wa day
WAOTY
The 2025/26 financial year was another significant year for Celebrate WA, as we continued to strengthen the reach and impact of our programs and create opportunities for Western Australians to come together, celebrate our State and recognise the people and stories that make it extraordinary.
Our statewide WA Day celebrations once again brought communities together across metropolitan and regional Western Australia. While severe weather across the State impacted our traditional WA Day long weekend in June, resulting in the cancellation or postponement of several events, thousands of people still joined celebrations in Geraldton, Newman, Port Hedland, Broome and Karratha. Despite these challenges, our regional celebrations continue throughout the year, with Carnarvon joining the program in October and the postponed Fremantle event also set to return that month, providing even more opportunities for communities to come together and celebrate everything that makes Western Australia special.
The year also saw us continue to build on the success of moving the metropolitan WA Day Festival to November. Following the outstanding response to the inaugural November event in 2024, planning commenced for an even more ambitious 2025 Festival at Burswood Park, with an expanded program of free entertainment, live music, cultural experiences, sport and family activities designed to showcase the very best of Western Australia.
Our commitment to recognising outstanding Western Australians remained at the heart of our work through the 2026 Western Australian of the Year Awards. More than 600 guests gathered at Crown Perth to celebrate 21 exceptional finalists across seven categories, each representing the remarkable contribution Western Australians make across business, community, culture, professions, sport, youth and Aboriginal achievement. Dr Jim Giumelli was named the 2026 Western Australian of the Year in recognition of his outstanding leadership and contribution to the State.
Beyond our major events, we continued to find new ways to share Western Australian stories and engage communities. Initiatives including our partnership with 7NEWS Perth to launch the Junior Reporter competition created opportunities for young Western Australians to share what they love about their State, while our ongoing partnerships across government, business, media and community helped extend the reach of Celebrate WA programs throughout Western Australia.
These achievements are made possible by the continued commitment of our Board, partners, stakeholders and dedicated team. I extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to Celebrate WA throughout 2025/26.
As we look ahead, we remain focused on creating meaningful opportunities for Western Australians to connect with one another, celebrate our shared identity and recognise the people, places and stories that make our State unique.
Chairman
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Honorary Treasurer
Co-Patrons
Celebrate WA is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to celebrating Western Australia, its people and the stories, achievements and experiences that make our State extraordinary.
Through major events, awards and community initiatives, we bring Western Australians together, recognise excellence across all fields of endeavour and inspire pride in the place we call home.
At the heart of our work is WA Day – a celebration for everyone who calls Western Australia home. From our rich Aboriginal history and cultures and the stories of our early settlers, to the diverse communities that shape our State today, WA Day reflects the many people, places and experiences that make Western Australia unique.
In 2012, Foundation Day officially became WA Day following bipartisan support, marking an important shift towards a more inclusive celebration of our State and its shared identity.
During 2025/26, WA Day celebrations continued to evolve, reaching communities across metropolitan and regional Western Australia. Regional celebrations brought WA Day to communities across the State in June, while the flagship two-day WA Day Festival returned to Burswood Park in November, building on the successful move of the metropolitan Festival from its traditional winter timing.
This evolution also looks ahead to an important milestone for WA Day. From 2028, the public holiday will permanently move to the second Monday in November, creating new opportunities for Western Australians to come together and celebrate our State.
Across one of the largest and most diverse states in the world, our celebrations are designed to create opportunities for people of all backgrounds, cultures and regions to participate, connect and share in what it means to be Western Australian.
Celebrate WA’s work is made possible through strong partnerships with government, industry, media, community organisations and our valued sponsors. Together, we create experiences that connect communities, celebrate achievement and build pride in Western Australia.
Building on the success of WA Day’s move to November in 2024, the 2025 WA Day Festival returned to Burswood Park on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 November, expanding into two full days of free entertainment, culture, music and family experiences.
Thousands of Western Australians came together across the weekend to celebrate everything that makes our State special. From live music and cultural storytelling to free carnival rides, food and interactive activations, the Festival created a vibrant celebration of Western Australian people, culture and community.
Western Australian music took centre stage across both days, with a diverse line-up of homegrown artists showcasing the depth of talent our State has to offer.
Festival-goers enjoyed performances from Jebediah, Drapht, Little Birdy, South Summit, Voyager, OrchXtra featuring Lucy Durack and Justin Burford, Smol Fish, Flewnt, Boox Kid, Mariae Cassandra, Ullah, Dolce Blue and more.
From emerging artists to some of Western Australia’s most recognised performers, live music brought crowds together throughout the weekend and provided a fitting soundtrack to the State’s biggest celebration.
Beyond the main stage, Burswood Park was transformed into a playground of free entertainment and experiences for all ages.
Families enjoyed free carnival rides, hands-on activities, sporting experiences and BMX demonstrations, alongside more than 50 food providers and 20 activations across the Festival.
Among the weekend’s standout experiences was The Whale, a spectacular large-scale puppetry installation by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, alongside the popular Aussie Maze and the return of the WA Icons Mascot Race. Day one also began with a spectacular skydiving display over Burswood Park.
Aboriginal culture and storytelling remained an important part of the Festival program, creating opportunities for audiences to engage with the rich history, stories and living cultures of Western Australia’s First Nations people.
As the sun went down, Burswood Park came alive after dark, with fireworks lighting up the Perth sky on both nights.
