Diwali in Melbourne 2026: Events, Melas and Where to Celebrate

Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November this year. Melbourne, as usual, is not waiting for it.

The city’s three biggest public Diwali celebrations all land on the same day, Saturday 31 October, a full week before the festival itself. Around them sit a month of smaller melas, night markets, gala dinners and free library events, spread from Wyndham Vale to Dandenong.

This guide rounds up what is on, where, and how to fit it around your own celebrations at home. Event details come from organisers’ own listings and public event listings as of 10 October 2026. Plans change, so check with the organiser before you go.

Key Diwali dates for 2026

Day	Date
Dhanteras	Friday 6 November
Diwali (Lakshmi Puja)	Sunday 8 November
Govardhan Puja and Gujarati New Year	Tuesday 10 November
Bhai Dooj	Wednesday 11 November

Most panchangs used in Australia put Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj a day later than usual this year, because the new moon runs on past sunrise on Monday 9 November. Some calendars still list them on the 9th and 10th, so if your family follows a particular temple’s calendar, go by that.

The big three: Saturday 31 October

Three large festivals run on the same Saturday this year. You will not get to all of them, so pick the one closest to home or the one with the atmosphere you are after.

Victorian Festival of Diwali, Federation Square

The longest-running of Melbourne’s public Diwali celebrations, now in its 21st year, organised by Celebrate India Inc. with support from Fed Square.

When: Saturday 31 October, 11:30am to 10pm, according to Fed Square’s listing.

Where: Federation Square in the CBD, across the Main Square, the Birrarung Marr Walk and The Edge. Flinders Street Station is right next door.

What to expect: Indian music and dance on the main stage, kirtan, yoga and meditation sessions, children’s craft activities, a bazaar of handcrafted goods, Indian street food, and fireworks in the evening.

It is the most central of the three and the easiest to reach by public transport, which matters on a day when parking anywhere near the city will be hard.

Melbourne Diwali Festival, Marvel Stadium Square

A large afternoon and evening festival in Docklands.

When: Saturday 31 October, from 2pm into the evening.

Where: Marvel Stadium Square, Docklands. Southern Cross Station is a short walk away.

If you want to combine Diwali with a walk along the city, Fed Square and Docklands are close enough that some families visit one in the afternoon and the other at night. Check both programs before you plan it that way.

Wyndham Diwali

Melbourne’s west has one of the largest Indian communities in Australia, and Wyndham Diwali is its biggest celebration.

When: Saturday 31 October, from the afternoon.

Where: Presidents Park, 720 Heaths Road, Wyndham Vale.

For families in Werribee, Point Cook, Tarneit, Truganina and Manor Lakes, this is the local option, and it saves the trip into the city.

Community festivals and melas

Not every celebration is in the CBD. These are among the community events listed across Melbourne so far.

Date	Event	Where
Saturday 24 October	Diwali and Moon Festival in the West, by the Asian Business Association of Wyndham	Williams Landing
Saturday 31 October	Aintree Diwali Mela	Bacchus Marsh Grammar, Aintree campus
Saturday 31 October	MIC Diwali Bash, by the Maroondah Indian Community	The Grand Saffron
Sunday 1 November	Diwali Festival, by Bright Events	Dandenong Park
Saturday 7 November	Diwali Festival of Lights, by Glen Eira City Council	Booran Reserve, Glen Huntly

Council-run events like Glen Eira’s tend to be free and family-friendly. Privately run melas may charge entry, so check the listing.

Diwali markets and bazaars

If you are shopping for outfits, jewellery, diyas and decorations, the pop-up Diwali markets are the place to go.

Date	Event	Where
Saturday 17 October	Divas Diwali Bazaar	Cardinia Cultural Centre, Pakenham
Sunday 18 October	Carnegie Diwali Market	Dutch Club Abel Tasman
Saturday 24 October	Divas Diwali Bazaar	ibis Melbourne, Glen Waverley

Markets in the last fortnight of October are also where a lot of families pick up their rangoli colours and diyas, so go early for the best range.

Free events for children

Several councils and libraries run Diwali activities aimed at young children, which are a gentle way to introduce the festival.

