Cultural & Religious dates

2026 Calendar of Cultural and Religious dates

Australia’s multicultural identity brings together more than 300 ancestries, reflecting a rich diversity of cultures, beliefs and traditions. From the First Australians, whose cultures span more than 65,000 years, to our newest arrivals, each community contributes to a shared national story grounded in values of freedom, respect, security and opportunity. This calendar highlights significant cultural and religious dates observed across Australia. Please note that some dates may vary each year depending on the day of the week or the lunar calendar.

January
01 New Year’s Day First day of the Gregorian calendar.
06 Epiphany Christian feast marking the revelation of Christ.
06 Armenian Christmas Observed by the Armenian Apostolic Church.
07 Orthodox Nativity Birth of Christ (Julian calendar).
13 Lohri Punjabi winter harvest festival.
14 Makar Sankranti Hindu solar festival marking the sun’s northward journey.
15 Thai Pongal Tamil Hindu harvest festival honouring the sun.
19 Orthodox Epiphany Commemorates the baptism of Jesus.
20 Gurpurab of Guru Gobind Singh Ji Birth of the 10th Sikh Guru.
25 Buddhist New Year (Mahayana) Observed on the January full moon.
26 Australia Day National day of Australia.
27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day UN day commemorating Holocaust victims.
February
06 Waitangi Day New Zealand national day.
10 Lunar New Year New Year across many East and Southeast Asian cultures.
15 Maha Shivaratri Hindu festival honouring Lord Shiva.
15 Nirvana Day Buddhist commemoration of the Buddha’s passing.
17 Shrove Tuesday Final day before Lent in Christian traditions.
18 Ash Wednesday Beginning of Lent.
21 International Mother Language Day Celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity.
21 Shaheed Day Bangladesh language martyrs remembrance.
24 Makha Bucha Buddhist festival on the full moon of the third lunar month.
24 Lantern Festival Marks the end of Lunar New Year celebrations.
27 Feb – 29 Mar Ramadan Islamic month of fasting and reflection.
March
01 St David’s Day Welsh national day.
03–09 Maslenitsa Eastern Slavic festival marking the end of winter.
17 St Patrick’s Day Ireland’s national day.
20 Naw-Ruz Baha’i New Year.
20 Norouz Persian New Year marking spring.
13–14 Purim Jewish festival commemorating the story of Esther.
14 Holi Hindu festival of colours celebrating spring.
April
01 Kha b-Nisan Assyrian and Chaldean New Year.
04 Qingming Chinese tomb-sweeping and ancestor remembrance.
08 Hana Matsuri Buddha’s birthday in Japan.
09 Eid al-Fitr Celebrates the end of Ramadan.
02–10 Passover (Pesach) Jewish festival commemorating the Exodus.
13 Palm Sunday Beginning of Christian Holy Week.
18 Good Friday Commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus.
20 Easter Sunday Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.
21–29 Ridván Most important Baha’i festival.
25 ANZAC Day Australian and New Zealand day of remembrance.
24 Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day Commemorates victims of the 1915 genocide.
May
03 Orthodox Good Friday Observed by Orthodox Christian churches.
05 Orthodox Easter Celebrates the resurrection of Christ.
05 Cinco de Mayo Celebration of Mexican heritage and culture.
20 Dehwa Daymaneh Mandaean celebration of John the Baptist.
21 International Day for Cultural Diversity UN day promoting cultural diversity.
22 Declaration of the Báb Baha’i holy day.
23 Vesak Day Buddhist celebration of Buddha’s life.
26 National Sorry Day Australian remembrance and reconciliation.
27 Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh Baha’i holy day of rest.
27 May – 03 Jun Reconciliation Week Australian reconciliation awareness period.
31 Pentecost Christian feast marking the Holy Spirit’s descent.
June
01 Dragon Boat Festival Chinese cultural festival honouring Qu Yuan.
03 Mabo Day Marks recognition of native title in Australia.
11 Shavuot Jewish festival commemorating the giving of the Torah.
16–24 Refugee Week Celebrates contributions of refugees.
20 World Refugee Day UN day recognising displaced people.
 25  Ashura For Sunni Muslims, it commemorates the saving of Prophet Moses (Musa) and his followers. For Shia Muslims, it is a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Husayn in 680 CE.
28 Matariki Māori New Year (NZ public holiday).
29 Feast of St Peter and St Paul Christian feast (Catholic and Orthodox).

