AUSTRALIAN HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2026 RETURNS ACROSS NSW

From bustling city centres to quiet country towns, the Australian Heritage Festival is an annual celebration of natural, built and cultural heritage.

The nation’s largest community-driven heritage event, the Festival marks its 46th year in 2026, featuring FREE and ticketed events and activities to bring heritage to life for all ages and interests.

The month-long, NSW program of the 2026 Australian Heritage Festival will open on World Heritage Day, Saturday, April 18 and continue daily until Monday, May 18 2026 (inclusive).

Spanning metropolitan and regional areas of the state, the 2026 Festival program includes concerts and performances, special exhibitions, talks and panels, walks, tours of heritage homes and historical sites, food experiences, workshops, family-friendly outdoor events and other curated attractions.

The Australian Heritage Festival is organised, promoted, facilitated and led by the National Trust.

It not only connects communities but also provides patronage and support to worthwhile organisations, including not-for-profit and community groups, businesses, councils, conservation groups, museums, galleries, libraries, spiritual places, and others.

“The Australian Heritage Festival is an opportunity to explore and celebrate the rich history of New South Wales,” explains Debbie Mills, Chief Executive Officer of National Trust (NSW).

“Spanning Sydney’s historic streets to regional towns and sacred Indigenous sites, the festival invites people to discover the places, objects and traditions that tell the stories of our communities and highlight the depth and diversity of our shared heritage.”

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.

Highlights of the Australian Heritage Festival 2026 (NSW)

SYDNEY

• Paranormal Nights at Old Government House – Parramatta, 18 April, from $40: The oldest surviving public building in Australia opens after dark, offering guided ghost tours and supervised paranormal investigations.

• Lindesay After Dark, Darling Point - 28 April, from $45: A very special after-dark tour of historic Lindesay, preceded by wine and canapés in the manicured gardens overlooking Sydney Harbour.

• The Black Hand in Sydney – 18, 24, 26 April and 2, 10 & 16 May, from $45: Walk the backstreets of Razorhurst and uncover the hidden locations once haunted by Sydney’s early mafia kingpins and operatives of Australia’s notorious Italian crime syndicate, the Black Hand.

• White Bay Power Station Behind-the-Scenes Tours - 18 April & 16 May, from $36: Rarely seen areas and hidden spaces of heritage-listed White Bay Power Station will be opened to the public on these exclusive tours.

• Digging Up the Neighbourhood, The Rocks - 22 April, from $36: Starting at Susannah Place, visitors can explore the fascinating archaeological sites in The Rocks and Millers Point, including a rare opportunity to view the Parbury Ruins.

• Ghosts, Grog & The Rocks: Haunted Pubs & Cellar Tour – 18 and 30 April and 7 and 14 May; $39 (adults only): Journey into Sydney’s most infamous pubs and unravel terrifying tales in this 2km walk stating at The Russell Hotel on George Street.

• Spirits of The Rocks: Sydney’s Dark Past + Best Insta Spots – various dates, from 8pm-9.30pm. From $39: Step into the shadows of historic Sydney and journey through a time when convicts enforced their own brutal laws, public executions drew cheering crowds, and the infamous Rocks Push gang ruled the streets. 

• Lost and Buried Walking Tour, Sydney - 18 & 25 April and 2 & 9 May: This tour blends mystery, engineering, and social history, showing how Sydney’s past lies not only in its monuments but also in what has been buried or erased.

FREE

• Extreme Housekeeping: Behind the Scenes of Conservation at Clive James Libaray, Kogarah – 6 May: For one night only, visitors will see original collection items and conservation tools, some available to touch, offering rare access to objects usually kept safely out of reach. 

• Bungambrawatha: Stories of Albury – 18 April – 18 May: Visitors will discover stories of geography and place, agriculture and manufacturing, migration and homecoming, with a spotlight on community achievements.

• Book Launch: Found a Fossil, Macquarie Park - 7 May, 6pm: Palaeontologist Sally Hurst launches her new book Found a Fossil, a celebration of Australia’s dinosaurs, digs, and real‑world discoveries.

BEST OF THE REGIONS

Hunter

• Roaring into History 1920s Themed Dance, Lemon Tree Passage – 18 April, $35: Enjoy the lively sounds of a jazz and swing quartet, fabulous dancing, and a special viewing of a rare 1913 silent film.

• A street of Pubs, Newcastle – 26 April, from $20: Historian Ed Tonks reveals the histories and stories of Hunter Street, once the site of 55 hotels, and an almost forgotten part of Newcastle's past.

• Burton Automotive Hunter Valley Steamfest, Maitland – 18 & 19 April, from $35: A celebration of steam power, history, and family fun. Live music, roving performances, heritage walks, market stalls, gourmet food, and more.

Blue Mountains 

• ‘Looking at Architecture’ Country Weekend, Lower Blue Mountains – 2 – 3 May, from $165: An exclusive selection of historically significant houses and gardens open their doors. An array of special dining events are also on offer.

• Norman Lindsay Vintage Fair, Faulconbridge – 16 May, $5: A vibrant day amid sculptural gardens with vintage market stalls, a fashion parade, classic car displays, live music and more.

Macarthur

• 1880s Historic Estate Tour, Camden – 7 May, from $33: An intimate and immersive guided tour of Dr Crookston’s historic estate; an iconic 1880’s Camden home built by the Macarthur family.

Southern Highlands

• Mother’s Day Sunset Evenings at Retford Park, Bowral – 9 & 10 May, from $35: As the sun sets, Retford Park comes to life with garden drinks and canapés, and a guided lamplit tour through the historic 1887 house.

Southern Tablelands

• Baroque Scottish Music at Riversdale, Goulburn – 19 & 26 April, 3 & 10 May: A rare and mysterious 300-year-old Scottish Baroque music manuscript, recently conserved, will be on display for the very first time.

• Cooma Cottage Open Day & Historic Dance Delights, Yass – 2 May, from $35: A special open day at the home of Australian explorer Hamilton Hume, features guided house tours, period dance performances and Devonshire Tea.

Riverina:

• Where Stories Live - Bullanginya Dreaming Night Experience, Barooga – 18 April – 9 May, from $18: An immersive evening that brings local indigenous culture, storytelling, and Bangerang Country to life, through self-guided night walks with amazing light, fire and sound elements.

Australian Heritage Festival 2026 (NSW) 

A celebration of natural, built and cultural historic heritage with more than 150 events and activities, including concerts and performances, special exhibitions, talks and panels, walks, tours, food experiences, workshops, family-friendly outdoor events and more.

WHEN: 18 April – 18 May 2026

WHERE: Across NSW – metropolitan and regional areas

COST: FREE and ticketed

For more information about the 2026 Australian Heritage Festival, visit australianheritagefestival.org.au.

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