More than 1,200 Victorians from across the state gathered at the 2026 Premier’s Multicultural Gala Dinner on Saturday, 22 August, for an evening celebrating diversity, belonging and the cultural stories that continue to shape Victoria.
Proudly hosted by the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the annual gala brought together community leaders, volunteers, political representatives and multicultural and multifaith organisations in a vibrant celebration centred on the theme “Stories of Us.”
The theme highlighted the unique journeys, ancestry and migration stories that contribute to Victoria’s shared identity, while the broader event focused on promoting belonging, respect and understanding across communities.
Guests included Premier of Victoria Ben Carroll MP, Minister for Multicultural Affairs Paul Edbrooke MP, Leader of the Opposition Jess Wilson MP, Federal Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs Julian Hill MP, Victorian Multicultural Commission Interim Chairperson Louise Perry, and multicultural and multifaith leaders from across Victoria.
The cultural program reflected the breadth of Victoria’s diversity, with music, dance and performances representing traditions from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, South-East Asia, the Pacific Islands and South America.
The celebration began even before guests entered the main ballroom, with the foyer transformed into a lively multicultural bazaar.
Community groups representing Ukrainian, Chinese, Bengali, Iranian, Persian, Latin American and Fijian communities hosted stalls showcasing aspects of their cultural heritage. Activities included calligraphy, ceremonial hot chocolate and saree draping, alongside displays of traditional wares, artefacts and cultural practices.
The inclusion of a Bengali community presence and saree draping added a familiar South Asian element to the evening while forming part of the gala’s much broader celebration of Victoria’s multicultural identity.
VMC Interim Chairperson Louise Perry said the annual gathering demonstrated the strength created through diversity and connection.
“The Premier’s Multicultural Gala Dinner is a powerful reminder of the strength that comes from our diversity and the connections that unite us.”
She also recognised the role played by community leaders, volunteers and representatives in strengthening multicultural Victoria.
“It is inspiring to see community leaders, volunteers and representatives from Victoria’s many cultures come together to celebrate our shared future and the invaluable contributions multicultural communities make to our state every day.”
The gala is one of the VMC’s highly anticipated annual events and encourages Victorians from different cultural, religious and linguistic backgrounds to come together and celebrate the traditions and experiences that contribute to life in the state.
It also forms part of a wider calendar of VMC celebrations aimed at strengthening cross-cultural understanding and encouraging interfaith dialogue.
The Stories of Us theme was particularly fitting for a state shaped by generations of migration. Each community brings its own history, language, traditions and experiences, yet those individual stories collectively contribute to a wider Victorian identity.
For Indian and South Asian communities, the event also offered an opportunity to see elements of their cultural heritage represented within a much broader multicultural setting, while connecting with leaders and communities from across Victoria.
The 2026 Premier’s Multicultural Gala Dinner ultimately reflected the idea that Victoria’s diversity is not simply defined by the number of cultures represented within the state, but by the relationships, shared experiences and sense of belonging created between them.