The nightly displays provided a spectacular finale to two days of celebration, bringing crowds together to close each evening with one of the Festival’s most anticipated moments.
The 2025 marketing and media campaign proved exceptionally successful, with strategic investment across Seven West Media, Nova and out-of-home advertising, supported by social media, PR, partner amplification, merchandise and on-site visibility at Burswood Park to maximise campaign reach and impact. The campaign generated 1,089 media items across print, digital, radio and broadcast, achieving an advertising space rate value of $2.82 million and an estimated PR value of $8.47 million.
Across Geraldton, Newman, Port Hedland, Broome and Karratha, the 2026 WA Day regional festivals brought more than 21,000 Western Australians together to celebrate their communities, culture and connection to our State. Each festival reflected the character of its region, with live music and performances, creative workshops, family activities, local food and spectacular evening entertainment creating free and accessible celebrations for all ages.
Geraldton welcomed more than 3,000 people to the Museum of Geraldton, with local performers, hands-on creative activities and wildlife encounters bringing the community together despite challenging weather conditions across the State. In Newman, approximately 4,000 people – representing a significant proportion of the local community – gathered at Emu Oval for live entertainment, circus workshops, Scitech activities and a spectacular fireworks display.
Port Hedland recorded the largest regional attendance of the program, with approximately 6,000 people celebrating against the waterfront backdrop of Spoil Bank Marina. Live music, interactive Scitech experiences and a silent disco overlooking the harbour were among the highlights. In Broome, 4,500 people gathered at Town Beach Reserve for local markets, food, family activities and live performances before fireworks lit up Roebuck Bay.
The regional program concluded in Karratha, where more than 3,600 people came together at Bulgarra Oval. Free carnival rides, circus workshops, Scitech STEM experiences, Rio Tinto’s Outback Athletics activation and live performances from Western Australian artists created a vibrant community celebration, culminating in a spectacular fireworks finale.
Together, the 2026 regional festivals demonstrated the continued strength of WA Day beyond metropolitan Perth – creating opportunities for communities to connect, participate and celebrate the people, places and experiences that make Western Australia unique. The program brought Celebrate WA’s pillars to life through inclusion, community participation, Aboriginal engagement, celebrating our history, promoting excellence and civic pride.
The 2026 regional marketing and media campaign delivered strong statewide visibility, supported by targeted advertising, social media, community engagement and partner amplification, while PR and earned media generated more than 280 items across print, digital, radio and broadcast, including multiple front-page stories and extensive regional coverage.
The 2026 partnership with the West Coast Eagles built on the success of its inaugural year, once again using one of Western Australia’s biggest sporting stages to celebrate the State’s people, achievements and community spirit.
The Round 12 WA Day match against Essendon at Optus Stadium saw the Eagles take to the field in their distinctive black and gold WA Day guernsey, supported by a range of WA Day activations throughout the stadium and fan zone. The popular WA Icons Mascot Race returned at quarter time, while free WA Day beanies and WA-themed airbrush tattoos provided further opportunities for fans to engage with the celebration.
The partnership also provided an important platform to recognise Western Australian excellence. 2026 Western Australian of the Year Dr Jim Giumelli, a lifelong West Coast Eagles member, performed the official pre-game coin toss using a special Perth Mint coin. Celebrate WA also hosted Western Australian of the Year category winners and key stakeholders at the match, bringing together two of the organisation’s flagship programs in a high-profile setting.
Through strong match-day visibility, fan engagement and recognition of outstanding Western Australians, the partnership continued to extend the reach of WA Day and reinforce a shared sense of pride in Western Australia.
The 2026 Western Australian of the Year Awards were held at Crown Perth on Thursday 28 May, continuing a proud tradition of recognising and celebrating Western Australians whose achievements and contributions have made an extraordinary impact on our State and beyond.
More than 600 guests from across business, government and the community came together to celebrate an outstanding group of finalists across seven categories: Aboriginal, Arts & Culture, Business, Community, Professions, Sport and Youth.
Among an exceptional field, Dr Jim Giumelli was named the 2026 Western Australian of the Year, also receiving the CME WA Business Award. His recognition reflected an extraordinary career and contribution to Western Australia, alongside category winners Professor Colleen Hayward AM, Lucky Oceans, Mark Glasson, Dr Daniel Hunt, Stephen Michael and Jack Anderson.
The Awards once again showcased the remarkable calibre and diversity of Western Australians making a difference across our State. From emerging young leaders to individuals whose contributions span decades, the 2026 finalists and winners demonstrated the innovation, leadership, generosity and commitment that continue to shape Western Australia and inspire future generations.
The 2026 Western Australian of the Year Awards achieved strong statewide media exposure, generating 315 media placements across 50 outlets, with 99.4% of coverage appearing in Western Australian media. Coverage across online, television, radio and print profiled the finalists and category winners, celebrated Dr Jim Giumelli as the 2026 Western Australian of the Year, and connected the Awards with the broader WA Day celebrations.
The campaign delivered an ASR value of $367,097 and an estimated PR value of $1.1 million, with overwhelmingly positive coverage.
As the Awards’ broadcast partner, 7NEWS delivered more than eight minutes of dedicated coverage, showcasing the seven award categories, sponsors, finalists and winners across the finalist announcement, Awards Night and post-event coverage.
