Significant dates calendar
Australian Sports Commission is determined to have more Australians participating and excelling in sport, from grass-roots right up to the pinnacle of elite competition.
All sporting organisations and event organisers are encouraged to explore this calendar of significant dates in order to:
- celebrate and raise awareness of diverse communities
- meet diverse community needs and expectation and improve planning
- create welcoming and inclusive environments
- recognise the vast array of identities and beliefs of all Australians and practice allyship
- show support for our diverse communities.
January
Day | Category | Observance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
3 | CALD | Mahayana / Buddhist New Year | Mahayana Buddhist communities celebrate the new year on the first full moon day in January. It is a significant cultural occasion in which communities prioritise bonding with their families and self-reflect both individually and as a community. |
4 | Disability | World Braille Day | |
5 | CALD | Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji | Considered an important day among the Sikh community celebrating the birthday of the 10th Guru. |
7 |
| Orthodox Christmas | Orthodox Christians follow the Julian calendar and celebrate Christmas on January 7. |
14 - 17 | CALD | Thai Pongal | The day is considered auspicious and is celebrated with much enthusiasm by the Tamil community. It marks the beginning of the month of Thai which believed to bring good luck by vanishing away one's problems. |
14 | CALD | Mahayana / Buddhist New Year | Mahayana Buddhist communities celebrate the new year on the first full moon day in January. It is a significant cultural occasion in which communities prioritise bonding with their families and self-reflect both individually and as a community. |
18 | CALD | World Religion Day | A day that aims to promote interfaith understanding, unity, and harmony among people of different faiths. |
18 Jan - 8 Feb | LGBTQIA+ | Midsumma Festival Ends with Melbourne Pride | Midsumma Festival, opens in a new tab Midsumma Festival - Victoria's Pride Street Party and Events, opens in a new tab |
26 |
| Australia Day | |
27 | CALD | International Holocaust Remembrance Day | A day of commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. Many people of Jewish and other faiths observe the day and it is a global reminder of the dangers of hatred, bigotry, and antisemitism. The day is a call to remember, reflect, and take action to ensure such atrocities never happen again. International Holocaust Rememberance Day, opens in a new tab |
February
Day | Category | Observance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1-30 | Disability | Low Vision Awareness Month | It is an awareness month targeted at spreading information about low vision and how to help people with vision impairment maintain their independence. |
6-8 | CALD | National Multicultural Festival ACT | |
13 | First Nations | National Apology Day | |
13 Feb - 1 Mar | LGBTQIA+ | Mardi Gras | |
15 | CALD | Parinirvana / Nirvana Day | |
15 | CALD | Maha Shivaratri | A major Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, marking the "Great Night of Shiva" and the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. Devotees observe a fast, perform night-long meditations, and visit temples to offer prayers and milk to the Shiva Lingam. |
17 - 27 | CALD | Lunar New Year | |
18 Feb - 19 Mar | CALD | Ramadan | |
18 | Ash Wednesday | It is the first day of Lent in the Western Christian calendar | |
18 - 20 | CALD | Losar or Tibetan New Year | |
20 | All | World Day of Social Justice | |
21 | First Nations & CALD | International Mother Language Day |
March
Day | Category | Observance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Disability | International Wheelchair Day | |
1 | All | Zero Discrimination Day | |
1-7 Mar 3 Mar | Disability | Hearing Awareness Week & World Hearing Day | |
3 | CALD | Māgha Pūjā | |
3 | CALD | Lantern Festival | |
2 - 3 | CALD | Purim | It is a joyous Jewish holiday that celebrates the saving of the Jews of Persia by Queen Esther. |
3 - 4 | CALD | Holi (Festival of colours) | |
8 | Women | International Women's Day | |
15 | CALD | International Day to Combat Islamophobia | International Day to Combat Islamophobia, opens in a new tab |
16 - 22 | CALD | Harmony Week | |
20 | First Nations | National Close the Gap Day | |
20 - 22 | CALD | Eid el Fitr (Breaking the Fast) | |
21 | CALD | Harmony Day & International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination | International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, opens in a new tab |
21 - 29 | CALD | Cultural Diversity Week VIC | |
21 | CALD | Naw - Ruz / Baha'i and Persian New Year | |
21 | Disability | World Down Syndrome Day | |
27 | CALD | Rama Navami | It is a holy festival observed by the Hindu community that celebrates the birthday of Lord Rama the seventh avatar of the deity Vishnu. |
