At a glance
- When
- Friday 27 November 5pm to 9pm; Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 10am to 4pm
- Where
- Budawang, Parkes and Coorong pavilions, Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), Mitchell ACT 2911
- Cost
- Entry and parking are both free; the organisers encourage a donation to the charity door greeters
- Stalls
- Over 250 Australian-made designers and producers, plus a gourmet food hall in the Coorong pavilion
- Quiet hour
- Low Sensory Shopping Hour, Sunday 29 November 9am to 10am; registration is requested
- Payment
- No ATMs at the market; stallholders accept card and cash
- Who it’s for
- Gift shoppers, families and anyone who wants Australian-made food, homewares and fashion in one indoor venue
- What to do now
- Pick a day, bring your own shopping bags, and register for the Sunday quiet hour if you want it
- Last checked
- Monday 9 November 2026, against EPIC’s event page and the Handmade Canberra website
- Not yet confirmed
- Any light rail or bus changes for the weekend (check Transport Canberra), and stall locations, which the organiser publishes on a market map
The Handmade Market at Exhibition Park in Canberra runs from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November 2026, with free entry and free parking. It opens at 5pm on Friday and at 10am on Saturday and Sunday, and it is held entirely indoors in three pavilions.
This is the Christmas edition of the Handmade Market, an award-winning market held entirely indoors, according to the organiser. This guide covers the hours, the quiet shopping hour, how to get in by car and by light rail, what you can and cannot bring, and a few of the stallholders the organiser has announced. Details are as shown on the Handmade Canberra website and EPIC’s event page on 9 November 2026. Times are Canberra clock time (AEDT).
What are the opening hours?
| Day | Date | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | 27 November | 5pm to 9pm |
| Saturday | 28 November | 10am to 4pm |
| Sunday | 29 November | 10am to 4pm, with the Low Sensory Shopping Hour from 9am to 10am |
The organiser says that three-day markets open on Friday from 5pm to 9pm and run Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 4pm, which matches this weekend.
Is it free to go in?
Yes. Entry is free, and the organiser says it encourages a donation to its charity door greeters if you can give one on the way in. It says all the money collected goes to people in need in the ACT region. Parking is free as well.
Where exactly is the market?
The market fills the Budawang, Parkes and Coorong pavilions at Exhibition Park in Canberra, on the corner of Flemington Road and Northbourne Avenue in Mitchell. The gourmet food hall is in the Coorong pavilion. Toilets are in each pavilion, and baby change facilities are in the Coorong pavilion. Staff in Handmade aprons, lanyards and name badges can be found at the information desk in the foyer and walking around the market.
How do I park?
The organiser recommends driving in through Gate 4 near the service station and McDonald’s on Stirling Avenue, though Gate 2 on Flemington Road also works. Parking guards will be on site to point you to the best available spaces. EPIC says it has ample free parking on site, in designated car parks and building forecourts, and that more may be available at the Canberra Thoroughbred Racecourse, subject to availability. EPIC adds that some events charge for parking, but for this market both the organiser and EPIC list parking as free.
Accessible parking is at the front of the Budawang pavilion. Anyone using an accessible space must display a valid permit clearly at all times.
Can I get there by light rail?
Yes. The EPIC and Racecourse light rail stop is on Flemington Road, directly across the road from the venue. From the stop, EPIC says to walk towards Northbourne Avenue and cross at the traffic lights at Gate 2. The organiser says the light rail operates each day of the market.
EPIC’s transport page lists these light rail hours and gaps between trains:
| Day | Service hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Thursday | 6am to 11:30pm |
| Friday | 6am to 1am on Saturday morning |
| Saturday | 6am to 1am on Sunday morning |
| Sunday and public holidays | 8am to 11:30pm |
On Saturdays and Sundays the page says trains run every 15 minutes through the day. On weekdays the gaps are 6 minutes at peak and 10 to 15 minutes at other times. That page is a general guide for all events and is not specific to this weekend, so check the Transport Canberra website for the timetable and any service alerts. There are also bus routes near the venue, and a taxi pick-up and drop-off area at the main entrance on Flemington Road. EPIC lists Canberra Cabs on 13 22 27.
