Canberra Festival of Translocal Urbanism 2026

Festival of Urbanism – Canberra Event 2026 Date: Friday, 23rd October 2026 Time: 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm AEDT Location: Veritas Building, Australian Catholic University (ACU), 127 Phillip Avenue, Watson ACT 2602 Please join us to explore the national theme of this year’s Festival – Translocality through being part of a conversation on: Planning in the Nation’s Capital and Region and how might it be shaped by River Rights – it this a Fantasy or Reality! Translocality is founded on interconnectedness between different places and people, beyond national boundaries. The circulation of people, goods, knowledge and capital, though an ancient process, is facilitated and impacted by new technologies. These bring new opportunities and challenges for cities and regions. The Festival Urbanism 2026 Canberra event is shining a light on cultural and environmental dimensions of translocalism and its implications for planning in the Nation’s Capital and its region. Planning is fundamental to protecting our environment and having a voice for the environment while complex has never been more critical than at this moment in time. Come and hear how the iconic Birrarung (AKA Yarra River) has a voice which has resulted in it having a legal status that has changed how the river is now treated in planning decisions. This raises questions for rivers in the nation’s capital and its region - importantly would the nation and region’s major rivers especially the Upper Murrumbidgee River, be healthier if they had a legal status as a living entity, as does Birrarung? Free event and for catering purposes please RSVP by 19 October 2026 The Canberra event is possible due to the generosity of the Henry Halloran Urban and Regional Research Initiative at the University of Sydney with assistance from the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, Planning Institute of Australia, University of Canberra and Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment Network. Banner image: Merri Merri Creek near its confluence with Birruarung (edited) Original Source: Victorian Department of Transport and Planning