The National Trust of Australia (NSW) is calling on event organisers to register now for inclusion in the 2026 Australian Heritage Festival.
The Festival is an opportunity for local organisations in the Newcastle and Hunter region to drive visitation, engage new audiences and gain exposure. The Festival positions participants at the heart of celebration that has been bringing heritage to life since 1980.
The Australian Heritage Festival is the nation’s largest community-driven heritage event and an annual celebration of natural, built, cultural and Indigenous heritage.
Participation is free to organisations of all forms and sizes, including not-for-profit and community groups, local councils, tourism businesses, conservation groups, museums, galleries, libraries, spiritual places and others. The 46th Australian Heritage Festival will launch to the public on World Heritage Day 18 April and run until 18 May 2026.
Events and activities can be newly developed for the Australian Heritage Festival or registered as existing offerings, so long as they run during the month-long Festival and commemorate the rich and diverse heritage that makes Newcastle and the Hunter region a compelling destination year-round.
Covering metropolitan and regional areas of the state, the 2026 Festival calendar will include a combination of free and ticketed attractions; including tours of all kinds, classes and workshops, concerts and performance art, exhibitions, family fun days, First Nations ceremonies, dining experiences, special markets and food fairs, talks and forums, online-based activities and more.
CEO of National Trust (NSW), Debbie Mills said the Festival is designed not only to connect communities but also, to provide support and recognition to the many worthwhile organisations across our state that bring heritage to life.
“We’re calling on event organisers to join us in marking the ever-changing story of who we are in NSW. History is not fixed in the past; it is a constantly evolving living force that shapes our present and guides our future,” Debbie said.
“By breathing new life into the places, objects, and traditions of the past, we can imagine where they might take us next.”
Registrations are now open to apply for the Festival.
The Australian Heritage Festival is coordinated by the National Trust. The NSW Government through Heritage NSW is principal sponsor of the Australian Heritage Festival and the National Trust Heritage Awards, which is the signature event of the Australian Heritage Festival.
IMAGE | Organisations in Newcastle and the Hunter are invited to apply to be part of the Australian Heritage Festival for 2026.
