Events | National Library of Australia (NLA)

Events

Showing 1 - 12 of 19 results
A colourful illustration of an open book with rainbow edged pages

Aaron Miller, Jodah's Codex, 2022

Wizardly tomes, mysterious manuscripts and cursed volumes
09 Feb 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Explore 'Pop Bibliography', the representation of rare and historic books across popular culture with special collections curator Allie Alvis.

Online
Theatre
Talks and ideas
An old, yellow handwritten document

The 1297 inspeximus issue of the Magna Carta owned by the Australian nation. Courtesy of the Australian Department of Parliamentary Services.

Conservation of the Australian copy of the Magna Carta
10 Feb 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:45pm

ArtsNational Canberra and Libby Melzer present a lecture examining the 1297 inspeximus issue of the Magna Carta in the collection of the Parliament of Australia.

Foyer
Theatre
Talks and ideas
Various blue collage images of Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud with their show's branding, which incudes red and blue lines.
Live in interesting places with Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud - 15 February, 2pm
15 Feb 2026 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Join Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud for an in-conversation about architecture and design.

**Booked out**

Theatre
Talks and ideas
Booked out
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Various blue collage images of Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud with their show's branding, which incudes red and blue lines.
Live in interesting places with Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud - 15 February, 6pm
15 Feb 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Join Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud for an in-conversation about architecture and design.

**Booked out**

Theatre
Talks and ideas
Booked out
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Assistive learning icon Assistive learning icon
Hearing induction loop
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Various blue collage images of Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud with their show's branding, which incudes red and blue lines.
Live in interesting places with Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud - 16 February, 7pm
16 Feb 2026 | 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Join Tim Ross and Kevin McCloud for an in-conversation about architecture and design.

**Booked out**

Theatre
Talks and ideas
Booked out
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 woman stands in the centre of this image, looking to the left and smiling. She is in front of an aeroplane and wearing a jacket.

Large photograph of Freda Thompson in flight gear, holding cap and googles, from the Papers of Freda Thompson, c. 1934, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3923190274

Coffee with the Curator and Conservator: Treasures Insights
18 Feb 2026 | 10:30am - 12:00pm

Join the Friends of the Library and delve into the Library's 2025 Treasures Gallery refresh.

Ground floor
Treasures Gallery
Friends of the Library event
Collection talk
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
Etching of mythical sea creatures and a figure preparing to jump into the sea

Britomartis jumps into the sea, image courtesy Lorna Hutson

England's 'island nationhood?' with Professor Lorna Hutson
19 Feb 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Professor Lorna Hutson examines early modern legal and poetic texts to explore the concept of England's 'island nationhood'.

Online
Theatre
Talks and ideas
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 short haired woman with black rimmed glasses in a checkered, button down shirt, smiling at the camera

2025 Creative Arts Fellow Julie Gough

Enaction Plan: Reassembling the past with Julie Gough
26 Feb 2026 | 5:30pm - 6:30pm

Julie Gough will discuss her recent Fellowship research focusing on colonial collections and their role in shaping Tasmanian Aboriginal histories.

Online
Theatre
First Australians
Talks and ideas
Fellowship 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
A woman and man wearing aprons and holding colourful maquettes, pictured alongside unpainted maquettes and paints and paintbrushes
Figurine painting workshop with Eleanor & Giovanni
28 Feb 2026 | 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Award winning animators and artists Eleanor & Giovanni present a workshop for children based on their Enlighten Festival 2026 illumination The Page Turner, created for the National Library.

Foyer
Education/learning
For kids and families
Assistance animals icon Assistance animals icon
Assistance animals welcome
Wheelchair icon Wheelchair icon
Wheelchair accessible
A black and white image of two women sitting on concrete steps, one holding woodworking tools, the other painting at an easel and holding a parasol
Book launch - Double Act: Eirene Mort and Nora Kate Weston
02 Mar 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Dr Sylvia Martin, in conversation with Frank Bongiorno, launches her new book about prominent Australian artists Eirene Mort and Nora Kate Weston, and their incredible 60-year creative partnership.

Foyer
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 headshot of a woman wearing a red shirt and black blazer, looking into the distance while leaning on the edge of a city view

Natasha Brown

Author talk: Universality by Natasha Brown
04 Mar 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Join Canberra Writers Festival and author Natasha Brown for a special In Conversation event focused on her bold, new novel Universality.

Foyer
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
An illustration of eight people wearing textiles

Dura Europos Synagogue, panel WC3: David Anointed King by Samuel (CE 3rd Century). Ancient use of purple dye. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Imperial purple to Marie Antoinette’s fleas: The colourful history of textiles
10 Mar 2026 | 6:00pm - 7:45pm

ArtsNational Canberra and Susan-Kay Williams present a lecture exploring the fascinating history of how dyes were discovered and produced up to the 18th century.

Foyer
Theatre
Talks and ideas

Visit us

Find our opening times, get directions, join a tour, or dine and shop with us.

Plan your visit