Canberra today
Friday in Canberra: drizzle possible, 15° / 7°. Take an umbrella and waterproof layer with you. Tomorrow, Saturday: cloud increasing, 16° / 3°.
Region Canberra leads today with “ADFA cadet accused of repeatedly raping woman in Canberra”.
Also in today's feed: “ACT Policing warn of potentially deadly drugs after five suspected overdose deaths in two weeks” (Region Canberra); “A Canberra detective spent decades sending crooks to prison. Now he has to join them” (Region Canberra); “Orchestra takes music into specialist schools” (CityNews).
On today — GR’AFT: Solo Exhibition by Lynda Draper (Canberra Glassworks, Kingston). Also listed for today — Winter Film Series at the National Film and Sound Archive (National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Acton).
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged sexual violence. A teenage cadet at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) has been granted bail after being accused of raping a woman, although there is a question over whether he will remain living at the training facility.
Summaries below are nberra.com's own wording unless marked as a publisher extract; each headline links to the original reporting at its source.
ACT Policing has issued a public warning about potentially lethal illicit drugs circulating in Canberra. Five suspected fatal overdoses and two non-fatal overdoses have been recorded in the past fortnight, prompting the warning.
It was, the police officer admitted, “the dumbest thing I’ve ever done”. Detective Leading Senior Constable Trent Madders was speaking about how he repeatedly lied to the ACT Magistrates Court during the prosecution of two brothers he had been investigating.
A new partnership between Canberra Symphony Orchestra and The Ricky Stuart Foundation will bring live music experiences to autistic, neurodivergent and disabled students across Canberra's specialist schools.
The federal government will provide funding for the majority of a national gun buyback scheme in the ACT. The ACT government will contribute to the scheme, but the exact details of the funding arrangement remain to be determined.
Canberra residents can explore various walking options beyond the Bridge-to-Bridge. The city offers a range of walks that provide a change of scenery.
The 2026 Craft + Design Canberra Festival will feature a large number of artists, makers, designers, and performers. The festival will include over 130 different activities and events that will take place over a period of 10 days.
Canberra residents have a range of options for the weekend, including various activities and events. The city offers a diverse selection of experiences, from social gatherings to creative pursuits and cultural attractions.
There have been five reported deaths in the ACT in a fortnight, with the cause suspected to be overdoses. A warning has been issued by health and emergency services regarding the presence of potentially lethal drugs in the territory.
A Christian sect leader has denied allegations that church members were involved in disrupting the 2025 federal election campaign. The leader has rejected claims of political interference by the sect.
GIO Stadium, Canberra, Bruce
National Arboretum Canberra, Molonglo
National Portrait Gallery, Parkes
Canberra Glassworks, Kingston
Canberra Museum + Gallery, Canberra
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, Acton
National Museum of Australia, Acton
WildBark at Mulligans Flat, Throsby
This page is the preserved daily edition for 21 August 2026. The live homepage always carries the current curation, and the archive index lists every past edition.