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