Diwali Australia 2026: Dates, Puja Times and Celebrations

October 3, 2026

Diwali Australia 2026 falls on Sunday 8 November, with Lakshmi Puja that evening. Here's what to know about the date, puja times, holidays and celebrations, plus ideas for getting your home ready.

Diwali Australia date and time

The main Diwali Australia date in 2026 is Sunday 8 November. Australia follows the same lunar date as India, and the festival runs over five days:

Day	Date	Occasion
1	Friday 6 November	Dhanteras
2	Saturday 7 November	Naraka Chaturdashi (Chhoti Diwali)
3	Sunday 8 November	Diwali and Lakshmi Puja
4	Monday 9 November	Govardhan Puja and Annakut
5	Tuesday 10 November	Bhai Dooj

With the main day on a Sunday, many families can gather for puja without rushing home from work.

Australia Diwali poojan time. Lakshmi Puja is done in the evening, during Pradosh Kaal after sunset. The ideal window is while a fixed (sthir) lagna is rising.

Australia Diwali muhurat. The exact Diwali Australia time depends on your city and local sunset, and published 2026 windows for Sydney don't all agree. Set your city on DrikPanchang or check with your local temple before you plan the evening.

If you landed here searching for diwali australia 2025, diwali australia 2025 dates, diwali 2024 australia or diwali australia 2023, those festivals have passed. The 2026 dates above are the ones to plan around.

Is there a Diwali Australia public holiday?

No. Diwali isn't a public holiday in any Australian state or territory, so most businesses keep normal Sunday hours on 8 November (timeanddate.com). Some Indian-owned businesses close early on the day.

The Indian community has called for years for a Diwali Australia holiday. The Hindu Council of Australia and federal MP Andrew Charlton have publicly backed the idea, but no state has adopted it yet (Kids News). In the meantime, most families celebrate across the weekends either side of the main day.

Australia Diwali celebration and lights

Sydney's biggest Australia Diwali celebration centres on Harris Park and Parramatta. City of Parramatta has called for an organiser to run a Diwali event in Harris Park on Sunday 8 November 2026 (Australian Tenders). Its wider Diwali program is listed for October/November, with the 2026 date still to be announced (atParramatta).

Australia Diwali lights are spreading to homes too. In 2025, Parramatta ran its first Diwali Festival of Lights competition, inviting residents to decorate homes, balconies and apartments with lights and rangoli (Inside Local Government).

Outside the festivals, local temples hold Lakshmi Puja and aarti on the main evening. Event dates often shift, so keep an eye on Australia Diwali news from your council and temple before you head out.

Diwali decorations Australia: getting your home ready

Cleaning and decorating the home before Lakshmi Puja is part of the tradition. A few ideas for Diwali decorations in Australia:

Light the entrance. Diyas, fairy lights or LED lamps by the front door welcome Lakshmi in. LED options are safer around kids and in rental homes.
Draw a rangoli. Coloured powder, flowers or a reusable rangoli mat at the doorway.
Hang a toran. Marigold and mango leaf garlands over the door are classic.
Refresh the pooja room. Clear the space and give Lakshmi and Ganesha a clean, well-lit setting.

A mandir panel or devotional wall piece is a lasting way to mark the occasion. At Seasons - The Sign Studio, we laser cut and hand finish mandir panels, Om and Ganesha wall art and backlit pieces in Box Hill, in Sydney's Hills District. Everything is made to order with a 10-14 business day lead time, so order by late October to have it up for Diwali.

Shop the Mandir & Pooja Room range or start a custom order.