Events | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Events

Showing 1 - 12 of 23 results
Colourful illustration of different bird species in a park
Book launch: Bird Park
07 Nov 2026 | 10:00am - 11:00am

*Booked out* Celebrate the launch of one of NLA Publishing's newest children’s books Bird Park, with a morning of stories and wildlife encounters.

Kids and families
Foyer
Podium
Books and authors
Book launch
Storytime
Education/learning
For kids and families
Booked out
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Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A cartoon of a pointy-nosed orange character wearing a yellow dress with red spots, placed upside down on a bright blue background
Judy Horacek: Everyone on the bus fell down (not just me)
10 Nov 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Cartoonist, writer and illustrator Judy Horacek brings her comedy cartoon slide show to the National Library – a show about public transport, climate catastrophe, a certain green sheep and getting older (for real).

Theatre
Books and authors
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Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
An aerial view of a desert landscape with a single green tree at the center, surrounded by numerous rusted, abandoned airplane fuselages arranged in a radial pattern.
'Nature' documentary screening Canberra - Citizen COP 2026
11 Nov 2026 | 6:00pm - 8:30pm

Join People For Nature and the Alliance Française de Canberra for a special community screening of Nature - The Call for Reconciliation, a powerful cinematic experience connecting global environmental challenges to local action. Presented as part of Citizen COP Australia 2026.

Theatre
Film screening
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Three people are viewing exhibits in a museum gallery. A man stands facing two women, appearing to explain something about displayed artwork and documents. A large informational panel titled 'We are Australian' is visible, along with framed pictures on the walls and a display case. A 'TQI ACT Accredited Program 2026' logo is in the lower-left corner.
Treasures from the Library for the Classroom - Teacher Professional Development
12 Nov 2026 | 3:30pm - 5:30pm

Join the National Library of Australia’s Education team to explore stories behind the Treasures in our collection. Learn how you and your students can access reliable, authentic sources through the Library's Exhibitions programming, with incredible objects that can be found both online and by visiting the building in Canberra.

Teachers and Educators
Treasures Gallery
Workshops and seminars
Workshop
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Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
The Read to Me logo with white text on a black background is pictured atop a pile of zines and comic books scattered across a table
Read to Me: live graphic storytelling
13 Nov 2026 | 6:00pm - 8:00pm

The Library is celebrating Australian comics and graphic art storytelling all weekend from 13 - 15 November. The weekend kicks off with a special evening of live graphic storytelling from Read to Me.

Online
Theatre
Books and authors
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A stylized illustration depicts a person with red skin and a dark cap, holding a stack of comic books. A blue book cover displays '1980 TO 2020'. The background is a collage of comic-related items like pencils in a cup, rendered in a vibrant, graphic design style.

Illustration by Claudio Chinyere

Folio: Stories of Australian comics
14 Nov 2026 | 10:00am - 11:00am

The Library is celebrating comics and graphic storytelling all weekend from 13 - 15 November. In this panel discussion, researchers and academics examine comics and zines recently acquired for the National Library's collection.

Academics
Book lovers
Publishers
Researchers
Online
Theatre
Talks and ideas
Collection talk
Panel discussion
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Georgina Chadderton, wearing a yellow cap and shirt and a pink jacket is pictured in deep thought, holding a pencil to their mouth. Alongside the image is the book cover for the graphic novel Oh Brother.
Drawing with Georgina Chadderton
15 Nov 2026 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm

*Booked out* The Library is celebrating comics and graphic storytelling all weekend from 13 - 15 November. On Sunday join South Australian graphic novelist and author Georgina Chadderton for a hands-on comic adventure! Highly recommended for ages 7+.

Kids and families
Primary school students
NLA Bookshop
Books and authors
Bookshop event
For kids and families
Booked out
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
This image is a side-by-side composite. On the left, a modern, brightly lit portrait features a smiling woman with long, wavy brown hair and bright red lipstick. She wears a red top and a red beaded necklace and looks directly at the camera. Behind her, a faded, blue-toned portrait of a man in historical attire is visible. On the right, a sepia-toned, vintage photograph shows a woman in an elaborate white Victorian-era gown with ruffles and lace, standing in profile and looking down.
Lunchtime concert: Voicing the feminine
17 Nov 2026 | 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Join Fleur Millar (soprano), Thompson Quan Wing (tenor), The Manning Clark Chamber Singers and pianist Sam Row, for a delightful salon-style concert featuring arias and music celebrating feminine identity, chamber style.

Online
Theatre
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A vibrant Aboriginal dot painting, depicting traditional symbols and patterns in earthy tones against a black background.

The first of three artworks by Sissy Pettit, one of the contributors of the book. The artwork series shows a continuous connection between people, culture and Country, from beginning to end of the Lachlan Kalari Bila. Photo credit: Dr. Emma Phillips.

Book launch: Lachlan Kalari Bila - Sweet Water to the Sea
18 Nov 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Join lead author Isabel Goolagong, alongside key contributors for an evening celebrating the people, stories and Country that have shaped the upcoming book, Lachlan Kalari Bila - Sweet Water to the Sea.

Online
Theatre
Book launch
First Australians
Panel discussion
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A stack of books sitting on a table in front of a colourful window and surrounded by Christmas decorations.
2026 Bookshop pre-Christmas sale
19 Nov 2026 | 9:00am - 8:00pm

Join us for a special one day only sale at the National Library Bookshop! 

NLA Bookshop
Books and authors
Bookshop event
Author Leigh Hobbs poses with his children's book 'Mr Badger and the Boubles Grand Hotel'. He holds the book cover, which features an illustration of a bespectacled badger in a red jacket standing before a grand hotel under a starry night sky. Behind him, an artwork of the same badger character is visible.
Leigh Hobbs: a creative life
19 Nov 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:15pm

Join the iconic author and illustrator Leigh Hobbs in conversation as he explores his artistic evolution and celebrates the publication of his twenty-first book.

Book lovers
Kids and families
Online
Theatre
Books and authors
Author talk
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Page of a sixteenth century atlas with a complex globe illustration

Joannes Myritius, Opusculum Geographicum Rarum (A Rare Little Geographical Work) (detail), 1590

Special event: New acquisitions showcase
20 Nov 2026 | 12:30pm - 2:30pm

You’re invited to a special viewing of recently acquired material for the Library’s collection. 

Conference Room
Talks and ideas

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