What is the Low Sensory Shopping Hour?
On Sunday 29 November from 9am to 10am the market runs a quieter session. The organiser says it will reduce the lighting, lower the volume of the music, limit the number of attendees to give shoppers more space, and provide a dedicated quiet space. Staff and stallholders are briefed on customers’ needs during the hour, and signage shows that it is on.
- It is open to everyone, and the organiser says it may especially help people with autism, older people and people with sensory sensitivities.
- The organiser asks you to register to attend, so it can limit the numbers. Take your reservation email to show on entry.
- Suggested items to bring include a Hidden Disabilities sunflower lanyard, noise-reducing headphones, a fidget toy, a hat or sunglasses, hand sanitiser, a reusable bag and a shopping list.
- Everyone can stay after 10am, but lighting, sound and smells return to normal levels then.
Who is selling what?
The organiser says over 250 designers and producers attend, and that everything on sale is Australian made. The market is a retail supporter of the Australian Made Campaign. It has announced the following stallholders for this edition, and the full line-up is on its website.
| Stallholder | What the organiser says they make |
|---|---|
| Gourmet Czech Australia | Central European gingerbread, baking mixes and premium cookies |
| Hillman Bros. Distilling Co. | Gins and aperitifs from Marchmont in the Yass Valley |
| The Husk Bakery and Cafe | Bread, pastries, pies and sausage rolls from a Fyshwick kitchen |
| Five Passions Artisan Bakery | Focaccia and pizza |
| Chokoartisan | Small-batch Australian chocolate |
| Kate’s Bombs | Hot chocolate bombs, with vegan and alcoholic options |
| Junco Drinks | Sparkling teas |
| Boozy Brittle | Alcohol-infused peanut brittle made in Bendigo |
| Toki Studio | Handmade origami decorations |
| Poppy and Pepper | Ceramic ginger-jar ornaments and homewares |
| Pryde Pets | Felt cat cubes and treat-dispensing toys for pets, made in Brisbane |
| Mamé Cocoa | Japanese-inspired chilled chocolate ganaches |
Other new names the organiser lists include Eleonora Arosio (illustration), Well Spotted (hand-printed T-shirts, tote bags and tea towels), Zoë Alexandria Jewellery, Incense Lab and Stòrí of Africa (shea butter body care). The organiser’s food hall page also names Josh and Sue Gourmet Selection for jams, relishes and sauces.
Can I pay by card, and are there ATMs?
The organiser says there are no longer any ATMs at the market, and that stallholders accept both card and cash. If you plan to buy from several stalls, bring a card as well as a little cash.
What else should I know?
- Bags: the market is single-use-plastic free, and the organiser asks you to bring your own shopping bags.
- Pets: only service or assistance animals are allowed in the venue while the market is on.
- Accessibility: the market has accessible toilets and parking.
- Market map: the organiser publishes a map showing stalls, toilets, food and quiet areas.
When is the next Handmade Market?
The organiser lists the remaining 2026 date as this weekend, then these 2027 dates: 17 and 18 April, 26 and 27 June, 18 and 19 September, and 26, 27 and 28 November.
What has not been confirmed?
- Light rail and bus timetables for this weekend; the hours above are EPIC’s general guide.
- Where each stall will be; use the organiser’s market map.
- Any change to hours, which would be posted on the organiser’s website.
Sources
- Handmade Market 27, 28 and 29 November 2026 — EPIC (checked 9 November 2026)
- Transport and parking — EPIC
- Visiting the Market — Handmade Canberra and Low Sensory Shopping Hour
- 27 to 29 November Market line-up, gourmet food and drink and new designers
Photos: Parliament House foyer, Civic, the EPIC and Racecourse stop and the Canberra Centre, as credited in each caption (text added). Two illustrations are AI-generated and are marked as such.
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Handmade Market Canberra or Exhibition Park in Canberra. Dates, hours and services can change; check the official pages above before you go.