National Multicultural Festival
Born out of a single Australia Day celebration organised by the ACT Ethnic Communities Council, the National Multicultural Festival has grown into Australia’s largest celebration of cultural diversity. What started as a modest gathering of a few dozen food stalls is now a sprawling weekend showcase bringing together more than 170 cultural communities from across the globe.
Held annually each February, the festival takes over Canberra’s civic heart, filling Glebe Park, Civic Square and the surrounding city streets with stages, stalls and colour. Multiple performance areas run simultaneously across the precinct, giving visitors an easy, walkable way to move between cuisines, music and dance from one culture to the next.
Festival Highlights:
- World Food Stalls: Hundreds of stalls fill the festival footprint, serving up dishes from dozens of cuisines and giving visitors a chance to eat their way around the world without leaving Civic.
- Multicultural Parade: A vibrant procession of costumed community groups, dancers and performers winds through the city streets before culminating in Glebe Park, one of the festival’s most photographed moments.
- Live Music & Dance Stages: Several stages across the precinct host a rolling program of live music, traditional dance and cultural showcases, including performances celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture alongside communities from across Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas.
- Family Activities & Workshops: A dedicated family area offers face painting, balloon twisting and hands-on entertainment, while cultural workshops let visitors try their hand at everything from dumpling-making to traditional dance steps.
Tips for Visitors & Trip Planning:
- Free Entry: The festival is free to attend, with all stages, stalls and the parade open to the public across the full weekend.
- Best Viewing Spot: Glebe Park sits at the centre of the festival footprint and is the natural base for exploring the surrounding stages and stalls — arrive early to find a good spot along the parade route.
- Getting There: The festival footprint sits within Canberra’s compact, pedestrian-friendly city centre, and expect nearby road closures on parade days — public transport or light rail into Civic is the easiest way in.
- What to Wear: Canberra’s summer days can turn hot with cool evenings, so dress in layers, wear comfortable walking shoes and bring sun protection for daytime sessions.
- Accommodation: Central Canberra hotels fill up fast for festival weekend, so booking well in advance is strongly recommended.
- Explore Canberra: Beyond the festival, Canberra’s museums, galleries and lakeside attractions are well worth the extra time — browse top Canberra tours and activities here.
The full program and stage schedule are published closer to the event. See details below, under “Event Related Information” section.
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