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Projections on national buildings
After dark, the walls of the National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, Parliament House and more become canvases for Australian artists.
Festivals & traditions
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Projections on Old Parliament House at Enlighten in 2015; a file photo. · Report image rightsCanberra · AustraliaFestivals & traditions
2027.02.26 — 2027.03.08 · Coming soon
National buildings turned into canvases.
Enlighten Festival Canberra 2027
Enlighten, produced by Events ACT, runs from Friday 26 February to Monday 8 March 2027. In 2026 it filled eleven nights with Illuminations, art installations, performances, live music, food and after-dark experiences. The Illuminations project work by Australian artists onto the national cultural institutions of the National Triangle, and they return there in 2027. 2026 examples include animated rain-cloud paintings on the National Gallery, Kaylene Whiskey’s Queens of the Desert on the National Portrait Gallery and The Page Turner on the National Library. The 2027 programme is not out yet.
GOWOAH / Canberra
A REASON TO GO
A REASON TO GO
Parliamentary Triangle, Canberra2027.02.26 — 2027.03.08Festivals & traditionsAdmission cost unconfirmed
FIND YOUR REASON
What draws you to this experience?
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2026: Queens of the Desert
Kaylene Whiskey’s Queens of the Desert turned her paintings into animation across the National Portrait Gallery.
Festivals & traditions03
2026: a library that turns its pages
Eleanor and Giovanni’s The Page Turner used handmade paper and puppet stop-motion to tell a reading adventure across the National Library.
Festivals & traditionsA LITTLE CLOSER
A closer look.
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2013 · Nick-D · Photo source · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Preview cropped; enlarge for full image. · Report image rights
MAKE IT YOUR EXPERIENCE
Does this fit what you are looking for?
This could be for you if you are…
- Lovers of lights and night scenes
- Families with children
Before you decide
The 2027 programme is not out; the named works are from 2026.
The projections only show after dark.
Entry details are still to come.
FIND YOUR PLACE
Explore the layout. Plan your route.
This edition’s site map is not out yet.
Open official guide ↗FROM AN IDEA TO A PLAN
Make a plan that works for you.
Dates & times
2027.02.26 — 2027.03.08Friday 26 February to Monday 8 March 2027 (Canberra time); nightly times to be announced.
Australia/SydneyMore programme details
- Projections on national buildings
- 2026: Queens of the Desert
- 2026: a library that turns its pages
Venue & travel
Parliamentary Triangle, CanberraThe projections are on the national cultural institutions of Canberra’s National Triangle.
Entry & companions
The 2027 programme and entry details are still to come; the site asks visitors to sign up to its newsletter for announcements.
Tickets & access
To be announced
Confirm accessibility services and companion policies with the organiser before travel.
Sources & image credits
Dates and entry details refer to this edition; individual sessions may differ.
Grahamec · CC BY-SA 4.0 Image source
Events ACT
Projections on Old Parliament House at Enlighten in 2015; a file photo.
Information checked on 2026-10-17
Suggest a correction ↗Festivals & traditionsFolk Group Bulgari from Melbourne in costume with welcome bread in the European village at the 2020 festival; a file photo.
Photo source · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped preview· Report image rights
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