Australian Heritage Festival

The Australian Heritage Festival is the biggest and longest-running event honouring Australia’s indigenous, natural, multicultural, and historical heritage.

The first event was held in 1980, and today, it’s Australia’s largest festival celebrating culture and heritage. It remains unparalleled regarding the event’s national reach.

Returning to New South Wales for 18 April – 18 May 2025, the Australian Heritage Festival is an opportunity for the community to access events and exhibitions, gather stories and tell them, celebrate through ceremonies and performances, share knowledge through talks, walks and tours, and have fun bringing heritage to life.

The nation’s largest community-driven heritage event, the Australian Heritage Festival, annually celebrates natural, historic and Indigenous heritage. This year marks the 45th year of the Festival, featuring FREE and ticketed events and activities for all ages, interests and budgets.

The NSW programme of the 2025 Australian Heritage Festival features more than 150 events and activities.

Spanning metropolitan and regional areas of the state, this year’s Festival theme is ‘Unearthed’, and the 2025 NSW calendar includes special exhibitions, walks, tours of historical sites, performances, food experiences, ceremonies, demonstrations, and other attractions curated to bring heritage to life for all.

The Australian Heritage Festival is organised, promoted, facilitated, and led by the National Trust. It connects communities and patronises and supports many worthwhile organisations, such as not-for-profit and community groups, businesses, councils, conservation groups, museums, galleries, libraries, spiritual places, and others.

The NSW Government, through Heritage NSW, is the principal sponsor of the Australian Heritage Festival and the National Trust Heritage Awards, which is the signature event of the Australian Heritage Festival.

Most venues are easily accessible by private or public transport (trains, buses, ferries, or light rail). However, traffic delays may occur when reaching inner-city venues at various times, so public transport may be your best option.

There are too many events to mention on this page. Please check out the event schedule on the official event website for complete details.