 

July
1 Coming of the Light Torres Strait Islander observance marking the arrival of Christianity in 1871.
1 International Tartan Day Celebrates Scottish heritage and culture.
7–14  NAIDOC Week Celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements.
16–17  Karsa Mandaean New Year marked by family gatherings and rituals.
21  Asalha Puja (Dhamma Day) Commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon.

 

August
4 National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day Celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and culture.
6 Hiroshima Day Commemorates victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and promotes peace.
8 Raksha Bandhan Hindu festival celebrating the bond between siblings.
9 Nagasaki Day Commemorates victims of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples UN observance recognising Indigenous peoples and cultures worldwide.
15 Feast of the Assumption Christian feast celebrating the Virgin Mary’s assumption into heaven.
15 Krishna Janmashtami Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna.
19 World Humanitarian Day UN day recognising humanitarian efforts and those affected by crises worldwide.
25 Australian South Sea Islanders National Recognition Day Recognises Australian South Sea Islanders as a distinct cultural group.
 28  Raksha Bandhan   Hindu festival celebrating the bond of protection between siblings, marked by the tying of a rakhi.

 

September
6 Onam Hindu harvest festival celebrated in Kerala.
6 Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha.
6 Mawlid al-Nabi Commemorates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad.
11 Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year) New Year in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
11 Nayrouz (Coptic New Year) Marks the start of the Coptic calendar.
17 Australian Citizenship Day Celebrates Australian citizenship and shared values.
21 International Day of Peace United Nations day promoting global peace.
4 Krishna Janmashtami Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna.

 

October
2 Oct Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti Commemorates the birth of Mahatma Gandhi and promotes non-violence.
3–12 Oct Dashain Major Nepalese festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil.
5–7 Oct Chuseok Korean harvest festival celebrating family, ancestors and the full moon.
6 Oct Mid-Autumn Festival East and Southeast Asian festival celebrating the full moon and harvest.
6 Oct Tết Trung Thu Vietnamese Mid-Autumn festival with lanterns, food and celebrations.
6 Oct Tsukimi Japanese festival celebrating the beauty of the autumn moon.
12 Oct Vijay Dashami (Dussehra) Marks the victory of good over evil at the end of Navaratri.
12 Oct Yom Kippur Holiest day in Judaism, observed with fasting and prayer.
13 Oct White Sunday Celebrates children in Samoan Christian communities.
17 Oct Kathina Buddhist festival marking the end of the rains retreat.
20 Oct Gurgaddi of Guru Granth Sahib Marks the स्थापना of Sikhism’s holy scripture as the eternal Guru.
20–24 Oct Durga Puja Hindu festival honouring Goddess Durga with rituals and celebrations.
20 Oct Deepavali (Diwali) Festival of Lights celebrating the victory of light over darkness.
22–24 Oct Rosh Hashanah Jewish New Year marked by reflection, prayer and celebration.
24 Oct United Nations Day Marks the founding of the United Nations in 1945.
25 Oct Simchat Torah Celebrates the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle.
28 Oct Oxi Day Greek national day commemorating resistance in World War II.

 

November
1 Nov Bandi Chhor Divas Sikh celebration of freedom marking the release of Guru Hargobind Ji.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day Honours all Christian saints, known and unknown.
1–2 Nov Birth of the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh Bahá’í holy days celebrating the births of two central figures.
2 Nov All Souls’ Day Commemoration of the faithful departed in Christian traditions.
2 Nov Bestu Varas (Gujarati New Year) Marks the New Year for Gujarati communities.
2 Nov Día de los Muertos Mexican tradition honouring deceased loved ones.
3 Nov Bhai Tika Hindu festival celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters.
5 Nov Guru Nanak Gurpurab Celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism.
15 Nov Loy Krathong Thai festival of light and water, with floating lantern offerings.
16 Nov International Day for Tolerance Promotes respect and understanding between cultures.
26 Nov Ascension of Abdu’l-Bahá Commemorates the passing of a key Bahá’í leader.
30 Nov St Andrew’s Day Celebrates the patron saint of Scotland.

 

December
29 Nov – 24 Dec Advent Christian season of preparation leading up to Christmas.
8 Dec Bodhi Day Commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment.
14–22 Dec Chanukah Jewish festival of lights celebrating the rededication of the Temple.
17 Dec Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Honours the Sikh Guru who died defending religious freedom.
18 Dec International Migrants Day Recognises the contributions of migrants worldwide.
25 Dec Christmas Day Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
25 Dec – 1 Jan Kwanzaa Celebrates African heritage, culture and community.
31 Dec New Year’s Eve Marks the end of the Gregorian calendar year.

 

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