Harmony Week begins Monday, March 16 and is being framed by organisers as a vital chance to reaffirm inclusion and belonging in 2026. Local councils and community groups are running a mix of cultural workshops, conversation circles, performances and campaigns through the week.
Harmony Week Events Across Regions
Across multiple regions, scheduled activity ranges from food and storytelling to sports, art and music. On the Sunshine Coast, the program runs from March 16 to March 22 under the theme “Everyone Belongs on the Sunshine Coast, ” with events including cultural workshops, storytelling, music and dance, sports events and conversation circles. Libraries on the Sunshine Coast are offering conversation circles, workshops and multicultural resources as part of that local program, and the council is promoting a community campaign called Shine a Light on Racism.
In Western Australia’s largest local government area, Harmony Week events run from March 15 to March 21. Offerings include Aboriginal Cultural Storytime for children, an African drumming workshop at Scarborough Beach, an art exhibition by students of a local centre, traditional Chinese tea-making experiences, and a public screening of a well-known Australian comedy. A migration clinic at a Stirling library will provide information on visa pathways followed by an open question-and-answer session. Landmarks across the city will be lit in orange on Sunday, March 21 to mark Harmony Week and the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Why Harmony Week Matters in 2026
Commentary ahead of the week frames Harmony Week as more urgent this year, noting that a rapidly changing national population includes a long Indigenous history and a large proportion of residents born overseas or with parents born overseas. Recent milestones cited include the arrival of a significant number of refugees in the previous year. At the same time, communities are responding to troubling spikes in anti-Semitic incidents and a documented escalation in Islamophobia manifesting in threats against places of worship, community centres and individuals. Observers point to the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21 as closely connected to the week’s activities.
How Residents Are Being Asked To Take Part
Councils and local leaders are urging people to get involved by attending events, starting conversations, and taking small everyday actions that foster belonging. Suggested actions include joining workshops or conversation circles, experiencing cultural food and performances, and learning about neighbours’ heritage. Local officials have encouraged residents to step outside comfort zones, learn about different cultures and support community initiatives that remove barriers to belonging.
Several local authorities have also formally acknowledged traditional custodians of their lands and paid respect to Elders past and present. On the Sunshine Coast, that acknowledgement names the Kabi Kabi peoples and the Jinibara peoples; in the Stirling area the acknowledgement recognises the Wadjak people of the Nyoongar Nation.
The week closes with community programs and symbolic events tied to March 21, reinforcing the message that small, everyday acts and organized local activities can be part of a broader push to strengthen social cohesion and ensure that everyone belongs.
