Bendigo Sustainability Festival 2026

Now a beloved fixture on Bendigo’s annual calendar, the Bendigo Sustainability Festival returns in 2026 with a renewed spirit of connection, care, and collective action. This year’s theme, "Welcome Home", explores the idea of home not just as a place, but as our connection to ourselves and each other as well — a shared space built from - empowered by lived experience, and the desire to care for one another and the planet we live on.

"Home" in all its meanings will shape the festival experience: from the places we live and the communities we grow, to the bodies we inhabit and the partnerships we build. It reminds us that sustainability starts where we are — in our kitchens, gardens, sheds, conversations, and everyday choices — and grows outward through cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and action.

Held once again in the beautiful surrounds of the Garden for the Future, the site will be transformed into a reimagined home, with different areas reflecting rooms and shared spaces where we live and connect. From the kitchen and dining room to the games room, garden, and backyard shed, each part of the festival will host stalls, activities, and experiences that ground sustainability in the local, the practical and the personal.

Visitors can expect a dynamic and inclusive day of activities — from inspiring speakers to kitchen table conversations and climate discussions to hands-on workshops in crafting, cooking and food growing, our annual EV expo, and information on sustainable and renewable energy. Local performers, artists and experts will be centre stage at the event, alongside a vibrant range of local stalls, sustainable businesses, and community groups sharing practical tools and inspiring ideas for sustainable living.

This is a festival built by and for the community — an invitation to share your skills, stories and hopes for the future. Whether you’re just starting your sustainability journey or you’ve been part of the movement for years, we welcome you home.