Melbourne’s west came alive over the weekend as crowds gathered at Grazeland for the 2026 Victorian Multicultural Festival — a vibrant celebration of food, culture and community.
Held from March 27 to 29, the three-day festival marked the finale of Cultural Diversity Week, bringing together communities from across Victoria in a shared space of music, movement and flavour.
Presented by the Victorian Multicultural Commission in partnership with Grazeland and the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, the event transformed the popular food precinct into a lively global showcase.
From the moment gates opened, the atmosphere was electric. Families, friends and visitors moved between food stalls and performance stages, soaking in a program that reflected the breadth of cultures that make up Victoria.
On stage, the line-up was as diverse as the crowd. There was the colour and rhythm of Vietnamese lion dancing, the deep beats of Polynesian drumming, and Irish dance performances by emerging local talent. A highlight for many was the performance by Japanese shamisen artist Noriko Tadano, whose music brought a different texture to the weekend’s soundscape.
Across the venue, African drumming and dance, Latin and European bands, Turkish belly dancing and Cuban rhythms kept audiences engaged, while roving Brazilian performers added bursts of colour and movement through the crowd.
Food, as always at Grazeland, was central to the experience. Visitors sampled everything from smoky barbecue and rich curries to European classics, Latin American favourites and an array of desserts — a reminder of how food often becomes the easiest way cultures connect.
Victorian Multicultural Commission Chairperson Vivienne Nguyen said the festival plays an important role in bringing communities together.
“It highlights the dynamic cultures that shape Victoria’s identity and creates space for communities to be seen, heard and celebrated,” she said. “Events like this remind us that when cultures connect, communities thrive.”
Victoria’s Multicultural Affairs Minister Ingrid Stitt said the festival reflected the strength of the state’s diversity.
“Cultural Diversity Week and events like this festival are a celebration of who we are as Victorians,” she said. “Our multicultural communities are at the heart of our state, and it’s important we continue to support opportunities for people to come together, share their stories and celebrate their heritage.”
As music played into the evening and crowds lingered over food and conversation, the festival once again showed why it remains a highlight on Victoria’s multicultural calendar — a place where cultures meet, and community is built.
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