Experience the art outdoors at the Capital Plein Air Festival
Australia's premier east coast plein air event unfolds in Canberra, where artists bring the city's autumn colours to life. Visitors can watch acclaimed artists including Warwick Fuller and Leon Holmes capture iconic locations from the National Arboretum's stunning vistas to Lake Burley Griffin's tranquil shores.
The National Arboretum is proud to be a major event sponsor of the 2025 Capital Plein Air Festival. As the Festival Hub, the Arboretum will host two of the festival’s most anticipated days, offering a breathtaking natural setting for artists and visitors to experience the plein air tradition at its finest.
Watch artwork take shape in real-time, enjoy demonstrations by master painters, and purchase fresh "wet paint" artwork capturing Canberra's autumn beauty and iconic landmarks. The grand finale at the National Arboretum's Event Terrace features the Quick Draw competition and awards ceremony.
Friday, April 25 (Anzac Day)
On Friday, April 25 (Anzac Day), festival artists will spread out across the Arboretum’s vast and varied landscapes, capturing its sweeping vistas, autumn-hued forests, and the distant Brindabella Ranges. Inside the Terrace Room, visitors can enjoy a display of festival artworks, along with live painting demonstrations and artist talks—all framed by panoramic views over Lake Burley Griffin.
Sunday, April 27
The festival returns to the Arboretum on Sunday, April 27, for an exciting finale—the Quick Draw on the Events Terrace. This fast-paced and engaging event gives artists just two hours to complete a painting, which is then judged and made available for sale.
For the full program please visit, Capital Plein Air Festival Program [opens in a new window]
Exhibition, April 22 - 28
Enjoy the soothing & stunning variety of scenes painted in brilliant colour in this exhibition by the Capital Plein Air Festival. The delicate depiction of fleeting light, expert choice of colour, and detailed flourishes come together to capture the essence of these beautiful landscapes paused at a moment in time.
The display includes works by artists: Leon Holmes, Warwick Fuller, Chan Dissanayake, Natasha Ruschka and Andy Dolphin.
The artworks on display are available for purchase, more information can be found on the signage next to the artworks, or visit: https://www.capitalpleinair.com/store [opens in a new window]
Dive into this free exhibition in the Arboretum Visitors Centre of the National Arboretum Canberra.
For participating artists, the festival offers a week of creative inspiration with expert-led workshops, prestigious award competitions, and showcase opportunities. Artist registrations have now closed.
"We are thrilled to present these key festival moments at the National Arboretum Canberra and are truly grateful for their support as a major event sponsor. Their commitment to celebrating creativity and supporting the arts helps make events like this possible, and we look forward to seeing how artists are inspired by this remarkable landscape." Capital Plein Air
The Capital Plein Air Festival welcomes everyone to this unique celebration of creativity during Canberra's most beautiful season.