Harmony Festival 2026

NRL Victoria launches new Harmony Festival format celebrating culture, community and connection through rugby league

"In Samoan culture, the strength of the individual comes from the strength of the collective. Values such as fa'aaloalo (respect), tautua (service), alofa (love), and lotogatasi (unity) are at the heart of who we are. The Harmony Festival brings these values to life by creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds to connect through mutual respect, healthy competition, and cultural appreciation." - Lizcha, Rugby League Samoa Victoria Secretary

NRL Victoria is proud to announce a new era for one of the state's most celebrated multicultural rugby league events, with the Harmony Cup evolving into the NRL Victoria Harmony Festival.

Taking place on 24–25 October 2026 at Bridges Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn, the Harmony Festival represents a vision that places culture, community and connection at the heart of the event, with rugby league serving as the place that brings people together.

Rugby League Samoa Victoria's President, Dennie Memea Teniseli, can attest to the power of the event:

“The Harmony Festival is a special opportunity for our Samoan community to come together as one Aiga (Family) and proudly celebrate our culture through rugby league. It reflects the values of Tautua (service), Fa’aaloalo (respect) and Family, while giving our young people the opportunity to represent their Samoan heritage with pride.”

Building on the success of previous Harmony Cup events, the Harmony Festival moves beyond a traditional competition format to create a festival experience that celebrates the diversity of Victoria's multicultural communities through participation, cultural expression, family activities and inclusive rugby league experiences for people of all ages and abilities.

The two-day festival will bring together junior and senior participants, cultural performances, community organisations, schools, Wheelchair Rugby League, and a range of activities designed to strengthen community connections while celebrating the rich cultural diversity that exists across Victorian rugby league. All while increasing the playing opportunities for participants with more games per team being played across the two days (compared to 2025).

Adam Woolnough, Senior Manager, NRL Victoria, said the Harmony Festival represents an exciting chapter for rugby league in Victoria.

"While rugby league remains at the centre of the event, our focus is much broader than what happens on the field."

"Culture and community are the driving force behind the festival, with rugby league acting as the enabler that brings people together. We want to continue creating an environment where families, friends and communities can celebrate who they are, share their culture and build meaningful connections."

"This isn't about moving away from rugby league—it's about recognising the unique ability our game has to unite people from all backgrounds. The Harmony Festival provides a platform where participation, belonging and cultural pride are celebrated equally alongside the game itself.

"Hosting the festival at Bridges Recreation Reserve in Craigieburn places us in one of Australia's fastest growing and most culturally diverse communities, providing the perfect setting to continue growing this unique event."

The expanded festival will also introduce several new participation initiatives aimed at engaging more young people and creating lifelong connections with rugby league. Participation numbers in Victoria have risen another 2.5% in 2026, to a current record of 6347 registered players, up from 6249 in 2025. The new Harmony Festival format is aimed to provide additional opportunities to community members that ordinarily wouldn’t be exposed to the game. 

Ben Jack, Operations and Game Development Manager, NRL Victoria, said the festival would showcase the many ways people can experience rugby league beyond traditional competition.

"One of the most exciting additions this year is the inclusion of our NRL League Stars program, creating opportunities for primary school students to connect with rugby league in a fun, inclusive and engaging environment."

"We're equally proud to expand our all-abilities offering through Wheelchair Rugby League, demonstrating that our game is truly for everyone. The Harmony Festival is about ensuring every member of the community has an opportunity to participate, regardless of age, ability or experience."

The 2026 Harmony Festival comes at an exciting time for the sport, with the Rugby League World Cup being held in Australia later this year. NRL Victoria sees the festival as an opportunity to showcase the state's diverse rugby league communities while celebrating the many nations and cultures that contribute to the growth of the game.

The festival will provide an opportunity for multicultural communities to come together ahead of the global tournament, celebrating their heritage while highlighting Victoria's unique contribution to the international rugby league landscape.

With community participation, cultural performances, school engagement, Wheelchair Rugby League, League Stars activities and family entertainment, the Harmony Festival is set to become one of Victoria's premier multicultural sporting celebrations.

The NRL Victoria Harmony Festival will be held on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October 2026 at Bridges Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn. 

Expressions of Interest for Communities to participate can be made through 2026 Harmony Festival - Community EOI

Stay tuned for updates on player registrations, which will open up once communities and team entries have been confirmed.

For any inquiries, please reach out to harmonyfestivalvic@nrl.com.au