Expect Heavy Congestion and Road Closures for Symphony in the Park and Enlighten

Busy Sunday Expected for Canberra Commuters

As the Canberra Day long weekend continues, residents and visitors should prepare for significant traffic changes this Sunday, 8 March 2026. With the Enlighten Festival in full swing and the headline Symphony in the Park event taking place tonight, central Canberra will experience heavy pedestrian activity and numerous road closures. Authorities are urging motorists to plan ahead and consider using public transport to avoid delays in the National Triangle and the City.

Major Event Closures in the National Triangle

The Enlighten Festival remains the primary driver of traffic disruptions. A comprehensive traffic management plan is active tonight from 4:00 pm until midnight. Key closures include:

• King George Terrace: Closed between Parkes Place East and Parkes Place West.
• King Edward Terrace: Closed between Parkes Place East and Parkes Place West.
• Queen Elizabeth Terrace: Closed between Parkes Place East and Parkes Place West.
• Parkes Place West: Closed north of King Edward Terrace, with access restricted to National Library of Australia permit holders.

Additionally, with Symphony in the Park held at Stage 88 in Commonwealth Park from 5:00 pm, expect high volumes of traffic along Commonwealth Avenue. While the bridge remains open with partial lane closures for renewal works, significant delays are anticipated as attendees arrive for the 7:30 pm performance start.

Roadworks and CBD Infrastructure Impacts

Outside of event zones, maintenance and construction projects continue to impact local routes. In Mitchell, road resurfacing will cause lane closures on Huddart Crescent and Heffernan Street between 7:00 am and 8:00 pm. Motorists in the City should also be mindful of permanent traffic changes at the intersection of Northbourne Avenue and Alinga Street; new 'No Right Turn' restrictions are in place to accommodate ongoing Light Rail Stage 2A construction. Significant works also persist around London Circuit, limiting lane capacity.

Public Transport and Special Shuttle Services

Transport Canberra is operating on a Sunday timetable. To support event-goers, several special services are available:

• Enlighten Shuttle: A free shuttle bus will run on a continuous loop between the City and the Enlighten Festival Hub starting from 5:00 pm.
• Symphony in the Park Return Services: Free buses will depart from Commonwealth Avenue stops near Regatta Point between 9:30 pm and 10:15 pm, traveling to the Belconnen, Woden, Tuggeranong, and City interchanges.
• Bus Stop Relocations: Due to road closures, some diversions are in place. Notably, Regatta Point bus stop 8889 remains closed, and various routes through the Parliamentary Triangle are being diverted around the terrace closures.

Commuters are advised to use the Journey Planner to verify specific route timings and allow at least 20 to 30 minutes of additional travel time if driving through the city center tonight.