The National Portrait Gallery is situated on King Edward Terrace, in front of the High Court and alongside the National Gallery of Australia – see a map of our location. We are open every day of the year from 10am to 5pm, except 25 December.
Coming by public transport? Our location page includes information about bus routes.
Driving your own car to the Gallery? Please see information about access to and fees for our underground carpark.
Admission
We’re sorry to pry, but have you been to any of the COVID-19 hotspots during the time the ACT Government has stated? If so, before you visit, we need you to follow their advice at covid19.act.gov.au
If it’s all ok, we are open and absolutely thrilled to welcome you to the Gallery! Having said that, we'd like you to pre-book your visit to make sure you and our staff are safe.
See our COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions for more details.
Photography in the Gallery spaces
You are welcome to take photographs of the permanent collection for personal use. Exceptions may apply, in which case a wall label specify 'no photography'. In addition, flash photography, video recording and the use of tripods, monopoles, selfie sticks and additional equipment are not permitted.
Commercial photography, within and external to the building, requires National Portrait Gallery approval and maybe subject to fees. For commercial photography and filming requests please email info@npg.gov.au.
Accessibility
All the galleries, cafe and shop are on one level. (To gain a sense of the layout, see our Gallery map.)
Wheelchairs and strollers are available, and assistance animals are welcome. Hearing loop facilities are provided in the Liangis Theatre and Terrace Rooms. Magnifying devices are available from the Information Desk. Companion card holders gain free entry to paid exhibitions.
Vision-impaired visitors are invited to use the Portrait Stories app during their visit. It’s a guide to all the portraits and people on display (and more), and makes use of in-built iOS accessibility features such as larger text and VoiceOver. If you have an iPhone or iPad, download the app for free. We welcome your feedback on whether it enhances your visiting experience, and how it could be improved.
The National Portrait Gallery is committed to providing a variety of inclusive programs.
Wifi and mobile app
Public wifi is accessible throughout the Gallery. From your mobile device settings, select NPG-PUBLIC. No password or login is required, and there is no time limit. There is a content filter but most people will not find it restrictive.
Whether you are visiting in person or online, our Portrait Stories app (for iPhone and iPad) is a good way to explore all we know about the portraits and the people they represent.
Storage facilities
Large bags and backpacks cannot be taken into the Galleries, and our normal cloakroom will not be available.
A self-service cloaking area will be located in the Gallery. While this area is supervised and monitored by CCTV, it is not physically secure and visitors are encouraged to leave any large items in their car.
Cafe and Store
The café and shop are open too. They are considered separate indoor spaces, so can be visited before or after your booked session. You do not need to use part of your session to visit them. They’ll have additional requirements due to food service and smaller spaces, so please look for, and adhere to, their signage. There could also be short wait times if they're at capacity.
Discover more than you expect in Canberra
Go for the iconic museums and galleries, and stay for the hidden gems and unexpected moments. The perfect place for a short break, Canberra will charm you with diverse activities, all within easy reach. Delight in whisky bars hidden behind unmarked doors, balloon rides at dawn, and world-class art collections and mountain bike tracks. Get to know the real Canberra and plan your stay at visitcanberra.com.au
