Australian Heritage Festival 2026
Celebrating History, Culture & Community Across New South Wales
From vibrant city streets to charming regional towns, the Australian Heritage Festival 2026 returns as Australia’s premier celebration of the country’s rich natural, built, and cultural heritage. Now in its 46th consecutive year, this community-driven festival brings together thousands of experiences across New South Wales — showcasing the stories, places, and traditions that define who we are as a nation.
Festival Dates
The New South Wales program officially opens on World Heritage Day, Saturday 18 April 2026, and runs daily through to Monday 18 May 2026 — delivering a full month of engaging, immersive, and meaningful heritage experiences across metropolitan Sydney and regional communities statewide.
Browse Festival Events
Explore the full program of events happening across New South Wales throughout April and May 2026. Use the filters below to find experiences near you.
People & Events which have changed our lives. – Parramatta, Sydney | 10 May, 2026
Mother’s Day Opera High Tea – The Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, Sydney | 10 May, 2026
Mosman Faces: Hidden Gems – Mosman, Sydney | 24 April – 18 May 2026
Time after time… Camden’s iconic buildings and their changing stories – Camden, Sydney | 23 April – 18 May, 2026
Free Museum Entry: Mary MacKillop Place – North Sydney | 23 April – 18 May, 2026
History along Parramatta River – Parramatta, Sydney | 17 May, 2026
Guided Walking Tour of Graythwaite – North Sydney | 16 May, 2026
Laser cut prints from the archives (16+yrs) – Haymarket, Sydney | 14 May, 2026
Birth of the Golden Mile – Darlinghurst, Sydney | 14 May, 2026
Taylor Square texture walk – Darlinghurst, Sydney | 13 May, 2026
Discovering Emmeline Emily – Poet and Sketcher – Parramatta, Sydney | 06 May, 2026
Lindesay Harbourside House & Garden Tours – Darling Point, Sydney | 29 April – 13 May, 2026
“You Can Ask That”: Sisters of Charity Heritage Centre – Potts Point, Sydney | 28 April – 12 May, 2026
‘Everyday’: 50 Objects in the Willoughby Museum Collection – Chatswood, Sydney | 26 April – 17 May, 2026
Darling Harbour Walk: Engineering, History and Heritage – Sydney | 26 April – 03 May, 2026
Burrawa Climb – Aboriginal BridgeClimb Experience – The Rocks, Sydney | 24 April – 17 May, 2026
For the people: the centenary of Balls Head and Berry Island Reserves – North Sydney | 25 April – 18 May, 2026
Badass Women of Sydney | Women’s History Walking Tour – Sydney | 24 April – 17 May 2026
About the Australian Heritage Festival
As the country’s largest community-driven heritage event, the Australian Heritage Festival has been connecting Australians with their history, culture, and shared identity for over four decades. The 2026 program features a diverse lineup of both free and ticketed events, welcoming everyone — from dedicated history enthusiasts and cultural researchers to families, students, and curious first-time visitors.
The festival offers a meaningful and enriching way to explore Australia’s past while celebrating the living heritage that continues to shape our present. Whether you are uncovering convict histories through sandstone corridors, engaging with First Nations cultural custodians, or discovering the immigrant stories woven into regional communities, the festival creates genuine space for reflection, discovery, and connection.
Festival Program Highlights
Spanning both metropolitan Sydney and regional communities, the 2026 festival features an extensive lineup of activities and experiences, including:
- Live performances, concerts and cultural showcases — Theatrical performances and cultural presentations bringing heritage stories to life across NSW venues
- Exclusive exhibitions and museum displays — Curated collections and special displays opening doors to rarely seen artefacts and heritage narratives
- Expert talks, panels and storytelling sessions — Hear directly from historians, conservationists, archaeologists and community elders in public forums and intimate sessions
- Guided walks and heritage tours — Explore Sydney’s hidden laneways, regional townships, and Indigenous sacred sites with knowledgeable local guides
- Access to historic homes and significant sites — Step inside heritage-listed properties and landmarks not usually open to the public
- Unique food and culinary experiences — Discover the history of Australian cuisine, from colonial kitchens to Indigenous bush foods and multicultural culinary traditions
- Interactive workshops and hands-on activities — Participate in traditional crafts, conservation demonstrations, and heritage skill experiences for all ages
- Family-friendly outdoor events — Curated experiences designed to inspire younger generations and connect families with Australia’s living heritage
Discover the Stories That Shape New South Wales
The Australian Heritage Festival invites visitors to explore the deeper stories behind the places they know — and the ones they have yet to discover. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, the program highlights the diverse cultural influences and historical narratives that define New South Wales.
Each event is an invitation to go deeper — to move beyond the surface of familiar landmarks and ask: whose stories shaped this place, and how do they continue to shape us today? The festival shines a light on:
- Sydney’s historic neighbourhoods, sandstone buildings and inner-city laneways
- Sacred Indigenous cultural sites and living First Nations traditions
- Colonial-era homes, estates and heritage-listed architecture
- Charming regional towns with rich settler and multicultural histories
- Coastal and rural landscapes of significant natural and cultural heritage
- Industrial heritage and the stories of working Australians
- Immigrant communities and their enduring contributions to Australian culture
“The Australian Heritage Festival is an opportunity to explore and celebrate the rich history of New South Wales. From Sydney’s historic streets to regional towns and sacred Indigenous sites, the festival invites people to discover the places, objects and traditions that tell the stories of our communities.”
National Trust of Australia (NSW)
Supporting Communities & Cultural Preservation
Organised and led by the National Trust of Australia (NSW), the festival plays a vital role in supporting local communities and heritage organisations across the state. It provides an essential platform for not-for-profits, local councils, conservation groups, museums, galleries, libraries, and cultural institutions to share their work, raise awareness, and connect with wider audiences.
The festival is proudly supported by Heritage NSW, along with the prestigious National Trust Heritage Awards — a signature annual event celebrating excellence and innovation in heritage conservation across the state.
Festival Partners & Supporters
- National Trust of Australia (NSW) — Principal Organiser
- Heritage NSW — Government Partner and Supporter
- National Trust Heritage Awards — Signature Recognition Program
- Local Councils, Museums, Galleries & Libraries — Community Partners statewide
Experience Australia’s Living Heritage
Whether you’re exploring historic sites in Sydney, discovering stories in regional towns, or engaging with Indigenous cultural heritage, the Australian Heritage Festival 2026 offers a meaningful and enriching way to connect with the past while celebrating the present.
Step into history. Discover hidden stories. Celebrate the heritage that shapes us all.
For more information and to browse the full program of events, visit the official Australian Heritage Festival website or contact the National Trust of Australia (NSW) directly.