31 | LGBTQIA+ | Transgender Day of Visibility |
April
Day | Category | Observance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | CALD | Kha b-Nisan / Assyrian and Chaldean New Year | A spring festival celebrated by the Assyrian and Chaldean communities to mark the beginning of a new year by holding parties, picnics, and parades. |
1 - 2 | CALD | Hanuman Jayanti | It is a Hindu religious festival that commemorates the birth of Lord Hanuman. It is celebrated by visiting temples, reciting prayers, and taking a holy bath. |
1 - 9 | CALD | Passover / Pesach | |
2 | Disability | World Autism Day | |
3 - 6 |
| Good Friday, Easter Sunday - Monday | |
6 | International Day of Sport for Development and Peace | International Day of Sport for Development an Peace, opens in a new tab | |
7 | World Health Day | ||
8 | CALD | Hana Matsuri (Flower Festival) | A Japanese Buddhist celebration held annually to commemorate the birth of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha). Temples are decorated with flowers, and worshippers pour sweet tea (ama-cha) over small Buddha statues, symbolizing the legend of dragons showering him with pure water at birth. |
13 - 16 | CALD | Songkran (Thai New Year), Thingyan (Burmese New Year), Choul Chnam Thmey (Cambodian New Year), and Pii Mai (Lao New Year) | A water festival marking the beginning of the new year on the Buddhist calendar. It is celebrated by the Thai, Burmese, Cambodian, and Lao communities by pouring water on Buddha statues and splashing water on each other to wash away bad luck and have a fresh start. |
13 | CALD | Theravada - Buddhist New Year | |
14 | CALD | Sinhala Aluth Avurudda (Sinhalese New Year) | It is a major traditional and cultural festival celebrating the beginning of the new year by the Sinhalese people and most Sri Lankans around the world. In the period between the ending of the old year and the beginning of the new year (called nonagathe – neutral period), people keep off from all types of work and engage in religious activities. |
14 | CALD | Baisakhi or Vaisakhi | It is the most important Sikh festival that commemorates the formation of the Khalsa (the pure), by the tenth Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh. It also a spring harvest festival and marks the Sikh and Punjabi new year. |
14 | CALD | Nava Varsha (Nepalese New Year) | A religious holiday observed by the Nepalese community and celebrated with parades, feasts, and family reunions. |
14 | CALD | Puthandu (Tamil New Year) | The first day of the new year on the Tamil calendar and celebrated by the Tamil community all over the world. |
15 | CALD | Pohela Boishakh (Bengali New Year) | The first day of the Bengali calendar celebrated by all Bengalis regardless of religious faith. It is also the official calendar of Bangladesh. |
21 Apr - 2 May | CALD | Ridvan | |
24 | Disability | International Guide Dog Day | |
28 Apr - 4 May | LGBTQIA+ | Lesbian Day of Visibility | |
25 |
| ANZAC Day | |
28 |
| World Day for Safety and Health at Work |
May
Day | Category | Observance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | CALD | Vesak / Buddha's Day | |
5 | LGBTQIA+ | International Family Equality Day | |
11 - 17 |
| National Families Week | |
15 |
| International Day of Families | |
17 | LGBTQIA+ | International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia | |
17 | CALD | Dehwa Daymaneh | A festival observed by the Mandaean community celebrating the birthday of John the Baptist, the Mandaean greatest and final prophet. |
18 - 24 |
| National Volunteer Week | |
21 | Disability | Global Accessibility Awareness Day | |
21 | CALD | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, opens in a new tab |
21 - 23 | CALD | Shavuot | |
23 - 24 29 | CALD | Declaration of the Báb & Ascension of Baha’u’lláh | A religious day for the Baha’i community around the world commemorating Bahá’u’lláh – the prophet and founder of the Baha’i faith. |
24 |
| Pentecost | A Christian holiday which takes place on the 7th Sunday or 50 days after Easter. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit and the start of the church's mission to the world. |
24 | LGBTQIA+ | Pansexual Visibility Day | |
25 | CALD | Africa Day | |
26 | First Nations | National Sorry Day | |
26 - 29 | CALD | Eid el Adha | |
27 May - 3 June | First Nations | Reconciliation Week | |
28 | LGBTQIA+ | LGBTQI Domestic Violence Awareness |
June
Day | Category | Observance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1-30 | LGBTQIA+ | Pride Month | National Pride Month | UN Youth Australia, opens in a new tab |
1 |
| Global Day of Parents | |
3 | First Nations | Mabo Day | Commemorating Mabo Day - Reconciliation Australia, opens in a new tab |
14 - 20 20 | CALD | Refugee Week Refugee Day | |
