to move freely throughout our food, beverage and entertainment areas at Enlighten Illuminations. Sample food and drinks from our full range of vendors or enjoy a beverage as you explore the installations within the Festival Hub.
Please take note of the designated entry gates located around the precinct.

When Enlighten isn’t open the site is secured and fenced off. But for those who need to walk through the area we’ve made a map showing the walking route marked in yellow.

Walking route through Enlighten after hours map

Yes, you can! However, we do ask that patrons respect others around them by placing chairs to the back or sides of grassed viewing areas so they do not obstruct the view of others who may be sitting on picnic blankets at ground level.

For information on public transport and parking please refer to the Getting To Enlighten page.

National Triangle
Parking for Enlighten Illuminations and Lights! Canberra! Action!
Please ensure that where you have parked is a legal parking spot and you have checked if you need to purchase a ticket. The National Capital Authority will be enforcing parking regulations for the duration of this event, and attendees should ensure they park legally to avoid the risk of an infringement being issued to their vehicle.

Australian Parliament House offers free after-hours underground parking, and the Enlighten shuttle bus includes a stop out the front that takes you down into The Festival Hub.

After 5pm there are various free public car parks throughout the National Triangle. There is also parking at each of the participating National Attractions. On weekdays and weekends the public car parks within the National Triangle will operate under normal conditions.

Due to traffic congestion during the event it is recommended that patrons avoid parking in the National Library of Australia carparks. Please note the large car park at Questacon is reserved for Accessible Permit holders only and is subject to availability.

Commonwealth Park
Parking for Symphony in the Park
There is limited parking available at Regatta Point and West Basin. We recommend parking at CIT Reid, National Convention Centre or City Hill (off London Circuit) car parks and then walking across the pedestrian bridge over Parkes Way.

Yes, a free shuttle bus will operate between the City and the Enlighten Illuminations Festival Hub.

See the map or find more information on the Getting to Enlighten Festival page.

Vision impaired customers can use hailing kit ID ‘E1’ to signal the Enlighten shuttle service.

Please note the free shuttle bus services Enlighten Illuminations only. For transport options to Symphony in the Park, Canberra Day and the Canberra Balloon Spectacular please visit transport.act.gov.au

During Enlighten Festival, there will be a No Ride Zone within the National Triangle. The No Ride Zone will take effect from 5pm on Friday 1 March and end at midnight Monday 11 March 2024. This is in the interest of public safety.

There will be four parking zones on each side of the Enlighten Illuminations Festival Hub.

Users will be notified of parking location changes via the Beam and Neuron App.

You are more than welcome to ride your bike to Enlighten, but in the interest of public safety, all forms of bicycles and tricycles, including hand-propelled tricycles, are not permitted within the Festival Hub. This excludes mobility scooters. Bicycle racks are provided close to the hub entry points.

Make sure you bring your own lock and chain. Provision can be made for tricycles to be stored at any of the entry gates, however, Enlighten takes no responsibility for theft or damage and space is limited.

Please go to the Getting to Enlighten page to see all the information about transport including buses, shuttle buses and parking locations.

A traffic management plan will be in place from 5:00pm – midnight on Friday 28 February till Monday 10 March 2025 and includes the below road closures:

• King Edward Terrace closed between Parkes Place East and Parkes Place West
• National Library of Australia internal loop road (one-way section)
• Queen Elizabeth Terrace between Parkes Place East and Parkes Place West
• Parkes Place West is closed north of King Edward Terrace with access to National Library of Australia car park only. All other vehicles utilising this road to access the Questacon carpark will require a parking permit or an accessible parking pass and will go through a Traffic Marshall
• Parliament Square at Queen Victoria Terrace
• There will also be an additional road closure on King Edward Terrace (between Parkes Place East and Mall Road West) from 10:00am Thursday 28 February to 5:00pm Tuesday 11 March.

Due to event road closures, some bus detours and bus stop closures will be in place. For more information on transport options and for changes to bus services visit www.transport.act.gov.au.

In addition to the festival specific road closures, please be aware that construction work around the city may impact how you get to Enlighten Festival. For more information view the latest updates on Travel Impacts.

Enlighten is committed to reducing barriers and delivering an event that is accessible and inclusive.

We would like your visit to Enlighten to be an enjoyable experience. Enlighten is accessible to wheelchairs, mobility scooters and strollers and will offer the following services:

• Accessible parking
• Front gate drop off zone for mobility impared or aged visitors
• Accessible toilets

Accessible toilet facilities are also available across the event site. Paths are wide enough to accommodate pedestrians, wheelchairs, mobility scooters and strollers. Be aware there are some loose gravel pathways and there may be water on pathways after rain.

Please check the Accessibility page for more details.

Enlighten is accessible to wheelchairs, mobility scooters and strollers, and you are welcome to bring these items to the event site.

To help you navigate the Enlighten Illuminations walking paths, a limited number of wheelchairs, walking frames, electric mobility scooters will be available for hire on site.

