Australia Day Events 2026

Published on 14 January 2026

Communities around Australia are once again preparing to come together for Australia Day, a time for all Australians to reflect, respect, and celebrate.

We are all part of the story of Australia: from the First Australians to the descendants of settlers, children of migrants and those recently arrived. What Australia Day means to each of us depends on who we are, where we come from and how we came to be Australian. We are all shaped by our own experiences and can celebrate living in a nation where everyone’s views, beliefs and contributions are valued.

Australia Day is a day we can celebrate the deep connection to Country that First Nations people have and reflect on how we are all shaped by the land on which we live, work and play – from the freshwater to the saltwater, the rainforest to the desert.

We reflect on the timeless history of our nation – 65,000 years – and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ survival, resilience and enduring culture.

We take a moment to pay respect to the cultures, stories, histories and contributions of the Australians who lived, worked and fought for our way of life.

Hindmarsh Shire Council is proud to support community-led events across the municipality. Nhill, Dimboola, Jeparit, and Rainbow will each host events on Australia Day in 2026 (Monday 26 January). A flag raising ceremony will take place in each town, along with addresses from local guest speakers and Mayor, Cr Ron Ismay. The 2026 Hindmarsh Shire Australia Day Awards will be presented to successful recipients throughout the day.

RAINBOW – Rainbow Oasis - from 7:30am
Breakfast BBQ from 7:30am, followed by a meet and greet from 8:00am and ceremony proceedings commencing at 8:20am. Hosted by the Lions Club of Rainbow.

JEPARIT – Menzies Square – from 9:00am
Breakfast BBQ from 9:00am, followed by a meet and greet from 9:30am and ceremony proceedings commencing at 9:50am. Hosted by Jeparit Town Committee.

DIMBOOLA – Dimboola Library Gardens - from 10:30am
Morning Tea from 10:30am, followed by a meet and greet from 11:00am and ceremony proceedings commencing at 11:10am. Hosted by Dimboola CWA.

NHILL – Goldsworthy Park - from 12:00pm
BBQ lunch from 12:00pm, followed by a meet and greet from 12:30pm and ceremony proceedings commencing at 12:50pm. Hosted by the Lions Club of Nhill.

Hindmarsh Shire Council wishes to thank each of the host organisers for their willingness to coordinate and celebrate these events each year. These events are supported by the Australian Government through the National Australia Day Council.

For more information, please contact the Community Wellbeing team on 03 5391 4444, or email community@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au.

Monica Revell
Chief Executive Officer