17 | CALD | Al Hijra (Islamic New Year) | It is the first day of the Islamic year and observed by most Muslims. It marks the Hijra when the Prophet Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina, and set up the first Islamic state. |
July
Day | Category | Observance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | First Nations | Coming of the Light | Experience Our Culture, opens in a new tab Coming of the Light - Torres Strait Islands - Queensland Museum, opens in a new tab |
5 - 12 | First Nations | NAIDOC Week | |
10 | CALD | Matariki (Māori New Year) | A significant time in the Māori calendar and is recognised by the reappearance of the Matariki stars in the winter sky. The cluster of stars signifies the start of the Māori New Year, whichis a time to reflect and come together to remember our loved ones who have passed while strengthening our ties to each other, giving thanks for what we have while we look forward to the promise of a new year. Matariki (Māori New Year), opens in a new tab |
14 | LGBTIQIA+ | International Non-Binary Peoples Day | International Non-Binary People’s Day - LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, opens in a new tab International Non-Binary People's Day - Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, opens in a new tab |
19-21 | CALD | Mandaean New Year | A day celebrated by the Mandaean community around the world and is often spent by flowing rivers where Mandaeans get baptised and cleansed going into the new year. |
29 | CALD | Asalha Puja (Dhamma) Day |
August
Day | Category | Observance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
4 | First Nations | National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day | National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day, opens in a new tab |
9 | First Nations | International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples | International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, opens in a new tab |
12 |
| International Youth Day | International Youth Day | United Nations, opens in a new tab |
16 |
| National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence | National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence, opens in a new tab |
16 - 25 | CALD | Onam | It is an Indian harvest festival celebrated by the Malayalee community. |
26 | CALD | Mawlid Al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet Muhammad) | Mawlid Al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet Muhammad), opens in a new tab |
28 | CALD | Raksha Bandhan | A Hindu festival where sisters tie a thread (or Rakhi) around their brothers' wrist for ritual protection. The brothers likewise make promises to safeguard or look after their sisters. |
28 | LGBTQIA+ | Wear It Purple | |
31 | CALD | International Day for People of African Descent | International Day for People of African Descent, opens in a new tab |
September
Day | Category | Observance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
4 | CALD | Krishna Janmashtami | It is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna the 8th avatar of Vishnu. |
10 | R U OK Day | ||
10 | World Suicide Prevention Day | ||
11 | CALD | Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year) | New Year in Ethiopia and Eritrea |
11 | CALD | Nayrouz (Coptic New Year) | It is a feast when martyrs and confessors are commemorated within the Coptic Orthodox Church. It marks the first day of the Coptic year. |
11 - 13 | CALD | Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) | |
18 | Women | International Equal Pay Day | |
20 - 21 | CALD | Yom Kippur | Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is the holiest and most solemn day of the Jewish year observed with fasting and prayers. |
22 - 28 28 | Disability | National Week of Deaf People World Deaf Day | |
23 | LGBTQIA+ | Bisexuality Day / Bisexual Awareness Week | Bisexuality Day / Bisexual Awareness Week, opens in a new tab |
23 | Disability | International Day of Sign Languages | |
25 | CALD | Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival | It is the second grandest festival for East and South-East Asian communities after the Lunar New Year. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, where the moon is believed to be at its fullest and brightest. The full moon symbolises reunion so families reunite for celebrations to worship and appreciate the moon together, and share mooncakes to celebrate. |
26 Sept - 2 Oct | CALD | Sukkot | A Jewish pilgrimage festival that commemorates the sheltering and protection that God gave the Jews as they were fleeing Egypt with Moses during the Exodus. It lasts 7 days and many Jewish Australians may observe work restrictions on the first day. |
October
Day | Category | Observance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | International Day of Older Persons | ||
1-30 | National Safe Work Month | ||
1-30 | Disability | Dyslexia Awareness Month | A month to shine a light on dyslexia and spread the word about ways to support those with this learning difficulty. |
