Welcome to your consolidated source of all 2025 Barbershop Harmony Festival News!
Special Guests (x2)!!
Yep, you read that right!! This year we have not one, but TWO special guest groups joining us!!Australian a cappella legends The Idea of North, and 2024 BHS international silver medalist quartet First Take!
Events
We have so many incredible events lined up this year including:- Everyone in Harmony Workshop, followed by our annual John Little Show
- Welcome Gala (valued at over $140pp!)
- Quartet & Chorus Pop-Ups
- Chorus Corral
- Quartet Semi-Finals & Finals, and Chorus Contest
- A Cappella Spectacular Showcase of Champions featuring special guests The Idea of North and First Take
- Sunday Farewell Brunch, followed by a Harmony Masterclass featuring our special guests
- Harmony Academy, featuring First Take
Speaking of tickets, here is the breakdown of delegate packages for this year - REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW OPEN!!!
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Venues & Accommodation
We're so excited to have two amazing core venues this year - our hub hotel, QT Canberra and our incredible contest/showcase venue, Llewellyn Hall!In terms of accommodation, we're very excited to offer two BHA exclusive options this Festival!
The Village Canberra and Canberra Accommodation Centre have given us the opportunity to book out a limited number of dorms and single rooms at incredibly affordable rates, but places are super limited so get in quick or risk missing out! Booking information can be found here.
In addition, we also have FOUR hotels offering discount codes for the duration of the Festival!
Merchandise
This year's merchandise (and entire Festival brand) has taken inspiration from the Roaring (20)20s, featuring a mix of modern and art deco design elements. This inspiration came about not only because of it being 2025, but also the gorgeous architecture of Canberra!Featuring our Gang Gang Cockatoo logo* (affectionately known as Henry), this art deco inspired diamond design is present both in lapel pin form, and on the back of our tees!
*in case you didn't know, the Gang Gang Cockatoo is the faunal emblem for the ACT, and we thought it would be fun to continue to feature state & territory emblems/colours in our Festival branding. That's also why the Festival merch and banners are ACT blue and gold!
Harmony Academy
This year's Harmony Academy, to be held at the gorgeous National Film & Sound Archive, will heavily feature our international special guests First Take!! The full schedule is still being finalised, but feel free to take a peek at last year's for an idea of what to expect!Please note that this year's Harmony Academy is not inclusive of accommodation & meals.
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Updates from Harmony News 12/5
Our local volunteers have been busy putting together everything you’ll need to enjoy your stay — from the best walking trails and late-night bites to coffee gems and transport tips.
- Gordon D. (Canberra Chordsmen) has pulled together a Public Transport Guide to help you navigate the city with ease.
- Cas B. (Canberra Harmony) is compiling an insider’s list of Canberra’s top eats and drinks near Llewellyn Hall.
- Planning to arrive early? Keep an eye out for info on hosted day-trips to some of Canberra’s hidden gems — curated by the locals!
Festival website updates are rolling out soon, including maps, visitor tips, and a few scenic highlights. (Shoutout to Graeme Clarke for sharing this stunning photo from one of our favourite local walks — just a stone’s throw from the contest venue.)
Rehearsal Room Booking
Booking is now open for Chorus Rehearsal Rooms on Friday the 6th of September – please let us know your preference for time/s as soon as possible so we can help you lock in the best possible slot. Rehearsal Rooms are located at the QT Hotel and cost will be $150 per hour.
The booking form is here.
Expression of Interest – Harmony Marketplace
Do you have something special to showcase or sell? We're inviting creators in our community to let us know if you’d be interested in having a market stand at a Harmony Marketplace during the Festival. More details to come!
To express interest, contact VP Events: Richard Wadick – events@barbershop.org.au
Corporate Sponsorships Now Available!
Do you — or someone you know — represent a business that shares our passion for music, wellbeing, and community?
Sponsorship packages for the Barbershop Harmony National Festival 2025 are now available. This is a unique opportunity to align your brand with this vibrant event - and support the life-changing power of singing together.
Some sponsorship tiers are limited, so we encourage early enquiries.
To receive the Sponsorship Information Pack or learn more, please contact Richard Wadick, VP Events – events@barbershop.org.au
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Q&A
We've received some very good questions regarding this year's Barbershop Harmony Festival in Canberra, and the likelihood is that if one person has asked, more of you might be wondering too!
So we've picked a couple of the most common questions so far to answer for you below:
Q: What’s included in Harmony Academy this year? It looks like accommodation isn’t part of the package. What about meals? This is my first time attending, and I thought it used to be all-inclusive. How will it work if attendees are staying in different places?
A: Great question! Harmony Academy is not a live-in event this year. Since we’re based right in Canberra city, there’s no need for long bus rides, and you’re free to book accommodation that suits your preferences and budget.
We’ve arranged discounted accommodation options, which you can view on the Accommodation page!
Some options include breakfast:
- The Village – Dorm-style rooms from $60/night (includes breakfast)
- Canberra Accommodation Centre – Single rooms from $100/night (includes breakfast)
For meals during the day, the National Film and Sound Archive—our main venue—has an on-site café and bar, and we’re planning to bring in food trucks for additional variety. So you’ll be well taken care of!
Q: I saw that Harmony Academy now ends on 9 September, but the original info said 10 September. Is there anything happening on the 10th? I’ve booked my flight for late that day.
A: You're right—we’ve updated the schedule. Harmony Academy will now wrap up on the evening of Tuesday, 9 September. There will be no formal programming on Wednesday, 10 September.
If you’ve already booked a flight for the 10th, we suggest:
- Keeping your Tuesday night accommodation and using Wednesday morning to explore Canberra, or
- Changing your flight to an earlier time on the 10th, if that works better for you.
Q: What options are there for getting around Canberra?
A: Canberra is a compact, well-planned city that’s easy to navigate—whether you’re on foot, using public transport, or hopping into a rideshare. Many key venues and attractions are within walking distance of QT Canberra, but if you’re keen to explore a bit further, there are plenty of convenient options. Check out the Canberra Info page for heaps more info!
