We know the Multicultural Festival is loved by Canberrans and tourists alike. And we've got the data to prove it.
The 2026 National Multicultural Festival attracted crowds of over 350,000 people and generated an economic impact of almost $23M for the ACT.
The post-event research also reveals strong attendee satisfaction, with 87.5% of visitors planning to return to the festival in 2027.
Over 94% of attendees agreed the festival makes it feel like Canberra values diversity, is rich in culture and entertainment, and has an active local community.
Other key results include:
- an average attendee satisfaction rating of 4.3 out of 5, up from 2025's rating of 4.2.
- a strong boost for local tourism, with the festival drawing 20,808 visitors from outside the ACT (compared to 15,664 in 2025) and generating 39,979 visitor nights, up from 37,661 in 2025. Over 75% of visitors said they would like to return to see more of Canberra.
- a 'Net Promoter Score' - used to measure audience loyalty and advocacy – of +61.1, up from +53.4 in 2025. This is the highest Net Promote Score on record for the festival and well above the industry benchmark of +50 for major public events.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Michael Pettersson MLA, said the data highlights the National Multicultural Festival's position as Australia's leading celebration of cultural diversity.
"This data proves you'd be hard pressed to find somebody who doesn't love the Multicultural Festival," Minister Pettersson said.
"This isn't an accident. The ACT Government has invested significantly in the Festival, helping it to grow and expand into one of Australia's most iconic events, while retaining its community-led roots.
"But the success of the Festival ultimately rests on the efforts of the community groups, the volunteers, the chefs, dancers and artists who showcase their culture every year.
"We're already focussed on next year. Mark 5 - 7 February, 2027 in your calendars for the 29th National Multicultural Festival. We're working hard to ensure that it will be just as fresh, relevant and fun as ever."
