Melbourne’s Greek community is set to mark Greek National Day with a large-scale and vibrant celebration this Sunday, with thousands expected to attend and more than 2,500 participants taking part in the annual parade.
The parade will once again be held along Birdwood Avenue, offering a clear view of the Shrine of Remembrance, before concluding at the Australian Hellenic Memorial.
If favourable weather conditions hold, organisers expect a strong turnout, with thousands of Greek Australians gathering to watch younger generations march with pride.
(Neos Kosmos will publish a special multi-page feature on the national anniversary in Monday’s Greek edition.)
Ceremony and performances
According to organising committee president Sophia Siachou, the national anthems of Greece and Australia will be performed by young Greek Australian singer Hope Zorbas, while the event will be presented by two young hosts.
Volunteers, including members of NUGAS and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese youth, will assist in coordinating the event.
With strong participation, symbolic locations and a renewed sense of community pride, this year’s Greek National Day commemorations in Melbourne are set to be among the most significant in recent years. Photo: Supplied
Full program of commemorations
The Victorian Council for Greek National Day has announced a comprehensive program of religious, commemorative and cultural events to honour the 1821 Greek War of Independence and celebrate the enduring presence of Hellenism in Australia.
- Divine Liturgy and Doxology
Date: Sunday 22 March 2026
Time: 8:00am
Location: St Eustathios Greek Orthodox Church, 221 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne
- Commemorative Service at the Shrine of Remembrance
Date: Sunday 22 March 2026
Time: 12:30pm – 1:15pm
- Location: Shrine forecourt (Eternal Flame)
A memorial service will honour the long-standing friendship and military alliance between Greece and Australia, with a wreath-laying ceremony attended by a limited number of dignitaries.
- Greek National Day Parade
Date: Sunday 22 March 2026
Times:
11:30am – Participant arrival
1:30pm – Parade begins
2:30pm – Parade concludes
Route: Birdwood Avenue to the Australian Hellenic Memorial
Following the memorial service, the parade will feature Greek community organisations, schools, cultural groups and veterans. As participants pass the Australian Hellenic Memorial, they will pay tribute to the servicemen and women of both nations who fought for freedom.
Organisers clarified that while the parade will take place in close proximity to the Shrine, it will not occur within the grounds of the memorial itself.
A celebration of identity and unity
The parade stands as both a tribute to history and a celebration of Greek cultural identity in Victoria, highlighting the contributions of Greek Australians to the state’s multicultural fabric.
The Victorian Council has issued an open invitation to all members of the community and philhellenes to attend, calling on the diaspora to honour their heritage with unity and pride.
Greek flag to be raised at Federation Square
Celebrations will culminate on Wednesday 25 March, when the Greek flag will be ceremonially raised at midnight at Federation Square.
Landmarks across Melbourne’s CBD will also be illuminated in blue and white to mark the occasion.
GREEK NATIONAL DAY PARADE ORDER
At least 50 parade groups—including schools, federations, cultural organisations and community associations—will take part in this year’s procession, making it one of the largest Greek National Day events in Australia.
ARRIVAL
The 1821 Banner of the Dormition of the Theotokos
The Greek, Australian, Cypriot & Archdiocese Flags
HONORARY OPENING
1. Drumming unit of St John’s Greek Orthodox College
2. Epirotes of Melbourne
OPENING
3. Victorian Hellenic Police Association & Australian Federal Police
EXSERVICE & ELDERLY ORGANISATIONS
4. Australian Greek Ex Servicemen’s Association Inc
5. Federation of Greek Elderly Citizens Clubs of Melbourne and Victoria
EARLY LEARNING & SPECIAL ABILITIES
6. AGAPI Care Inc.
7. Fronditha Care
SCHOOLS – GREEK COMMUNITY OF MELBOURNE AND VICTORIA
8. Alphington Grammar School
9. Greek Community of Melbourne’s Language and Culture School
SCHOOLS OF THE PARISHES & COMMUNITIES OF THE GREEK ARCHDIOCESE
10. St John’s Greek Orthodox College
11. Taxiarches Greek School of Mentone and Districts Inc
VICTORIAN COUNCIL FOR GREEK NATIONAL DAY
12. Oakleigh Grammar School
13. Sts Anargiri Greek Language Centre
14. Aetolian College of Hellenic Language & Culture – Holy Archdiocese
Brunswick Greek Orthodox Parish “St. Vasilios”
Coburg Greek Orthodox Parish “The Presentation of Our Lord”
Keilor East Greek Orthodox Parish “Panagia Soumela”
Malvern Greek Orthodox Parish “St. Catherine”
Nunawading Greek Orthodox Parish “St. Andreas”
Red Hill “Panagia Kamariani”
St. Albans Greek Orthodox Parish “St. Paraskevi”
Springvale Greek Orthodox Parish “St. Athanasios”
Thomastown Greek Orthodox Parish “The Transfiguration of Our Lord”
Yarraville Greek Orthodox Parish “St. Nikolaos”
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
15. Saint Panteleimon Greek School – Greek Orthodox Community of Dandenong and
District
16. AHEPA Greek School
17. Alpha Greek School
18. LEXI School of Modern Greek
19. Nestoras College
20. Omiros College
21. Pedia Greek School
22. Pegasus Dance Academy
23. Pythagoras Greek School
24. Altona Greek School
25. Protypo Greek Centre
26. Zenon Cultural Centre Inc
27. School of Greek Language and Culture Box Hill
STATE SCHOOLS
28. Victorian School of Languages
29. South Oakleigh College
30. Clarinda Primary School
FEDERATIONS
31. Pan-Macedonian Association of Melbourne and Victoria
Thessaloniki Association “White Tower”
VICTORIAN COUNCIL FOR GREEK NATIONAL DAY
Society Halkidikeon “Aristotle the Stagirite”
Pontic Educational and Cultural Association “Akrites Tou Pontou”
Cultural Centre of Florinians “Aristotelis”
32. Cretan Federation of Australia
33. Panarcadian Federation of Victoria
Panarcadian Association of Melbourne and Victoria “O Kolokotronis”
34. Dodecanesian Federation of Australia – DFA
35. Federation of Messinian Organisations of Melbourne and Victoria
Society of Kalamata “23 March”
Pantrifilian Association of Melbourne and Victoria
Pammessinian Brotherhood “Papaflessas”
ORGANISATIONS
36. Cypriot Communities of Melbourne
37. Central Pontian Association “Pontiaki Estia”
38. AHEPA Victoria Inc
39. Pallaconian Brotherhood of Melbourne and Victoria “Leonidas”
40. Pan-Korinthian Association of Melbourne and Victoria
41. Pankalavrytini Adefotis Melbourne and Victoria (Australia) “Agia Lavra”
42. Hellenic Cultural Association “O Periklis”
43. Panagia Soumela Melbourne
44. Greek Women of Northern Suburbs “Anemones”
45. National Union of Greek-Australian Students
46. Hellenic School of Dance, Culture, Arts and Music, Diocese of Melbourne
47. The Holy Diocese of Chora Dance Academy
48. Greek-Australian Scouts of Victoria
49. MANASIS School of Greek Dance and Culture
50. Victorian Council for Greek National Day
