As the nation’s capital, Canberra is naturally multicultural. It is home to embassies and high commissions from around the world, and to people who have come to Australia from across the globe to find work, community, and safety.
Whether you’re grabbing a bánh mì from your local café or taking on new ways of thinking from an international friend, this mix of cultures is helping Canberra become a more inclusive and vibrant place to live.
It is great, then, that the ACT Government has a council, a dedicated team and one of the country’s biggest festivals working to build Canberra up even further.
Ministerial Advisory Council for Multiculturalism
The Ministerial Advisory Council for Multiculturalism is the ACT Government’s official advisory body representing people of multicultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds, set up under the Multiculturalism Act 2023.
The eleven members of the council come from a broad variety of these backgrounds, equipped with the knowledge, experience, and skills to understand issues presented by the multicultural community.
The council works with advocacy and community groups to provide advice to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and by extension, the ACT Government.
The group wishes to make Canberra a more inclusive city, welcoming migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, and helping everyone reach the services they need.
The council acts as a sort of bridge between communities and the government, frequently discussing concerns regarding policy and programs, hearing the opinions around prioritising issues, and raising awareness of the Multiculturalism Act 2023 and the Charter for Multiculturalism.
The council’s most recent published work plan focused on community engagement, family violence prevention, supporting migrants and refugees, and social cohesion.
Each year the council holds a forum where important issues regarding multiculturalism within Canberra are discussed.
To bring an issue to the council, simply send an email to ACTMAC@act.gov.au.
Multicultural ACT
Multicultural ACT, a partner to the Ministerial Advisory Council, is similar in the sense that it pMulticultural ACT, a partner to the Ministerial Advisory Council, is similar in the sense that it promotes the idea of shifting Canberra into a city that supports and includes everyone.
Rather than advocating for policy change, Multicultural ACT provides services, programs and supports for multicultural communities and individuals.
The supports include:
- Hosting citizenship ceremonies on behalf of the Department of Home Affairs so that new Canberrans can complete their Australian citizenship.
- Supporting the ACT Services Access Card, which allows asylum seekers waiting on a protection visa to access ACT Government concessions and discounts. Applications are made through Companion House.
- Managing the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, a place to hire meeting and function rooms, allowing multicultural Australians to celebrate and share their culture whilst integrating into Canberra.
Multicultural ACT also provides awards to promote multiculturalism.
This includes the ACT Multicultural Awards, a ceremony which praises different members of the community and organisations, commending the art and impact of those who do excellent work in their field.
Grants are also given to organisations that wish to celebrate multiculturalism within the ACT, through the Multicultural Inclusion Grants, with up to $3,000 available for cultural celebrations and up to $6,000 for community programs.
The Multicultural Festival
There are few Canberrans who have not seen the beauty, or at least the traffic, that comes with the Multicultural Festival.
It is one of the largest events in Canberra, rivalling even Floriade, with Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Michael Pettersson MLA, saying that one would be “hard pressed to find somebody who doesn’t love the Multicultural Festival.”
The festival in 2026 attracted over 350,000 people, allowing them to engage with the excitement and fun that come with experiencing a new culture.
The organisers aim to create a “world-class National Multicultural Festival” that brings the community together while preserving and promoting diverse traditions and celebrations.
Hundreds of stalls boasting everything from lemonade, crepes, and deer meat to dumplings, pretzels, and samosas can be found, enticing anyone who walks past, creating a fun and appetising atmosphere for anyone who wants a good day out.
Furthermore, across the weekend, dozens of smaller events take place, like dragon dancing and cooking demonstrations.
Across the city centre, from Civic Square out towards the Canberra Museum and Gallery, as well as a variety of other locations, dozens of exciting exhibitions and showcases take place, demonstrating how easily people from across the world can get together when they celebrate the things that they love.
The festival acts as the beating heart of Canberra’s international atmosphere, celebrating the cultures that connect us all.
Where to Start
For people who are new to Canberra, or supporting someone who is, Multicultural ACT is a practical first point of contact and can be reached at ma@act.gov.au. Community groups looking for a venue can enquire about hiring rooms at the Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre through multiculturalcentre@act.gov.au, and asylum seekers waiting on a protection visa can ask Companion House about applying for the ACT Services Access Card.
Community groups planning a cultural celebration or a program that builds connection can apply for a Multicultural Inclusion Grant. Rounds open at different times of the year, so it’s worth checking the ACT Government grants page early.
The next National Multicultural Festival will run from 5 to 7 February 2027 in the city centre.
