Wonderful World Festival - Canberra City Centre

Wonderful World

A festival of wonder

Canberra's City Centre will burst into life with Wonderful World, a new festival for parents, grandparents and children, celebrating creativity, discovery, community and the vibrant spirit of the heart of the city.

The City Centre and Braddon will transform into a playground, a stage, and a spectacle; a place to discover what is wonderful in our world.

Shaped by families and local businesses, Wonderful World is not a single event or destination. It’s a festival designed to unfold over the week, inviting people to explore and return again and again, finding new moments of wonder each day.

Tuesday 7 April to Sunday 12 April 2026

📍 Canberra City Centre

Explore the program

From live performances to hands-on experiences, Wonderful World unfolds through 50+ experiences across the City Centre - with a mix of free and ticketed events for all ages. Follow your curiosity and see what you might discover along the way.

Program at a glance

Play

Hands-on, interactive and made for curious minds. From creative workshops to immersive activities, Play is where kids (and grown-ups) can get involved, make, build and explore.

City Walk

Bee-come a bee with Polyglot Theatre

Step into 'Bees' by Polyglot Theatre, a world-renowned theatre company celebrated for creating exceptional performances for children and families. 'Bees' is a participatory show that welcomes children into a world of wonder and imagination.

Learn more

7–11 Apr

The Lost Wonders of the City at Verity Lane Market

8 Apr

Make Monster Comics With David Conley

Mooseheads

Mr. Moose’s Wonderful Silent Disco

Mr. Moose's Wonderful Silent Disco transforms one of Canberra's most recognisable nightlife venues into a vibrant daytime experience designed especially for families during the Wonderful World festival.

Book now

7–12 Apr

Spin at the Disc-Go-Round

7–12 Apr

POP Canberra – Wonder Hub

10 Apr

Big Bubble Blowout

12 Apr

Impact Comics Book Garden

7 Apr

Wondercard Workshop: Making wonderful characters with Arran McKenna

7–12 Apr

Leaf Light

Shows

Live performances, music and moments to sit back and enjoy. From high-energy acts to playful performances, there’s something happening across the city all festival long.

Glebe Park Stage

Glebe Park is the daytime heart of Wonderful World - a space to settle in, stretch out, and let the festival unfold around you. From 12pm to 6pm daily, the Glebe Park Stage hosts a rotating mix of music, cabaret, comedy and interactive performances.

Explore program

8 Apr

Peter Combe and the Bellyflop in a Pizza Band

7 Apr

Bunny Racket

7 Apr

Teeny Tiny Stevies

7–12 Apr

Stories of Wonder

8 Apr

Miles Brown – Theremin Dance Party

7 Apr

Jerikye Williams with The Long Lost Wonders

7 Apr & 9 Apr

Otto and Astrid

9 Apr

Ben Walsh – The Drum Wheel

7 Apr

Chameleon Collective

7 Apr & 10 Apr

Project Dust

11 Apr

Rufino and the Wreckage – Discotheque Tropicale

12 Apr

Aunty Sharron and the Daughts

12 Apr

Angie Who

9 Apr

Nicky Bomba and local guests

10 Apr

Big Boss Groove

11 Apr

Reserve Skank of Australia: Canberra’s finest ska-reggae

11 Apr

Zambezi Sounds

11 & 12 Apr

Linsey Pollak

10 Apr

D’Opus and Roshambo Reunite

9 & 10 Apr

Alias the Faerie’s Bubble Show

8 Apr

Mal Webb and Kylie Morrigan present Notey and Noisy: A Sound Science Mathemusical

8 Apr

Dandy Man – Ding Dilemmas at Smiths

9 & 10 Apr

Miles Brown – Electro-Magnetism

8 & 9 Apr

Screenings at the NFSA

8–12 Apr

The Great Gatsby: A Jazz Ballet Odyssey – Canberra

7–11 Apr

Worlds of Wonder coming to Dendy Canberra IMAX®

8 Apr & 12 Apr

Twistyfic – The Twisty Science Show

9 Apr

Prodikal-1

8 Apr

Mic Conway and Robbie Long

8 Apr

Dandy Man

9 & 10 Apr

Mal Webb and Kylie Morrigan

7–11 Apr

The Wonderful Battle of the Bands

Taste

Family-friendly dining, treats and local flavours to explore. From quick bites to relaxed meals, it brings together the city’s food experiences.

Kids Sushi & Sweet Workshop

Japanese Food Adventure

Come and experience a fun and interactive Japanese food workshop for children aged 5–12 as part of the Wonderful World Festival. Kids will learn to roll their own sushi and create a traditional Japanese dessert (Anmitsu), guided by Japanese chef Mamoru Aizawa with over 40 years of experience.

Book now

11 Apr

Fete Till Late

7–12 Apr

CoCo Bubble Tea

Discover

Pop-ups and experiences across the city. Discover something unexpected as you explore new places, ideas and moments throughout the festival.

Dendy Canberra IMAX®

Worlds of Wonder

IMAX for $5? Join this special five-day IMAX® documentary series at Dendy Cinemas Canberra and see the world come to life on Canberra's largest cinema screen.

Book now

12 Apr

Impact Comics Book Garden

7–12 Apr

Wonder Balloons over Glebe Park Stage

9–11 Apr

Passport to the Wonderful World

9 Apr

Raio de Sol

11 Apr

Gramophone Man

11 Apr

Koko Loco – Samba dancers

Wonderful World

Petrie Plaza Chill Zone

Enjoy free, self-led play and relaxation at the Petrie Plaza Wonder Hub. Open Tuesday–Saturday, 11am–6pm, and Sunday 10am–2pm, the space features daily themed activities including sports, arts and crafts, and loose-parts play. A welcoming place to rest or play during the Wonderful World festival.

Itineraries

Show

Angie Who

Play

Mooseheads Silent Disco

Taste

Japanese Food Adventure

Discover

Wonder Ballons over Glebe Park Stage

12 April

Techno Picnic With Natascha Polké

Techno Picnic is a lakeside series of international melodic techno headliners without the price tag. Enjoy guests and red hot locals in the sunshine while rugrats wobble on the grass. The whole thing wraps early. Sunday's a school night, afterall.

Learn more

Smiths Alternative and Blank

Time for the grown ups to party

Date night? Time away from the fam? There's something for everyone at the Wonderful World festival.

Explore

The fun is just getting started

Imagine a world where loved ones embrace the wonders of our lives.
Wonderful World is a festival of families, local businesses, institutions and artists on a journey to make the world more wonderful. Wonderful World is a challenge for parents, carers and grandparents to rediscover their wonders, and for kids to fall in love with the world, again and again.
For one week, in Canberra.

Wonderful World

A festival of wonder

Tuesday 7 April to Sunday 12 April 2026

📍 Canberra City Centre

Explore the program

Play

Bee-come a bee with Polyglot Theatre

The Lost Wonders of the City at Verity Lane Market

​Make Monster Comics With David Conley

Mr. Moose’s Wonderful Silent Disco

Spin at the Disc-Go-Round

POP Canberra – Wonder Hub

Shows

Glebe Park Stage

Taste

Japanese Food Adventure

Fete Till Late

Bloom Stack Wonderland

Dosa Hut Canberra

Central Social Club

Discover

Worlds of Wonder

Impact Comics Book Garden

Wonder Balloons over Glebe Park Stage

Petrie Plaza Chill Zone

Itineraries

Show

Play

Taste

Discover

Techno Picnic With Natascha Polké

Time for the grown ups to party

The fun is just getting started

Make Monster Comics With David Conley