We’re taking daily bookings as part of our COVID-19 Safety Plan. This is to make sure you have a safe and memorable visit without things getting too squishy.

The collection display includes a wide selection of portraits that tell extraordinary stories of encounter, exploration, independence, individuality and achievement in Australia.

In these uncertain times, with physical gatherings restricted, we can all still recall major events such as the bogong moth migration, and remain connected to each other through nature.

Take a 30 minute tour of the Portrait Gallery exploring the collection and the building.

Harriet Schwarzrock’s new work explores notions of emotional processes and their physical manifestations.

Is love all you really need? If so, what kind of love? Join us for an exhilarating look at love in all its guises – from lust and longing, drama and devotion, to seduction and scandal.

Reconnect and reflect with our new major exhibition, Australian Love Stories (in real life!) as we explore love, affection and connection in all its guises.

To celebrate our Australian Love Stories exhibition, we’re making tokens of affection! Make pebble portraits of the special people in your life.

Be inspired by our Australian Love Stories exhibition and fold your own origami pocket heart. Use it to keep a treasure in, make some more at home and decorate your room, or write someone you love a note and pop it inside!

Become an adventurer and make a gadget to help you on your journey around the Gallery! Explore the portraits on display through close looking and creative activity.

Explore the main collection before our usual opening hours. We welcome anyone of any age who would benefit from a more relaxed gallery experience.

Celebrate the life, love and creative work of one of Australia’s artistic power couples in our Australian Love Stories exhibition: Rosemary Madigan and Robert Klippel.

Mirror as a noun: any reflecting surface. Person as a mirror... let’s reflect on that! Join us as we look into the faces of others who might show us something about ourselves.

Join us on a journey that talks to our national identity in times of war.

Join curators Joanna Gilmour & Sandra Bruce for a sneak peek at our exciting new exhibition.

Spooky Men’s Chorale singing words of affirmation.

Join artist Ellis Hutch in the Gallery for a hands-on workshop with a nod to the ancient art of relief carving.

Join artist Ellis Hutch from wherever you are for a hands-on workshop with a nod to the ancient art of relief carving.

Romance through dance! Ausdance ACT will be in the Gallery during Australian Dance Week to enhance your Australian Love Stories exhibition experience with pop-up performances that fill our spaces (and hearts) in surprising and delightful ways.

Draw while listening to music. Be swept away in the moment and let colour become your instruments, line become your melody and create your own visual composition.

Listen in and feel the love with our tour for visitors who are blind or have low vision.

Join comedian Chris Ryan as she hosts a night of ‘speed dating’ with a twist!

Join Australian Poetry Slam Champion CJ Bowerbird and some of Canberra’s best spoken-word artists, Eleanor Malbon and Audrey McCormick for an afternoon of poetry, participation and love.

Little faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Little faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

To celebrate Reconciliation Week, our highlights tours will focus on some remarkable, resilient and  inspirational Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the collection.

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Gill Hicks AM MBE will be our guest speaker for the Circle of Friends Autumn Dinner this year.

Little faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Join Wuilli Wuilli woman Lisa Fuller in the Gallery as she explores slow looking and how art can open up your writing.

Little faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Little faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Little faces is for babies and toddlers (with their grown up) to play, sing and have fun discovering a portrait together.

Embrace your creativity and make a thing of joy for them with craft-based designer Kitiya Palaskas.

Join us for an exhilarating look at love in all its guises.

To celebrate our Australian Love Stories exhibition, we’re making tokens of affection! Make pebble portraits of the special people in your life or even somewhere you treasure

To celebrate our Australian Love Stories exhibition, we’re making tokens of affection! Make pebble portraits of the special people in your life or even somewhere you treasure.

Performance artist Weizen Ho interprets the love language of physical touch.

That’s a different name? Yep! Acknowledging how extraordinary 2020 has been, we've decided to mix it up a little and title the exhibition, ‘Living Memory: National Photographic Portrait Prize’.