The Mobility Hire marquee will be open for walk ups and collections from 6.00pm each evening, and equipment is due back no later than 11.00pm.

To avoid disappointment, secure your booking in advance by emailing scooters@netspeed.com.au or sending a text message to 0403 242 584. Pre-bookings close the day prior to the event, and walk ups are subject to availability.

Bookings will only be held for 15 minutes so please ensure you collect your hire on time.

Cash or EFTPOS payments are required on collection.

For more details, including a pricelist and map of the collection point see our Accessibility page.

After 5pm each day during the Enlighten Festival there is a dedicated accessible car park located behind Questacon. You will be required to show your valid Accessible Parking Permit to security to gain access through the road closure. Free accessible parking is also available in most public car parks and Enlighten Illuminations participating attractions car parks. Parking is limited and vehicles must display an authorised Accessible Parking Permit.

Please be aware that the Accessible Car Park can fill up on busy days, so plan to arrive early. There are limited additional Accessible Parking Bays around the National Triangle including at the National Library and Old Parliament House. Parking is limited and vehicles must display an authorised Accessible Parking Permit.

There is an accessible area prioritised for patrons in wheelchairs available on the left (left when facing the stage) of the Front of House marquee. 

This area will be partitioned, signposted, and managed by an event volunteer. 
To get to this area you will need to go across the grass in the wheelchair as unfortunately there are no paths in this area. However, the gradient on this side of the lawn area is not as steep as the southern side.

Yes. Many of our food vendors provide gluten free, lactose free, vegetarian and vegan options on their menus. Find information on food & drink.

Enlighten is the perfect spot for a picnic. We have a variety of food and drink suppliers on-site but also allow visitors to bring their own picnics.

Please note that BYO alcohol is not permitted at any event throughout the Enlighten Festival. Alcohol is available for purchase from the Enlighten Food Park and pop-up bars located inside Lights! Canberra! Action!, and Symphony in the Park.

Please note bag searches may be conducted upon arrival at Lights! Canberra! Action!, Symphony in the Park and alcohol will be confiscated.

This year the Enlighten Illuminations Festival Hub is fully licenced, allowing patrons to move freely throughout our food, beverage and entertainment areas.

The areas immediately surrounding our bars are restricted to over 18’s only. In line with liquor licensing requirements, persons under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian aged over 25.

BYO alcohol is not permitted at any event throughout the Enlighten Festival.

Alcohol is available for purchase from the Enlighten Food Park and pop-up bars located inside Lights! Canberra! Action! and Symphony in the Park.

Please note bag searches may be conducted upon arrival at Lights! Canberra! Action! and Symphony in the Park and alcohol will be confiscated.

Yes, first aid stations are located at all event sites and available during event hours. Please refer to the Festival Maps or advise your nearest staff member on site who will arrange medical assistance.

All lost property enquiries are handled by the friendly staff at the Information Marquee, located on the North Lawns in the Enlighten Illuminations Festival Hub. If you find something, please hand it to the nearest staff member or visit the Information Marquee.
For enquiries outside of event hours, please contact events@act.gov.au

The Illuminations projections run each night from 28th of February until 10th of March. The projections switch on each night at 8:00 pm and run on a continuous loop until 11:00 pm.

Food, drinks and entertainment will be available in the Enlighten Illuminations Festival Hub from 5:00pm each afternoon.

The Illuminations are the architectural projections that will light up six of Australia’s national cultural institutions from 8pm to 11pm each night of the Enlighten Festival. Each year, contemporary artists, makers and creators work with the institutions to create new and original artwork for these large scale projections.

The institutions involved in the Illuminations are:

Australian Parliament House
Museum of Australian
Democracy at Old Parliament House
Questacon
National Gallery of Australia
National Portrait Gallery
National Library of Australia

Enlighten Illuminations will light up the six of Australia’s national institutions in a stunning display of light, sound and movement, with projections showcasing Australian culture and storytelling on some of Canberra’s iconic buildings, including;

Australian Parliament House
Museum of Australian
Democracy at Old Parliament House
Questacon
National Gallery of Australia
National Portrait Gallery
National Library of Australia

The Enlighten: Beyond program offers audiences surprising and entertaining experiences from Canberra’s arts organisations, institutions and venues outside of the National Triangle. Refer to the individual event listings for details on registering for tickets.

Celebrate Canberra Day and support your community by joining in the Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run on Monday 10 March, followed by a morning of entertainment in Commonwealth Park from 7.30am -11.30am. 

The Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run around Lake Burley Griffin will offer three distance options, with a 2.5km run which is perfect for families, children and those who would prefer to walk, a 5km run for those who would like more of a challenge and a 10km run for regular runners and the serious athletes. Registrations are now open, find more information and register here.

Profits from the entry fees will go to the Hands Across Canberra Day Appeal.

Companion Cards are accepted at the discretion of the individual venues. Please refer to the event listing for details or reach out to events@act.gov.au for more information.

The film festival is held in the Senate Rose Gardens, outside Old Parliament House.

