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

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

 

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

5-7 Oct Chuseok Chuseok is a special holiday in Korean culture with roots in celebrating good harvest, family and the importance of the full moon as a symbol of harmony and the hope for good fortune.
6-Oct Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival The Mid-Autumn Festival is a popular East and South East Asian celebration of abundance and togetherness, dating back over 3000 years. The traditional food of this festival is the mooncake, which has different variations depending on the country.
6-Oct Tết Trung Thu Tết Trung Thu is a traditional Vietnamese festival which involves watching the moon, a feast and children singing and dancing.
6-Oct Tsukimi Tsukimi is a special holiday in Japanese culture that employs the symbolism of the full moon to celebrate togetherness and hopes for good fortune.
 
October
2-Oct Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti This day commemorates Mahatma Gandhi's birthday. It is marked with a prayer for peace, ceremonies and events throughout India. The United Nations has further declared this day the International Day of Non-Violence in honour of Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence (Ahimsa).
22-24Oct Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year festival, commemorates the creation of the world. Customs include the blowing of the Shofar, a ram's horn trumpet, and the dipping of apples in honey as a symbol of the sweet New Year ahead. Work is not permitted on this day.
3-12 Dashain Dashain is the most important festival for Nepalis. It is a celebration of good prevailing over evil.
20-24 Durga Puja Durga Puja is an annual Hindu festival that reveres and pays homage to the Hindu goddess Durga. It is popular and traditionally celebrated in the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Tripura, the country of Bangladesh, and in the Mithilanchal regions of Bihar and Nepal. It is marked with worship rituals, performance arts, gift giving, family visits, feasting and public processions.
12-Oct Vijay Dashami Vijay Dashami or Dussehra marks the triumph of good over evil. The celebration of Dussehra concludes the festival of Navaratri, which extends over several days.
12-Oct Yom Kippur This holiest day of the Jewish year is observed with fasting and repentance. Many Jews will refrain from work and attend synagogue services
13-Oct White Sunday White Sunday is a day when childhood is celebrated in Samoan Christian communities worldwide.
17-Oct Kathina A Buddhist festival which marks the end of the rainy season. Buddhists express their gratitude to monks by giving donations to temples and providing monks with new clothes.
20-Oct Gurgaddi (Inauguration) of Guru Granth Sahib This day commemorates the inauguration of the Sikh holy scripture, called the Guru Granth Sahib or Adi Sri Granth Sahib Ji, at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Sikhs regard and respect the Holy Scripture as their living Guru.
25-Oct Simchat Torah Simchat Torah, commencing on the evening of the 24th and concluding at sundown 25th, is a celebratory Jewish holiday that marks the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle. Simchat Torah means ‘Rejoicing in the Law’ in Hebrew. Special attention is given to children who join the celebrations with flags and singing.
24-Oct United Nations Day Celebrates the entry into force of the United Nations Charter in 1945 and highlights the promotion of peace, human rights and social and economic development globally.
28-Oct Oxi Day Commemorates the rejection by then Greek Prime Minister of the ultimatum made by Axis forces to occupy Greek territory in 1940.
20-Oct Deepavali Deepavali, also known as Diwali, Tihar and the Festival of Lights celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.
November
1-Nov Bandi Chhor Divas (The Celebration of Freedom) Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas to mark the release from prison of the sixth guru Sri Guru Hargobind Ji, who also rescued 52 Hindu kings held captive with him, by Mughal Emperor Jehangir in the Gwalior Fort in 1619. Celebrations include lighting oil lamps, candles and fireworks.
1-Nov All Saints’ Day This Christian day honours saints, known and unknown. Saints are men and women recognised for lives of holiness and devotion to God or who were martyred for their faith.
2-Nov All Soul’s Day This day is a time for all Christians to remember and pray for the souls of the departed.
1-2 Birth of the Báb and Birth of Bahá'u'lláh Two successive holy days that celebrate the births of two central figures in the Baha’i faith. Each day’s worth of celebration starts and ends with the setting of the sun.
2-Nov Bestu Varas (Gujarati New Year) This date is celebrated with enthusiasm across the state of Gujarat, as it marks the beginning of the new year for Gujarati people.
2-Nov Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Dia de los Muertos combines the ancient Aztec custom of celebrating ancestors with All Souls' Day, a holiday that Spanish invaders brought to Mexico starting in the early 1500s.
3-Nov Bhai Tika Bhai Tika, also known as Bhai Dooj, Bhaubeej or Bhai Phonta, marks the final day of Deepavali or Tihar and is a time to celebrate family relationships.
15-Nov Loy Krathong Loy Krathong takes place on the night of the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. During the festival, many Thai communities float small lantern boats of offerings as tokens of gratitude toward the Goddess of Water and to seek her forgiveness.
5-Nov Guru Nanak Gurpurab This day commemorates the birth of Guru Nanak Sahib, the founder of Sikhism and the first Sikh Guru.
16-Nov International Day for Tolerance The United Nations’ annual International Day for Tolerance fosters mutual understanding among cultures and peoples.
26-Nov The Ascension of Abdu'l Baha Commemorates the passing of Abdu’l-Bahá in 1921, the eldest son of Bahá’u’lláh (the Prophet-Founder of the Baha’i faith).
30-Nov St Andrew’s Day To commemorate St Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland since 1320. He is also the patron saint of Romania, Greece, Russia, Ukraine and Poland. The day is usually celebrated with traditional recitations, cuisine, dancing and singing.
December
03 First Sunday of Advent Christians celebrate Advent by lighting advent candles, displaying wreaths and hosting special ceremonies. Advent also anticipates the coming again to Earth of Jesus Christ.
14-22 Chanukah Chanukah or Hanukkah commemorates the recapture and rededication by the Jewish people of the Jerusalem Temple. The festival lasts eight days and nights, with an additional candle lit each night to symbolise the miracle of the cruse of oil that lasted eight days.
08 Bodhi Day Bodhi Day commemorates the day Buddha attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree. It generally falls on the eighth day of the twelfth month of the lunisolar calendar. Mahayana Buddhists in China, Korea and Vietnam celebrate Lunar Bodhi day on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. In Japan, Bodhi Day follows the Gregorian calendar and is celebrated on 8 December every year.
17 Shahidi (Martyrdom) of Guru Tegh Bahadur On this day in 1675, Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru, sacrificed his life to defend the religious freedom of another faith. This was a significant event in Sikh history that profoundly impacted the future direction of Sikhism.
18 International Migrants Day A United Nations observance that calls us to remember and honour the contribution of all migrants, their stories and cultures, to our multicultural nation.
25 Christmas Day Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus and is celebrated by many in Australia regardless of religious affiliation. Christmas lights and trees are displayed, carols are sung, and individuals come together to exchange gifts and spend time with family and friends.
25 - 1 Jan Kwanzaa This week-long celebration honours African and African-American cultures, culminating in a feast and gift-giving. It was first celebrated in 1966.
31 New Year’s Eve This date commemorates the arrival of a new year following the Gregorian calendar. New Year’s Eve is a time for communities, families and friends to celebrate the year past and the year to come.

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