23 December 2025
In brief:
- The National Multicultural Festival is back from 6 – 8 February.
- The musical headliner has been announced for the 2026 festival.
- This story includes some festival highlights.
The National Multicultural Festival will return from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 February 2026.
The city centre will transform into a vibrant celebration of Australia’s rich multicultural heritage.
Expect food, entertainment, activities, workshops and more.
The musical headliner and feature artist have been announced this week.
The 2026 musical headliner
Celebrated Australian country music artist, Troy Cassar-Daley, will headline the 2026 festival.
A proud Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung man, Cassar-Daley has 31 number one songs.
‘I love this festival, it always makes me feel very proud to play as a person who is a product of multiculturalism, being Indigenous and Maltese means bringing different worlds together, and doing that with music makes it very special.’ Cassar-Daley said.
He will perform on the last day of the festival, Sunday 8 February, from 4 pm to 5 pm.
The Friday Feature will be Australian hip-hop artist, L-FRESH the Lion.
Don’t miss L-FRESH the Lion’s performance on Friday 6 February from 10 pm to 11 pm.
There will also be performances from dozens of local, national and international artists including Canberra’s own Tahalianna Soward-Mahanga.
The proud Wiradjuri and Tongan artist, known for her performances on The Voice, will support Troy Cassar-Daley.
The music is just one exciting part of the 2026 program.
A sneak peek of the program
The full program will be released soon, but here is a little taste of what you can expect.
With hundreds of stallholders and performers participating, festival attendees can enjoy:
- food from around the world
- cooking demonstrations
- music and dance
- comedy shows
- family activities
- workshops.
Queen of Hearts
Don’t miss the Queen of Hearts, an all-female Mariachi band known for its contemporary take on traditional Mexican Mariachi music.
Glow and Tell
An enchanting, light-filled experience from South Australia’s Patch Theatre that explores themes of family and culture through interactive performance, storytelling, and glowing UV-light.
Patch Theatre creates visually captivating performances for children aged 4–8, placing them at the heart of the experience to inspire imagination, wonder, and discovery.
Rice and Peas Jamaican Dancehall Party
Have kids attending the festival? Culture Queenz invites them to groove, learn iconic moves, and celebrate community through rhythm and energy.
A Family Sanctuary
The Canberra Museum & Gallery will have a space for families looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the festival and enjoy some activities.
There will be Mexican puppetry shows, creative crafts, face-painting, and more.
The full lineup of performers and stallholders will be announced in January 2026.
For more festival information, go to the National Multicultural Festival website.
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