An evening festival market on a city lawn under string lights

Canberra, ACT · Summer

National Multicultural Festival

Third weekend of February (3 days)

The National Multicultural Festival turns Canberra's city centre into one enormous world food market over the third weekend of February. More than 300 stalls run by the capital's communities serve food from every corner of the globe, with dance, music and cultural showcases across multiple stages for three days.

Around 280,000 people attend what has become the largest festival of its kind in Australia, and entry is free. The strategy is simple: arrive hungry, graze widely and follow the drumming. Friday night and Saturday are the peak sessions, and the whole precinct is compact enough to cover on foot.

  • Cultural Festival
  • Food & Wine
  • Community Event
  • Free entry
When
Third weekend of February (3 days)
How often
Every year
Venue
Civic (city centre)
Crowd
Approx. 280,000 across the weekend
Entry
Free
Setting
Outdoor
Civic (city centre)Approx. 280,000 across the weekendOfficial event site

Dates shown follow the event's typical pattern; exact dates change each year, so confirm on the official site before booking travel.

Getting there by bus

Tell us where you're starting from and we'll find coach options to Canberra. We’ve prefilled the usual event date; adjust it to suit your plans.

One-way trip

Fares and timetables are confirmed on the operator's site before you book.

More events around Canberra