The festival is an Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government initiative held annually in early March, encouraging people to "See Canberra in a whole new light."

[5] In its first year, along with other events, Enlighten hosted rock band INXS,[6] jazz guitarist George Benson,[7] and world-music supergroup Afro Celt Sound System.

[8] To help promote Enlighten, INXS arrived in Canberra in a helicopter, landing on the lawns of Old Parliament House two weeks before their concert appearance.

Despite the big-ticket performances and media stunts, the inaugural festival cost $2.4 million,[11] and there was poor community interest,[12][13] with just 8600 visitors.

[25][26] The festival also included Canberra's first Dîner en Blanc, a pop-up picnic in which all guests dress in white and bring their own food, table, table-setting and chair.

[29] Film screenings and after hours tours were also offered,[30][31] and American soul singer Charles Bradley performed as part of the 2014 festival.

[37] In 2016, alongside the Night Noodle Markets, Enlighten featured an installation by Amanda Parer of five illuminated white rabbits standing at 7 metres (23 ft).

[40] Free concerts held over the consecutive weekends featured indie rock Australian band Augie March and American alternative country musical group Calexico.

[43] Enlighten has come under severe criticism in the Australian media[44][45] for not paying professional artists for their work and labor producing installations and artworks (despite being a well-funded government festival).