• Thursday 22 October: Celebrate Diwali at Preston Library (Darebin Libraries).
• Thursday 5 November: Diwali storytime for under-fives at Sydenham Library (Brimbank Libraries).
• Thursday 5 November: Create your own rangoli at Mickleham South Community Centre (Hume City Council).
• Friday 6 November: Diwali storytime at Reservoir Library (Darebin Libraries).

Library sessions often need booking, so register early.

Gala dinners and ticketed nights

For a dressed-up evening, several private events are listed, including the Spirit of Diwali at Hotel Chadstone on Saturday 24 October, a Diwali gala dinner at Holiday Inn Werribee on Saturday 31 October, and Diyas and Diamonds at the Fountain Gate Hotel on Sunday 1 November. There is even a Diwali river cruise from Federation Wharf on 31 October. These are ticketed, and the better tables tend to go well before the night.

At the temple and the gurdwara

For many families, the heart of Diwali is not a festival ground but the temple on the night itself.

Most Hindu temples across Melbourne hold Lakshmi Puja on Sunday 8 November, and many prepare an Annakut, a large offering of food, for Govardhan Puja. Timings vary from temple to temple, so check your local temple’s website or noticeboard in the week before.

Sikh families mark Bandi Chhor Divas on the same day as Diwali, and gurdwaras across Melbourne hold their own programs. Bengali families celebrate Kali Puja on Diwali night, and Jain families mark the nirvana of Lord Mahavira.

A note on fireworks

The fireworks at the public festivals are the safe way to see them. Fireworks are not legal for home use in Victoria without a licence, so the backyard displays common in India are off the table here. Diyas, candles and fairy lights do the job instead, and are much kinder to the neighbours’ dogs.

Planning your own Diwali around the festivals

With the big public events a week early, the shape of Melbourne’s Diwali season is a little different this year:

• Saturday 31 October: public festivals. A good day to be out, not to host.
• Sunday 1 to Friday 6 November: office celebrations, school events and the last of the shopping. Dhanteras on the Friday.
• Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November: Diwali weekend at home, with Lakshmi Puja on Sunday night.
• Tuesday 10 and Wednesday 11 November: Govardhan Puja, the Gujarati New Year and Bhai Dooj, all on weeknights.

That puts the busiest sweet-buying days on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November. If you are hosting, order early. Our Diwali catering guide covers how much food to plan per guest, and our guide to Indian sweets for Diwali covers what to order and when.

If you are visiting family or friends over the weekend, a box of fresh mithai is the traditional thing to take. Our Diwali gift boxes are made in Melbourne, and our guide to the best Diwali gift boxes in Melbourne helps you choose one.

Frequently asked questions

When is Diwali in Melbourne in 2026? Diwali falls on Sunday 8 November 2026, with Lakshmi Puja that evening. Dhanteras is on Friday 6 November, and most panchangs used in Australia put Govardhan Puja on Tuesday 10 November and Bhai Dooj on Wednesday 11 November.

Where can I celebrate Diwali in Melbourne in 2026? The three largest public celebrations are all on Saturday 31 October: the Victorian Festival of Diwali at Federation Square, the Melbourne Diwali Festival at Marvel Stadium Square in Docklands, and Wyndham Diwali at Presidents Park in Wyndham Vale. Smaller festivals, markets and library events run through October and early November.

Is there a Diwali festival at Federation Square in 2026? Yes. Fed Square lists the Victorian Festival of Diwali for Saturday 31 October 2026, from 11:30am to 10pm, organised by Celebrate India Inc., with music, dance, food, a bazaar, children’s activities and evening fireworks.

When is Wyndham Diwali 2026? Wyndham Diwali is listed for Saturday 31 October 2026 at Presidents Park, 720 Heaths Road, Wyndham Vale.

Why are Melbourne’s Diwali festivals before Diwali? Large public festivals are usually held on a weekend, and organisers often pick one before the festival itself so families are free to celebrate at home and at the temple on Diwali night. In 2026 that weekend is Saturday 31 October.

Can I set off fireworks at home for Diwali in Victoria? No. Fireworks are not legal for home use in Victoria without a licence. The public festivals, including Fed Square, include fireworks displays.

Where can I buy Diwali sweets in Melbourne? Amba Foods makes fresh Indian sweets and Diwali gift boxes in Melbourne. Order through our Diwali page or call 1300 790 350, and find our sweets at Indian grocery stores across Melbourne.