Diwali 2026 · Melbourne, VIC
Melbourne’s Diwali runs big and public — and in 2026 it peaks on one Saturday. On 31 October the city has two large, separately run festivals on the same day: Melbourne Diwali at Marvel Stadium Square and Celebrate India’s Victoria Festival of Diwali at Federation Square, with Wyndham Diwali lighting up the west the same afternoon. Here’s Diwali 2026 in Melbourne: events, where to buy sweets and decorations, and the Lakshmi Puja time for the city.
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Marvel Stadium Square, Docklands
Saturday 31 October 2026, 2–10pm · Free entry (confirmed)
Federation Square
Saturday 31 October 2026 — announced (hours TBC)
Presidents Park, Wyndham Vale
Saturday 31 October 2026 (confirmed)
The Divas Collective bring their Diwali Bazaar to Pakenham for the first time - fashion, jewellery, gifts, decor and sweets from small businesses across Melbourne.
By The Divas Collective
Free Diwali market at the Dutch Club Carnegie with jewellery, fashion, decor and entertainment
By Aaria's Creations
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
Free Diwali bazaar of fashion, jewellery, gifts, decor and sweets at Glen Waverley
By The Divas Collective
Free two-day Diwali and Moon Festival with cultural performances, food and market stalls at Williams Landing
By Asian Business Association of Wyndham
Victoria's largest Diwali festival returns free to the open-air Marvel Stadium Square, Docklands, on 31 October 2026 from 2pm to 10pm.
By Melbourne Diwali Festival
Free Diwali mela at Bacchus Marsh Grammar Aintree with cultural shows, bhangra, rides and stalls
Maroondah Indian Community's annual Diwali dinner at The Grand Saffron in South Morang - Indian cuisine, music and dancing.
By Maroondah Indian Community
Ticketed Diwali dinner cruise on the Yarra with DJ, dancing and fireworks
By Glow and Gather Events
Free family-friendly Diwali shopping and entertainment day at Fountain Gate Hotel, Narre Warren
By Prive Events Melbourne
Light up your festive season at Diwali Festival 2026, a vibrant community celebration in Dandenong packed with dazzling lights, live performances, Bollywood music, food, shopping and family fun. This grand Festival of Lights promises a joyful evening of culture, entertainment and togetherness for all ages.
By Bright Events
Free Diwali storytime for under-fives at Brimbank's Sydenham Library
By Brimbank Libraries
Free Hume City Council Diwali rangoli-making session at Mickleham South Community Centre
By Hume City Council
Free Diwali storytime session at Darebin's Reservoir Library
By Darebin Libraries
Glen Eira City Council's free outdoor Diwali festival at Booran Reserve, Glen Huntly - lights, henna, Bollywood dancing, market stalls and food.
By Glen Eira City Council
Celebrate Shri Shri Kali Puja 2026 with the Bengali Association of Victoria at a festive community gathering marking Kali Puja, Deepavali and Diwali. This special evening brings the Victorian Bengali community together for a vibrant cultural and religious celebration.
By Bengali Association of Victoria
South Indian Festivals hosts Deepavali Sangamam at Truganina Community Centre on 14 November, with performances, traditional music, diyas and the Annual Awards.
By South Indian Festivals
Sunday 8 November 2026 · AEDT (UTC+11)
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 large Federation Square and Marvel Stadium Square celebrations feature licensed, professionally run displays. In Victoria fireworks may only be used by licensed pyrotechnicians — there is no legal private-use channel.
Fireworks are classed as explosives and may only be used by licensed pyrotechnicians. There is no general public purchase or use channel for Diwali.
Also worth knowing
Marvel Stadium Square sits above Southern Cross station and Fed Square is atop Flinders Street — both are best reached by train on 31 October given crowds and road closures. Wyndham Diwali at Presidents Park (720 Heaths Rd, Wyndham Vale) is a drive or a trip via Wyndham Vale/Werribee stations.
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.
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