The ACT Government announced on Wednesday that the 2026 Midwinter Ball is off after the Prime Minister stopped his participation. The decision follows after a televised demand by an MP to cut funding, which prompted a sudden security overhaul at the event.
Guests included politicians and journalists. Photos published after the cancelled ball showed Canberra’s elite in evening wear. A Channel 9 transcript aired the next morning described the enhanced security and captured reactions from attendees.