Community
OCT
24
–
OCT
25
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Series
OzIndia Diwali Dhamaka Sale 2026
A free two-day Diwali shopping market in The Ponds with Indian clothing, jewellery, homewares, art and food.
24 Oct – 25 · 10:00 am
The Ponds Community Hub
By OzIndia
Free
Diwali 2026 · Sydney, NSW
Diwali Sydney 2026 — events, melas, sweets & puja times
Sydney hosts one of Australia’s largest Diwali footprints — from the Parramatta/Harris Park heartland to council and community melas across the west. Here’s what’s on for Diwali 2026, plus where to buy sweets, puja items and the Lakshmi Puja time for Sydney.
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Flagship Diwali events in Sydney
- Deepavali Fair 2026 - BlacktownDetails TBC
Blacktown Showground
Date to be confirmed
Times to be confirmed
The organiser has changed the published schedule. We are checking the listing; date and times are to be confirmed here. Checked 2026-10-16.
- Diwali — Festival of Lights, Little India Harris Park 2026Details TBC
Wigram Street, Harris Park
Date to be confirmed
Times to be confirmed
The exact date and times have not been confirmed against a current organiser or council announcement. Checked 2026-10-16.
- Cumberland Diwali Street FestivalDate TBC
Venue to be confirmed
Date to be confirmed
Times to be confirmed
What’s on now in Sydney
Community
OCT
24
View Event
CIA Diwali 2026 — Castle Hill
An afternoon and evening of Diwali music, dance, food and family activities at Castle Hill Showground.
Sat, 24 Oct · 12:30 pm
Castle Hill Showground
By Council of Indian Australians Inc.
Free
Community
OCT
24
View Event
Utsav 2026 Diwali Party — Sydney Connexions
Sydney Connexions Growth Club’s community Diwali party at Grand Royale, Granville — Indian dinner, Bollywood DJ, entertainment and a photo booth.
Sat, 24 Oct · 6:30 pm
Grand Royale
By Sydney Connexions Growth Club
From $55
Family & Kids
OCT
31
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BAPS Kids Diwali Celebration 2026 — Sydney
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.
Sat, 31 Oct · 1:00 pm
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir and Cultural Precinct
By BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Australia
From $5
Community
OCT
31
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Diwali Under the Stars — Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise
A Diwali dinner cruise with music and entertainment on Sydney Harbour.
Sat, 31 Oct · 6:00 pm
King Street Wharf
By India Club Inc.
From $85
Community
NOV
1
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Diwali Mela Parramatta 2026
Free eight-and-a-half-hour Diwali mela at Prince Alfred Square, Parramatta, with a live Ramayan, dance and a full precinct of food stalls.
Sun, 1 Nov · 12:00 pm
Prince Alfred Square
By Opera Entertainment Australia
Free
Community
NOV
4
–
NOV
5
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The Diwali Ball 2026 — Sydney
A Diwali dinner and dance at Shangri-La Sydney.
4 Nov – 5 · 7:00 pm
Shangri-La Sydney
From $90
Community
NOV
6
View Event
Diwali: Festival of Light
Bayside Council's Diwali street festival lights up King Street Mall, Rockdale.
Fri, 6 Nov · 5:00 pm
King Street Mall, Rockdale
By Bayside Council
Free
Religious
NOV
8
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Deepavali at Sydney Murugan Temple
Deepavali morning abishekam for Lord Murugan at the Mays Hill temple.
Sun, 8 Nov · 6:00 am
Sydney Murugan Temple
By Sydney Murugan Temple
Ticketed
Religious
NOV
8
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Diwali, Lakshmi Kubera Pooja and Naraka Chathurdasi at Sri Venkateswara Temple
SVT Helensburgh's full Diwali day: morning abishegams and evening Lakshmi Kubera Pooja.
Sun, 8 Nov · 8:30 am
Sri Venkateswara Temple Helensburgh
By Sri Venkateswara Temple Helensburgh
Ticketed
Religious
NOV
8
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Deepavali Festival & Celebrations (Chinmaya Mission Sydney)
Chinmaya Mission Australia (Sydney) hosts a free Deepavali evening at Chinmaya Sannidhi Ashram, Castle Hill — Lakshmi Pooja, bhajans, arati, family fun and prasad.
Sun, 8 Nov · 6:00 pm
Chinmaya Sannidhi Ashram
By Chinmaya Mission Australia (Sydney)
Free
Cultural
NOV
9
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The Light Within: Discover Ayurveda for Wellbeing
Free Diwali talk on Ayurveda, mindful living and meditation at Waverley Library.
Mon, 9 Nov · 6:30 pm
Waverley Library
By Waverley Library
Free
Cultural
NOV
13
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Diwali Celebration - Top Ryde
Celebrate Diwali in Ryde with an evening of light, culture and togetherness featuring vibrant performances, a special lighting ceremony and family-friendly activities. This festive community event brings classical and contemporary Indian traditions together in a welcoming atmosphere for all ages.
Fri, 13 Nov · 6:30 pm
Top Ryde City Shopping Centre
By City of Ryde
Free
Cultural
NOV
13
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Sydney Harbour Diwali Party Cruise
Celebrate Diwali on the water with a sparkling Sydney Harbour cruise featuring Indian flavours, Bollywood beats, festive prizes, and stunning night views. It’s a vibrant all-ages evening designed for family, friends, and colleagues to enjoy the spirit of Diwali in unforgettable style.
Fri, 13 Nov · 7:40 pm
King Street Wharf 8
By Vagabond Cruises
From $79
Community
NOV
21
View Event
Diwali 2026 - John Colet School, Belrose
Community Diwali celebration with Indian food, live music, colour and traditional dress, including a sitaar performance, singing and dancing. Dinner boxes by My
Sat, 21 Nov · 5:00 pm
John Colet School
By John Colet School
From $20
Lakshmi Puja time — Sydney
Sunday 8 November 2026 · AEDT (UTC+11)
Lakshmi Puja Muhurat8:04 PM – 9:33 PM1h 29m
Pradosh Kaal7:29 PM – 9:33 PM
Abhyang Snan (pre-dawn bath)4:47 AM – 5:49 AM1h 02m
Dhanteras (Fri 6 Nov)8:12 PM – 9:32 PM1h 20m
Bhai Dooj (Wed 11 Nov)2:02 PM – 4:47 PM2h 45m
Add these dates to your calendarTimings 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.
Fireworks in NSW
Sydney’s big community melas usually close with a professionally run, licensed fireworks display — the safe and legal way to see fireworks for Diwali. Private fireworks (including sparklers) are illegal in NSW without a licence.
- 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.
Where to buy: sweets, puja items & gold
Sweets & mithai in Sydney42Grocery & puja items in Sydney90Jewellers (Dhanteras gold) in Sydney44Outfits & ethnic wear in Sydney96Temples & gurdwaras in Sydney34
Also worth knowing
- Harris Park & Wentworthville — The mithai and sari heartland — sweet shops take Diwali pre-orders
- Chennai Store — Puja items, diyas & groceries online
- Radhe Online — Indian groceries & festival supplies
- Tales of India — Groceries & Diwali supplies
- India At Home — Online Indian grocery
- Big W — Dedicated Diwali decoration kits (LED diyas, string lights)
Getting there & parking
Harris Park is a short walk from Parramatta and Harris Park stations, with very limited parking during Diwali-season events — trains are the easy option. The Hindu Council’s Deepavali Fair returns to Blacktown Showground on Richmond Road for 2026; Blacktown station is the easiest approach, check the organiser’s current travel advice before setting out.
Diwali 2026 in Sydney: common questions
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.
