| Namaste Melbourne!, the Melbourne Diwali newsletter. Issue 3, 28 October 2026 · See all issues |
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3 DAYS TO GO · RAIN OR SHINE Saturday 31 October · 2pm to 10pm
Marvel Stadium Square · Free entry Dress up. Drive in. Park. Eat. Dance. Make new friends. |
Namaste, Three days to go, and we are on, rain or shine, with most of the festival undercover. On Saturday our community and the rest of Melbourne meet at Marvel Stadium Square, with leaders from both sides of politics and the Richmond Tigers. Tap what you need below. Bring your family, and bring someone who has never celebrated Diwali. Gautam Gupta
Melbourne Diwali |
YOUR 30-SECOND CHECKLIST Get set for Saturday |
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THE FESTIVE GUIDE Everyone taking part, in one guideEvery performer, stall, partner and guest at Melbourne Diwali, with the programme, where to find each stall and how to get there. Your definitive guide to Saturday. |
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RAIN OR SHINE We are on, rain or shine Most of the festival is undercover at Marvel Stadium Square. Drive in, park under the stadium, take the lift up, and arrive dry in your Diwali best. | PARKING$14 casual parking when you book online; it costs more on the day | TRAIN AND TRAMSouthern Cross is a five-minute walk; trams 70, 75 and 86. It is Derby Day: allow extra time. |
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AS SEEN ON 7NEWS Melbourne in its Diwali bestSarees, kurtas, sherwanis and lehengas: this is what the day looks like. Watch the families 7NEWS met at the festival. Saturday is your turn. |
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 | A DIWALI WISH A wish from Sanjeev Kapoor Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor and Ravi Krishnan, CEO of Abler Sports & Entertainment, wish Melbourne a very happy Diwali. Watch the wish › |
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Need outfit ideas? What to wear to Diwali in Melbourne |
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BUILDING BELONGING TOGETHER Our community, our MelbourneLeaders from both sides of politics and the Richmond Tigers join us on Saturday, because belonging is built together. |
Who will deliver the biggest Diwali in Australia? Premier Ben Carroll Premier of Victoria About 4pm |  David Southwick MP Deputy Leader of the Opposition, for Jess Wilson MP Straight after |
About 4pm: Premier Ben Carroll officially launches the festival, and David Southwick MP speaks for the Opposition. Both sides, one stage, one big Diwali smile.
Will we get a wish or a commitment? Come and hear both sides. With a state election on 28 November, turning up is how our community is heard. |
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 FRIENDSHIP ACROSS FAITHS Two traditions, one stageMr Amir Meron, Deputy Ambassador of Israel, joins us on Saturday. At 3:50pm a Hindu-Jewish musical fusion brings two ancient traditions together on the main stage. |
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COMMUNITY AND SPORT Meet the Tigers Richmond Football Club, Saturday evening | ✦ | Giveaways all evening, with mascots Sash and Stripes around the Square. |
| ✦ | Young people: join Sash and Stripes on stage at 7:10pm to cheer on the Tigers. |
| ✦ | 7:30pm: meet CEO Shane Dunne and Head of Academy Harmit Singh in the Fortune Foods Kitchen Hall. Hear about the club and how to get involved. |
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SATURDAY 31 OCTOBER Your day, hour by hourCome early with young children; the big crowd arrives from 6pm. |
| 2:00pm | Opening | | 2:40pm | Dance competitions start | | 3:50pm | Hindu-Jewish musical fusion | | About 4pm | Official launch Premier Ben Carroll and David Southwick MP | | 6:00pm | Dandiya and Bhangra | | 7:10pm | Richmond Tigers | | 7:25pm | Bollywood | | 8:00pm | DJ until 10pm |
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Also on the day: Fortune Foods presents masterclasses with MasterChef Australia finalist Kishwar Chowdhury, 4pm and 6pm, Fortune Foods Kitchen Hall. Dance winners are announced after each section. |
PEOPLE'S CHOICE Cheer for your favourite On Saturday, open melbournediwali.com.au/live or scan the QR code on the big screen and cheer for the group on stage. One cheer per phone, per act. A People's Choice for Juniors, Teens and Adults, separate from the judges' awards. |
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GOOD TO KNOW | ✦ | Free entry. Registering is optional and helps us plan. |
| ✦ | Vegetarian food, alcohol-free, cashless: bring a card. |
| ✦ | Smoke and vape free. Leave glass, fireworks, sparklers, open flames and drones at home. |
| ✦ | Lost child? Go to anyone in a Marvel Stadium or Melbourne Diwali vest. |
Read the FAQs |
EAT, SHOP, PLAY At the marketVegetarian food all day, and stalls from Diwali decor to Indian wear: 15 are listed online, with more on the day. Play the free Bharat Ko Janiye India quiz for instant giveaways. |
 | STALL SPOTLIGHT Khwaab: Dream to DesignKhwaab means dream, and Dream to Design is what this stall is about: luxury handcrafted Indian suits, modern Indian wear and ensembles. If you are still deciding what to wear this Diwali, or want a piece that carries you from the festival to every celebration of the season, find Khwaab at Marvel Stadium Square on Saturday 31 October. Browse the collection before the day on Instagram at @khwaabbysk, then come and see it in person. Visit Khwaab's stall page |
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See you SaturdayRain or shine, free entry, all ages, 2pm to 10pm, Marvel Stadium Square. Dress up, and come and make new friends. |
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| Watch the 7NEWS story · Register free · Add to calendar · Invite a friend |
OUR 2026 PARTNERS Thank you to the partners making Melbourne Diwali 2026 possible. MAJOR PARTNER  | SUPPORTING PARTNERS | GOLD PARTNERS |
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Partner with us | Contact us
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Acknowledgement of Country
Melbourne Diwali is held in Docklands on the traditional Country of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Eastern Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and acknowledge their continuing connection to and custodianship of this Country.
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Melbourne Diwali is managed by SarasCare. To find out more, visit melbournediwali.com.au.
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