4 | CALD | Simchat Torah | Simchat Torah ("Rejoicing in the Torah") is a joyous Jewish holiday celebrating the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle and the immediate start of a new one. It features lively dancing, singing, and processions with Torah scrolls (hakafot). The holiday, which often features special treats for children, marks the end of the High Holidays and the festival of Sukkot. |
4-11 | Disability | National Amputee Awareness Week | |
6 | Disability | World Cerebral Palsy Day | |
8 | LGBTQIA+ | International Lesbian Day | |
10 | World Mental Health Day | ||
11 | Women | International Day of the Girl Child | |
11 | LGBTQIA+ | National Coming Out Day | |
11 - 20 | CALD | Navaratri | |
1 - 30 | Disability | Blindness Awareness Month | A month of awareness and advocacy to educate the public on blindness and vision impairment. It is a great time to share stories about blind or visually impaired people accomplishing incredible things and learn about how to support them. |
8 | Disability | World Sight Day | |
11 - 17 | National Carer’s Week | ||
15 | Disability | International White Cane Awareness Day | |
15 | International Day of Rural Women / Rural Women’s Day | ||
15 (third Wed) | LGBTQIA+ | International Pronouns Day | |
17 - 21 | CALD | Durga Puja | It is an annual and the most important religious festival of Bangla speaking Hindus that is dedicated to Hindu goddess Durga. It is celebrated through recitation of the verses from holy scriptures, blowing of conch shells, and beating of drums in temples. It is also an occasion for reunion and rejuvenation, and a celebration of traditional culture and custom. |
19 - 25 | LGBTQIA+ | Asexual Awareness Week | |
20 | CALD | Inauguration (Gurgaddi) of Guru Granth Sahib | It commemorates the eternal installation of the Sikh holy scripture referred to as Guru Granth Sahib. |
26 | LGBTQIA+ | Intersex Awareness Day | |
27 Oct - 4 Nov | CALD | Kathina | An annual Theravada Buddhist festival marking the end of the three-month Vassa (rainy season retreat). Laity express gratitude to monastics by offering new robes and necessities, strengthening community ties. Major events take place at temples nationwide, including NSW, VIC, WA, and SA. |
November
Day | Category | Observance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | All Saints’ Day | It is a day for many people of Christian faith in Australia to remember and honour the saints of the church. | |
2 | All Souls Day / Day of the Dead | This day is a time for all Christians to remember and pray for the souls of the departed. | |
8 | LGBTQIA+ | Intersex Solidarity Day / Intersex Day of Remembrance | |
8 | CALD | Deepavali / Diwali (Festival of Light) and Bandi Chhor Divas (The Celebration of Freedom) | |
10 - 11 | CALD | Birth of the Báb | |
13 - 19 20 | LGBTQIA+ | Transgender Week of Awareness Transgender Day of Remembrance | Transgender Week of Awareness, opens in a new tab Transgender Day of Remembrance , opens in a new tab |
16 | International Day for Tolerance | ||
20 | World Children's Day | ||
21 - 29 | Social Inclusion Week / Inclusion at Work Week | Social Inclusion Week / Inclusion at Work Week, opens in a new tab | |
24 | CALD | Birth of Guru Nanak | A day observed by the Sikh community to celebrate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru and the founder of the Sikh faith. |
24 | CALD | Martyrdom (Shahidi) of Guru Tegh Bahadur | A day observed by the Sikh community to commemorate the death anniversary and sacrifice of the 9th Sikh Guru. |
25 | CALD | Loy Krathong - Festival of Lights | It is a traditional Thai festival that is celebrated annually to pay respects to the Goddess of water - Phra Mae Khongkha. People pay respect to legendary Buddhist figures and the rivers, their source of life, by floating their crafted 'Krathong' into the water. |
25 | Women | International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women | International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, opens in a new tab |
27 | CALD | The Ascension of Abdu'l Baha | A Baha’i holy day that commemorates the death of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá – who led the Baha'i community from 1892 to 1921. |
December
Day | Category | Observance | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | World AIDS Day | ||
3 | Disability | International Day of Persons with Disabilities | International Day of Persons with Disabilities, opens in a new tab |
4 - 12 | CALD | Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) | |
5 | International Volunteer Day | ||
8 | CALD | Bodhi Day | Bodhi Day is a popular cultural Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day the historical Buddha gained enlightenment. The day is typically observed in quiet nature, with people usually participating in meditation or chanting. |
10 | Human Rights Day | ||
18 | CALD | International Migrants Day | |
25 | Christmas Day |