Located in the open-air surrounds of the Senate Rose Gardens, Lights! Canberra! Action! is a short film festival that shines the spotlight on local filmmaking talent. See up-and-coming local film makers share their perspective and interpretation of this year’s theme – Looking back, looking forward.

Filmmakers are given 10 days to film and must feature 10 specific items from around Canberra on Friday March 7.

Bring a chair or picnic blanket, grab some food or delicious brews from the bar, and sit back to watch this year’s top 12 finalists’ films under the stars.

More info coming soon.

This is a free event.

Please note parental guidance is recommended for children 15 years and under. Please refer to more detailed content warnings displayed at the beginning of each film.

Lights! Canberra! Action! is a licenced event site, BYO alcohol is not permitted. There will be a range of beer and wine available to purchase on site.

Please note bag searches may be conducted upon arrival and alcohol will be confiscated.

Yes, please feel free to bring a chair, there are areas set aside for those who are sitting on the ground so please leave those free to ensure the patrons sitting there have an unobstructed view.

Please ensure that where you have parked is a valid spot and you have checked if you need to purchase a ticket. The National Capital Authority will be enforcing parking regulations for the duration of this event, and attendees should ensure they park legally to avoid the risk of an infringement being issued to their vehicle.

After 5pm there are various free public car parks throughout the National Triangle.

Due to traffic congestion during the event, it is recommended that patrons avoid parking in the National Library of Australia carparks. Please note the large car park at Questacon is reserved for Accessible Permit holders only and is subject to availability.

For the comfort of all patrons dogs are not permitted at Lights! Canberra! Action!

Lights! Canberra! Action! is a great spot for a picnic. We have a variety of food and drink suppliers on-site in the Senate Rose Garden, but also allow visitors to bring their own picnics.

Please note that BYO alcohol is not permitted at any event throughout the Enlighten Festival. Alcohol will be available for purchase from the vendors on site.

Please note bag searches may be conducted upon arrival and alcohol will be confiscated.

Symphony in the Park is held at Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park

Symphony in the Park is always a highlight of the Enlighten Festival, and it’s sure to be another spectacular show in 2025.

Audiences will be treated to a cinema of sound, as they listen and dance to a headline artist supported by the 40-piece Canberra Symphony Orchestra.

Symphony in the Park is on Sunday 9 March.

Gates open at 5:00pm for a 7:30pm start, with the show ending at 9:30pm.

This is a free event. Ages 15+. Under 15’s are to be accompanied by an adult.

With lots of Canberrans expected to join the festivities, we recommend that you utilise public transport to make your trip as hassle free as possible.

The easiest way to work out your journey is to use the Journey Planner.

You can also park in the city and walk in. See map below.

Normal Sunday bus services will be extended with additional buses supporting public transport to the City, Belconnen, Woden, and Tuggeranong from Commonwealth Avenue. Final buses will depart Commonwealth Avenue no later than 10:30pm.

The final northbound light rail departure from Alinga Street is at 11:30pm.

Two wheels can be the easiest way to navigate to Commonwealth Park. However, if riding a pushbike or E-scooter, please be aware there will be a lot of people enjoying the festivities. Please ensure you keep a safe speed and consider dismounting and walking through crowded areas.

Additional bike racks will be available at each entry gate. Please ensure you bring your own locking mechanism.

If you plan on driving, there are limited parking options at Regatta Point, so we would recommend utilising the numerous car parks in the city and walking (approx. 10-15mins) across to Commonwealth Park. See walking map.

Yes, please feel free to bring a chair, there are areas closer to the stage set aside for those who are sitting on the ground so please leave those free to ensure the patrons sitting there have an unobstructed view.

For the comfort of all patrons dogs are not permitted at Symphony in the Park. The event will be crowded with people sitting on the ground and eating, and loud noise throughout the evening, so it is not a dog-friendly event.

Please note that glass (including non-alcoholic beverages) and any alcohol are not permitted at Symphony in The Park.

A selection of beer and wine will be available for purchase on site.

Bag checks will be conducted at the entry gates.

You are welcome to bring food and non-alcoholic drinks to Symphony in the Park.

Please note that glass bottles (including non-alcoholic beverages) are not permitted at Symphony in The Park.

We have a variety of food and drink suppliers at Stage 88 but also allow visitors to bring their own picnics.

Please note that BYO alcohol is not permitted at any event throughout the Enlighten Festival, including Symphony in the park. A selection of beer and wine will be available for purchase on site.

Bag checks will be conducted at the entry gates.

There is an accessible area prioritised for patrons in wheelchairs available on the left (left when facing the stage) of the Front of House marquee. 

This area will be partitioned, signposted, and managed by an event volunteer. 
To get to this area you will need to go across the grass in the wheelchair as unfortunately there are no paths in this area. However, the gradient on this side of the lawn area is not as steep as the southern side.

Volunteer applications are now open. If you are interested in becoming an Enlighten volunteer, please sign up via our volunteers page.

Applications for food vendors for 2025 have now closed. Sign up to our mailing list to find out when applications for the 2026 event will open.