Cultural Diversity Week 2026: 21 - 29 March | multiculturalcommission.vic.gov.au

Victoria's largest multicultural celebration

Multiculturalism is a core part of the Victorian identity, our character and way of life. Our state is home to people who speak 290 languages and have 314 different ancestries. It's also a place where anyone can contribute and belong.

Cultural Diversity Week is a time to celebrate the power, influence, and stories of Victoria's rich multicultural communities, and all Victorians are invited to participate through a variety of in-person events and activities.

In 2026, Cultural Diversity Week took place across the state from 21 - 29 March.

Cultural Diversity Week 2026 Media Launch Video

View transcript

Theme

There are countless ways for your organisation, school, workplace, family or community to celebrate Cultural Diversity Week. The 2026 theme, Culture connects us all highlights how sharing intercultural stories and experiences fosters understanding, belonging and connection.

The theme will be used to guide the events, activities and celebrations planned for Cultural Diversity Week.

Competition winners

Student competition

Students were encouraged to interview a classmate (or family member) about their culture, traditions or favourite cultural food, then present what they’ve learned through a creative medium such as a poster, drawing, collage, craft, song or short story.

Best student competition prize was won by Zara whose artwork showed that people from different cultures, backgrounds and experiences make our community stronger when they support each other.

Digital competition - ‘Step into someone else’s world’ challenge

The VMC invited all Victorians to post short videos or images (Reels, TikTok, Stories) showcasing themselves engaging with a culture other than their own. Content creators luckily won competition include:

Best digital campaign by an organisation awarded to CALD2LEAD, for their powerful online conversation(opens in a new window) on leadership, culture and lived experience.
Best digital campaign by an individual awarded to Gurinder Kaur for her photo collage(opens in a new window) marking the celebrations with the Whittlesea Interfaith Network.

Events or activity competition

Participants registered an event or activity on VMConnect. The following winners produced activities that were inclusive and relevant to the 2026 theme:

Best event by an organisation awarded to the City of Ballarat for their Harmony in the Bridge community event, with music, dance, and activities for families.
Best event listed by an individual awarded to Samantha Potter who designed a Cultural Diversity Drama Day for disabled children and youth with Extended Families.

Get involved

There were many ways to get involved with Cultural Diversity Week. People could get involved as an individual, a community, an organisation or as a workplace!

Attendees joined the Melbourne Victory Football Club's U-Nite Multicultural Round fixture on Saturday 21 March at AAMI Park where fans enjoyed multicultural food, music, entertainment and family-friendly activities at the Victory Village celebrating our diverse community.
Communities hosted a local event or festival to celebrate the talents and traditions of cultural diversity
Visitors attended the Victorian Multicultural Festival at Grazeland in Spotswood from 27 - 29 March 2026 for entertainment and cuisine from around the world
Participants joined our diversity conversation and shared their stories with us through a digital competition

Those who were getting involved online, or sharing pictures of your event or community, were encouraged to use the following hashtags on social media to connect with us and others who were celebrating!

#CulturalDiversityWeek

#CDW2026

#CultureConnectsUsAll

Information in your language

Read more about Cultural Diversity Week in the following languages:

Chinese Simplified - 简体中文
 Chinese Traditional - 繁體中文
 Dari – دری
Khmer - ខ្មែរ
Vietnamese - Tiếng Việt

Important dates

As we prepare for Cultural Diversity Week, we invite Victorians to reflect on the day that paved the way for these celebrations. March 21 is the United Nation's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD).

This day reminds us that while celebrating multiculturalism is vital, so too is supporting and advocating on behalf of multicultural communities. IDERD occurs just prior to Cultural Diversity Week, and so we invite all communities to continue conversations about diversity, inclusion and belonging long after the week has ended.

Register on VMConnect

VMConnect is an online hub for sharing news, services and events relevant to Victoria's multicultural communities.

If you're hosting a Cultural Diversity Week event from 21 -29 March 2026, add it to the VMConnect Hub.

Cultural Diversity Week is proudly presented by the Victorian Multicultural Commission with support from the Victorian Government.