When is Diwali 2026 in Australia?
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) 2026 falls on Sunday 8 November 2026 in every Australian city. The festival runs five days, from Dhanteras on Friday 6 November to Bhai Dooj on Wednesday 11 November. Because the main day lands on a Sunday, 2026 is a rare no-leave-needed year for the central celebration.
- Friday 6 NovemberDhanterasThe festival opens. Traditionally a day for buying gold, silver or new utensils, and for cleaning and decorating the home. A workday this year — the most likely day to want flexibility for shopping and puja prep.
- Sunday 8 NovemberNaraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali)The pre-dawn oil bath (Abhyang Snan) and final deep-clean. In 2026 this shares the calendar day with Lakshmi Puja across Australia — the bath is done in the early morning, the puja that evening.
- Sunday 8 NovemberDiwali / Lakshmi PujaThe main day. Homes glow with diyas and the evening Lakshmi–Ganesha puja is performed after sunset. Falling on a Sunday makes 2026 a rare no-leave-needed year for the main celebration.
- Tuesday 10 NovemberGovardhan Puja / AnnakutA morning of gratitude — an "Annakut" mountain of food is offered, celebrated widely in temples with community feasts.
- Wednesday 11 NovemberBhai DoojA sibling day — sisters apply a tilak and pray for their brothers. For diaspora families it is a natural video-call ritual with siblings back home. A workday this year.
Is Diwali a public holiday in Australia?
Diwali is not a gazetted public holiday in any Australian state or territory in 2026.
No state or territory lists Diwali on its official 2026 public-holiday calendar, and the Fair Work Ombudsman treats it as a cultural/religious observance rather than a public holiday. There is no automatic right to a day off — but employees can request annual leave, unpaid leave, or (by mutual agreement) a substitute day to observe it. Some parliaments have passed motions recognising Diwali, but a motion of recognition is not a day off.
Because the main day (8 November) falls on a Sunday in 2026, most people do not need to request leave for the central celebration itself. The flanking days — Dhanteras (Friday 6 Nov) and Bhai Dooj (Wednesday 11 Nov) — are workdays, so those are the days families are most likely to want flexibility for.
This is general information, not legal advice — check your own award, enterprise agreement or workplace arrangement.
Are fireworks legal for Diwali? State-by-state
- New South Wales (NSW)Licence required
All consumer fireworks — including sparklers — are illegal without a licence. Fireworks may only be used at an organised, approved event by a licensed pyrotechnician.
- Victoria (VIC)Licence required
Fireworks are classed as explosives and may only be used by licensed pyrotechnicians. There is no general public purchase or use channel for Diwali.
- Queensland (QLD)Sparklers licence-free
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.
- Western Australia (WA)Sparklers licence-free
Public fireworks are banned except a small "unrestricted" category that explicitly includes sparklers, bon-bons and party poppers — no licence needed for those.
- South Australia (SA)Check your state regulator
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.
- Australian Capital Territory (ACT)Check your state regulator
Fireworks are prohibited/controlled dangerous substances requiring a permit. We could not confirm a sparkler carve-out — check WorkSafe ACT before buying any.
- Northern Territory (NT)Licence required
The public may only buy and use fireworks during the Territory Day window (1 July) — nowhere near Diwali. Outside that window, standard licensing applies.
- Tasmania (TAS)Licence required
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.
Diwali 2026: quick answers
When is Diwali 2026 in 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).
Is Diwali a public holiday in Australia?
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.
Do I need to take leave for Diwali in 2026?
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.
Are fireworks legal for Diwali in Australia?
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.
What is open on Diwali in Australia?
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.
How do I ask my employer for Diwali leave?
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.
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