The festival of lights · Australia
Sunday 8 November. Events, dates, sweets, gifts and puja times across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra — one guide for the whole country.
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Five days, from gold-buying to the sibling day. In 2026 the main day falls on a Sunday — a rare no-leave-needed year.
When is Diwali 2026? Dates, public-holiday status & fireworks rules →
Flagship melas and community events pulled live from our listings. Organisers confirm dates through October — subscribe and we’ll email yours.
Diwali evening for international students at The Couch, Bourke Street, with garba workshop, diya painting, henna, performances and Indian dinner
By The Couch International Drop In Centre
SOLD OUT: A guided hands-on cultural craft workshop at Preston Library where participants make their own paper diyas or a marigold garland while exploring the traditions and symbolism of Diwali, presented with Taste of India.
By Darebin Libraries
A ticketed Diwali evening from the Uttar Pradesh Association of Australia (QLD) and AusIndia Business Network at Sitar Indian Restaurant, Albion, on Friday 23 October: Lakshmi Ji Pooja, a three-course vegetarian meal, live DJ and kids' activities.
By Uttar Pradesh Association of Australia - QLD
Bollywood-themed Diwali gala by SHEnergy Circle at The Grand Castle, Wembley — live DJ, cultural performances, lucky draws and a sit-down dinner.
By SHEnergy Circle Perth
Diwali-themed Bollywood party cruise on the Brisbane River aboard Oasis Brisbane.
By Bolly Beats Events
A free two-day Diwali shopping market in The Ponds with Indian clothing, jewellery, homewares, art and food.
By OzIndia
Free two-day Diwali shopping bazaar at Campbelltown Function Centre, Rostrevor, on 24-25 October 2026 - decorations, lights and festive gifts ahead of Diwali.
By Hello Goodies & Curious Cook's Diary
Free two-day Diwali and Moon Festival with cultural performances, food and market stalls at Williams Landing (Sat 11am–9pm, Sun 10am–5pm)
By Asian Business Association of Wyndham
Spirit of Diwali Melbourne marks five years with a free Diwali shopping and culture festival at Hotel Chadstone MGallery — Saturday 24 October, 11am to 7pm.
By Spirit Evnts
Free Diwali bazaar of fashion, jewellery, gifts, decor and sweets at Glen Waverley
By The Divas Collective
BAPS family Diwali festival at Werribee Racecourse with games, face painting, a Diwali show, food and fireworks
By BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Australia
An afternoon and evening of Diwali music, dance, food and family activities at Castle Hill Showground.
By Council of Indian Australians Inc.
BAPS family Diwali festival at Cranbourne West Primary School with games, face painting, a Diwali show, food and fireworks
By BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Australia
A Diwali celebration in Ellenbrook with cultural performances, food stalls, family activities and fireworks.
By Brabham Multicultural Club Inc
Shivshakti Cultural and Education Association's Deepawali Utsav at Pine Rivers State High School, Strathpine — stalls, dinner, a Navadurga dance and a formal program.
By Shivshakti Cultural and Education (City of Moreton Bay) Association Inc
A free-spirited community Diwali at Gainsborough State School with Indian food trucks, live music and dance, student displays, lantern making and a fireworks finale.
By Enriching Communities Pimpama
Sydney Connexions Growth Club’s community Diwali party at Grand Royale, Granville — Indian dinner, Bollywood DJ, entertainment and a photo booth.
By Sydney Connexions Growth Club
Indian community gala and Diwali celebration at Emporium Hotel South Brisbane — currently sold out.
By IMAQ
Free-entry Diwali Mela at Springers Leisure Centre, Keysborough, with Diwali shopping, sweets and festive stalls
By Melbourne Grahak Bazaar
BAPS family Diwali festival at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Mill Park, with games, a Diwali show, food and fireworks
By BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Australia
A free family Diwali festival in South Morang with fireworks, food, music, henna and dance workshops.
By Mission Smile Inc
A family Diwali day at BAPS Adelaide in Green Fields with rides, face painting, a Diwali show, food stalls and fireworks. $5 per adult and per child.
By BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, Australia
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha's family Kids Diwali Celebration at the Kemps Creek mandir: games, a traditional Diwali show, cultural exhibitions, food and fireworks. Registration $5.
By BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Australia
Celebrate one of Melbourne’s biggest community Diwali festivals as Wyndham Diwali returns with a vibrant multicultural showcase of dance, music and arts. This free-entry Festival of Lights brings together thousands of visitors in the spirit of unity in diversity.
By Wyndham Diwali Inc.
Get an email when new Diwali events are added near you.
Local Diwali guides for every city — events, where to buy mithai and puja items, jewellers for Dhanteras gold, and the Lakshmi Puja time for your city.
Everything for a Diwali at home in Australia — from a first-timer’s puja to apartment-safe lights and activities for the kids.
Samagri list, a simple sequence, and the full aarti — no Sanskrit needed.
Diwali for kidsA gentle, celebration-first Diwali for Australian-born children — with a free printable activity pack.
Dates & fireworks rulesIs it a public holiday? Are fireworks legal in your state? The answers.
Send-by dates for every carrier, what India actually charges in customs duty, and the recipient KYC step that holds parcels up — all in the guide.
Gifts to India guide →The questions everyone searches for — answered for Australia.
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) falls on Sunday 8 November 2026 across every Australian city. The festival runs five days: Dhanteras (Fri 6 Nov), Naraka Chaturdashi and Lakshmi Puja (both Sun 8 Nov this year), Govardhan Puja (Tue 10 Nov) and Bhai Dooj (Wed 11 Nov).
No. Diwali is not a gazetted public holiday in any Australian state or territory in 2026. It is treated as a cultural and religious observance. There is no automatic day off, though employees can request annual leave, unpaid leave, or a substitute day by agreement with their employer.
Not for the main day — 8 November falls on a Sunday in 2026, so the central celebration is already on a non-work day for a standard Monday–Friday week. The days most people might want flexibility for are Dhanteras (Friday 6 November) and Bhai Dooj (Wednesday 11 November), which are workdays.
Not for private use. No Australian state or territory allows the public to set off consumer fireworks for Diwali — the only public fireworks windows (NT’s Territory Day, Tasmania’s Cracker Night) fall months from November. Sparklers are licence-free only in Queensland and Western Australia; in South Australia and the ACT their status is unclear, so check your state regulator. LED diyas, string lights and licensed community mela displays are legal everywhere.
Because Diwali is not a public holiday, shops, restaurants and services keep normal hours. Indian grocers and sweet shops are typically at their busiest in the fortnight beforehand, and many take pre-orders for mithai and gift boxes. Community melas and temple programs run across late October and early November.
Since 8 November 2026 is a Sunday, most people only need flexibility for Dhanteras or Bhai Dooj if they observe them. Request it early as annual or unpaid leave, or ask whether your award, enterprise agreement or workplace allows a substitute day. There is no statutory entitlement specific to Diwali, so it comes down to your own arrangement — this is general information, not legal advice.
All consumer fireworks — including sparklers — are illegal without a licence. Fireworks may only be used at an organised, approved event by a licensed pyrotechnician.
Fireworks are classed as explosives and may only be used by licensed pyrotechnicians. There is no general public purchase or use channel for Diwali.
Display fireworks are illegal for the public, but sparklers and party poppers fall under a distinct "unrestricted fireworks" category that needs no licence to buy or use.
Public fireworks are banned except a small "unrestricted" category that explicitly includes sparklers, bon-bons and party poppers — no licence needed for those.
Consumer fireworks are licence-only; only licensed pyrotechnicians and approved displays are permitted. We could not confirm a sparkler-specific exemption — check the SA regulator before buying any.
Fireworks are prohibited/controlled dangerous substances requiring a permit. We could not confirm a sparkler carve-out — check WorkSafe ACT before buying any.
The public may only buy and use fireworks during the Territory Day window (1 July) — nowhere near Diwali. Outside that window, standard licensing applies.
Private fireworks use is permit-based via "Cracker Night" (late May) — not aligned with Diwali. Outside that, only licensed pyrotechnician displays are legal.
Nowhere in Australia can the public legally set off consumer fireworks for Diwali — no state’s permit window aligns with 8 November. Sparklers themselves are licence-free only in Queensland and Western Australia; elsewhere check your state regulator. The safe, legal way to light up Diwali everywhere: battery/LED diyas and string lights, real-flame diyas (with normal candle care), and licensed community mela displays.
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