2023 welcomed the biggest and best Multicultural Festival yet.
Australia’s largest celebration of cultural diversity, the National Multicultural Festival, will take place from 16 to 18 February 2024.
To support this much-loved festival, the ACT Government is investing an additional $3.3 million over the next two years.
In February 2023 all records were broken as the 25th anniversary marked the biggest and best festival yet, bringing together 170 cultures and affirming Canberra as a proudly welcoming and inclusive city. With an expanded footprint across the city and into Glebe Park, 380,563 visitors enjoyed 266 stalls, 325 performance groups, 34 workshops, 16 cooking demonstrations, 30 cultural showcases, and the largest ever festival parade.
Following this resounding success, the ACT Government’s budget boost will continue the standard set by the 2023 festival. This includes a continuation of the festival’s expanded footprint in the city and into Glebe Park.
To support the participation of multicultural groups and organisations, stallholder fees – which have been frozen since 2019 – will remain the same and the Festival’s Grants Program funding pool will increase to $200,000 – its largest ever, and more than double the historic funding pool of $90,000.
These decisions will help promote even greater participation across the National Multicultural Festival’s footprint and attract new and emerging communities.
This community-driven event is not only beloved by Canberrans but also delivers a strong economic return for the territory.
Post event research demonstrates the 2023 festival’s substantial boost to the local economy, resulting in over 40,000 visitor nights and a total economic benefit of $20.8 million. These were large increases from the 2020 figures of 22,000 and $12.2 million respectively.
Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter: