Western Australia’s Buddhist community is preparing to celebrate Buddha’s birthday with a two-day multicultural festival in Maylands this weekend.
The Buddha’s Birthday and Multicultural Festival will take place on 11 and 12 April 2026 at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple Western Australia and is expected to attract up to 20,000 visitors.
Now in its 33rd year, the event has become one of the state’s best-known cultural festivals, bringing together people from a wide range of backgrounds for performances, activities, food and reflection.
The festival marks the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha and is also known as Vesak Day, which is regarded as one of the most important dates in the Buddhist calendar. Buddhist communities around the world observe the occasion in different ways, often through prayer, acts of generosity and cultural gatherings.
This year’s theme is Harmony and Peace. Festival organisers say the programme will include cultural performances, mindful art sessions, guided meditation, a vegetarian food fair and multifaith prayers led by faith leaders from different religions.
A storytelling session led by Noongar storytellers is also planned, combining stories, sound and tea in an effort to reflect both Indigenous and multicultural traditions.
The event is hosted by Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple WA, Buddha’s Light International Association Western Australia and Nan Tien Institute.
The Government of Western Australia has provided $30,000 in support through the Office of Multicultural Interests’ Community Grants Program.
Dr Tony Buti said the festival had played a role in bringing communities together for more than three decades and offered people a chance to learn about different cultural traditions in a family-friendly setting.
He said events such as the Buddha’s Birthday and Multicultural Festival helped strengthen understanding between communities and reflected the cultural diversity of Western Australia.
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