16 Sep Spring school holidays in the ACT 2026: What’s on and things to do with kids
Looking for things to do with the kids these Spring school holidays? Canberra is at its colourful best, with Floriade, kites, LEGO worlds, free library programs, outdoor play and plenty of rainy-day options.
ACT public school holidays run from Saturday 26 September to Monday 12 October 2026, with Term 4 beginning on Tuesday 13 October. Private school dates can vary.
Spring is a particularly good time to explore Canberra because many of the city’s major attractions sit close together, and there is a strong mix of free and paid activities.
Spring festivals and special events
See Canberra bloom at Floriade
Commonwealth Park | 12 September–11 October
Floriade is the obvious centrepiece of Canberra’s Spring holidays, with more than a million blooms, garden displays, entertainment, food, workshops and family activities.
The 2026 theme is Feast of Flowers, celebrating the connection between nature, food and community. Family activities include gnome painting, plant-potting workshops, circus and musical performances, rides and games.
General entry to Floriade is free. NightFest runs from 1–4 October and requires tickets.
FREE ENTRY | SPRING HIGHLIGHT | NIGHTFEST PAID
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Fly a kite at the National Arboretum
National Arboretum Canberra | 26–27 September
Kite Fest returns for two days this year, with kite flying, live entertainment, hands-on activities and food stalls.
Families can bring their own kite, buy one on the day or book a kite-making workshop. Low-sensory workshop options are also available.
The Arboretum also has family orienteering every day from 26 September to 12 October, plus junior birdwatching walks on 28 and 29 September and wildflower seed-sphere activities on 7 and 8 October.
National Arboretum school holiday activities
FREE AND PAID ACTIVITIES | OUTDOORS | ALL AGES
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Something new and different
Step into LEGO worlds at Canberra Museum + Gallery
Canberra City | from 19 September
RELICS: A New World Rises turns old objects into detailed miniature worlds built from LEGO bricks.
Created by LEGO Masters winners Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, the exhibition includes more than 15 large-scale installations packed with tiny stories, visual jokes and hidden details.
It runs throughout the school holidays and is suitable for both children and adults. Family tickets are available, while children under four are free.
PAID | GOOD FOR RAIN | BOOK AHEAD
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Meet Andy Griffiths at the Portrait Gallery
National Portrait Gallery | from 26 September
A new portrait of children’s author Andy Griffiths goes on display from the first day of the school holidays.
On 26 September, Griffiths will take part in an interactive family session to launch the portrait. A free Holiday Spacethen runs through the holidays, where children can create work inspired by the portrait.
There are also Portrait Play sessions for younger children on selected dates.
National Portrait Gallery family program
FREE ACTIVITIES | CREATIVE | SOME BOOKINGS REQUIRED
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Free and low-cost holiday ideas
Play outside at Old Parliament House
Museum of Australian Democracy | 28 September–2 October
PlayUP heads outside into the Senate Courtyard for the first week of the holidays.
Children can build with blocks, play badminton, skip, race, listen to stories or simply spread out on the grass. Families can bring a picnic, and the indoor PlayUP space remains open if the weather turns.
There are also free drop-in craft activities from 26 September to 4 October.
Old Parliament House school holiday activities
FREE | OUTDOOR AND INDOOR | ALL AGES
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Head to your local library
Across Canberra | 28 September–9 October
Libraries ACT has one of the broadest free holiday programs this Spring.
Activities include coding with Ozobots, Brick Challenges, family movies, badge-making, sustainability activities and silent discos.
Teenagers are not forgotten either, with journalling workshops, theatre activities and a teen board-game lounge.
Bookings are required for some sessions, and ACT libraries will be closed on the Labour Day public holiday on Monday 5 October.
Libraries ACT Spring school holiday program
FREE | MULTIPLE LOCATIONS | GOOD FOR RAIN
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Nature and outdoor adventures
Explore the National Arboretum
Even without Kite Fest, the Arboretum is one of Canberra’s easiest free family outings.
Walk through the forests, follow the National Rock Garden Discovery Trail or try family orienteering during the holidays. The views over Canberra are also hard to beat.
The Arboretum’s school holiday program includes several bookable activities, but simply exploring the grounds is free.
FREE ENTRY | PICNIC | OUTDOORS
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Get close to nature at Wildbark
Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary | 28 September–9 October
Wildbark runs hands-on nature programs during the Spring break for children aged five to 15.
Activities vary by age and can include wildlife discovery, bush skills and excursions into Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary.
Places are limited, so this is one to book ahead.
ACT Spring school holiday guide including Wildbark
BOOK AHEAD | NATURE | AGES 5–15
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Rainy-day ideas
Go whale-watching — indoors — at Questacon
Parkes | 28 September–11 October
Questacon’s Spring program includes Wandering with Whales, an interactive puppet show for children aged three to six.
Young visitors become scientists aboard the imaginary research vessel InQuestigator and learn how humpback whales migrate and how researchers study them.
The show is included with general Questacon admission and runs three times daily. Questacon recommends pre-booking entry during busy holiday periods because timed sessions can sell out.
Questacon Spring holiday program
PAID | GOOD FOR RAIN | AGES 3–6
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Visit Antarctica at the National Museum
Acton
The National Museum of Australia has an Antarctica theme running through its Spring family program.
Children aged five to 12 can make DIY dog sleds, older children can try a polar role-play challenge, and selected sessions feature author and illustrator Alison Lester and artist Coral Tulloch.
General museum admission is free, although holiday workshops and the Antarctica VR experience cost extra.
National Museum family activities
FREE GENERAL ENTRY | PAID ACTIVITIES | GOOD FOR RAIN
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Quick picks for busy parents
- Best Spring outing: Floriade
- Best free family event: Kite Fest at the National Arboretum
- Best new indoor attraction: RELICS at Canberra Museum + Gallery
- Best for younger children: PlayUP or Questacon’s Wandering with Whales
- Best for creative kids: National Portrait Gallery Holiday Space
- Best free rainy-day option: Libraries ACT
- Best for nature lovers: Wildbark or the National Arboretum
Parent tip: Canberra can still be cool and windy in Spring, particularly at exposed locations such as the Arboretum. Check event websites before heading out and take an extra layer even on sunny days.
Mai Image: Arboretum PODS
