Canberra’s renowned National Multicultural Festival won Best Community Event at the Australian Event Awards on Wednesday night, and contributed to an overall win for the ACT in The State or Territory Award, which recognises and celebrates the State or Territory where the largest number of high-quality events have occurred.
“These awards demonstrate what Canberrans already know: the National Multicultural Festival is a weekend not to be missed,” said Tara Cheyne, ACT Minister for Multicultural Affairs.
The 25th National Multicultural Festival, held in February for the first time since 2020, was the biggest ever, bringing together 170 cultures. It broke records for attendance (380,000 people) and revenue ($20.8 million).
Ms Cheyne said it affirmed Canberra as a proudly welcoming and inclusive city.
“The awards are a testament to the hard work of not just the organisers but also the hundreds of performers, stallholders, volunteers and community leaders who together create the atmosphere of joy, celebration and inclusivity,” Ms Cheyne said.
“Our multicultural Canberra community should be rightfully proud of this national recognition.”
The recent ACT Budget invests an additional $3.3 million over the next two years to ensure the 2024 Festival will have the same scale, feel and footprint of this year’s record-breaking event.
“We look forward to welcoming Canberrans and visitors alike to the next National Multicultural Festival from 16 to 18 February 2024,” Ms Cheyne said.
Australia’s largest celebration of cultural diversity attracted 380,000 people in 2023 and contributed a total economic benefit of $20.8 million to the local economy.
