Diwali 2026 · Brisbane, QLD
Brisbane’s Diwali centres on FICQ’s free festival of light in King George Square, alongside community melas and temple programs across the greater region. Here’s Diwali 2026 in Brisbane: what’s on, where to shop for mithai and puja items, and the Lakshmi Puja time for the city.
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King George Square
Friday 6 November 2026
11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Free entry
Emporium Hotel South Bank
Saturday 24 October 2026
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Sold out
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
Diwali-themed Bollywood party cruise on the Brisbane River aboard Oasis Brisbane.
By Bolly Beats Events
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
Indian community gala and Diwali celebration at Emporium Hotel South Brisbane — currently sold out.
By IMAQ
Celebrate Deepavali in a vibrant multicultural gathering filled with lights, food, and festive spirit at Mount Gravatt Showgrounds. This five-hour in-person event promises an unforgettable evening as the Festival of Lights comes alive in Brisbane.
By Hindu Council of Australia
A family-friendly Diwali evening with music, entertainment and dinner in Bracken Ridge.
By Swardeepotsav Group
Light up the night at this festive Diwali celebration in Chermside, featuring a delicious 3-course meal, lively entertainment, and a joyful atmosphere for all ages. Dress in your festive best, bring your family and friends, and get ready for an evening of lights, laughter, and unforgettable memories.
A free Diwali Fun Fiesta for little ones at Broadwater Parklands, Southport — art and craft, face painting, henna, giveaways and a rangoli competition.
By GOPIO Gold Coast Inc
BAPS Brisbane North hosts its free Kids Diwali Celebration at Bracken Ridge, with activities, a Diwali show and fireworks.
By BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (Brisbane North)
Brisbane's biggest CBD Diwali. The Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland fills King George Square from 11am to 10pm on Friday 6 November with cultural performances, live entertainment, Indian food and market stalls. Free, no bookings.
By The Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland Inc.
Gujarati Community Queensland marks its 10th anniversary year with a Diwali celebration at Unity Hub, Slacks Creek — rangoli, mehndi, performances, food and fireworks (8:45–9:00pm).
By Gujarati Community Queensland Inc
Tamil Association Queensland's Deepavali celebration, Saturday 7 November 2026 from 3:30 PM at the Islamic College of Brisbane, Karawatha. Cultural programme, stalls and food; tickets on sale soon.
By Tamil Association (Queensland) Inc.
Celebrate Diwali and Govardhan Puja at the Hare Krsna Temple in Burbank on Saturday 7 November. Free, register on Eventbrite.
By Hare Krsna Temple Burbank
A Gold Coast Diwali celebration with performances, food, rides and fireworks.
By AIEC Events
ISKCON Brisbane celebrates Govardhana Puja at the Darra temple with abhishek, class, Gaura Arati and a vegetarian prasadam feast.
By ISKCON Brisbane
Sargam Music Academy's free outdoor Diwali festival at Mount Gravatt Showgrounds, with cultural performances, food stalls and music.
By Sargam Music Academy Inc
Sunday 8 November 2026 · AEST (UTC+10)
Timings recomputed per city (DST-correct) from Drik Panchang, cross-checked against Prokerala. Lakshmi Puja is done during Pradosh Kaal — roughly sunset to ~2 hours after — so windows differ city to city. The muhurat is the ideal; a calm, attentive puja anytime that evening still counts.
The King George Square festival of light typically includes a licensed display. Note Queensland is one of only two states where sparklers are licence-free (an "unrestricted firework") — but display fireworks remain illegal for the public.
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.
Also worth knowing
King George Square is in the Brisbane CBD, above the King George Square busway station and a short walk from Central station; there’s no event parking, so use the busway or train on the day.
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.
