Each March, you may see your child’s school turn orange for a day. It’s Harmony Week, a celebration of the many cultures, languages and backgrounds that make up Australia. Here’s what Harmony Week is, when it happens, why orange is its colour, and some gentle ways to celebrate it with young children at home.
What is Harmony Week?
Harmony Week is “the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds”, in the words of the official Harmony Week website. It’s an Australian Government initiative led by the Department of Home Affairs, and the website says it’s “about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.”
Its message is short enough for any child to remember: everyone belongs. The website encourages people to live that message “in your workplace, community, school, sporting group, local councils and state governments.”
For a young child you might say: “Harmony Week is when we celebrate that families in Australia come from lots of different places, speak lots of different languages, and all belong here together.”
When is Harmony Week?
Harmony Week is held in March each year, in the week that includes 21 March.
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday 16 to Sunday 22 March 2026 |
| 2027 | Not announced yet. Check the Harmony Week website closer to March. |
Last checked 17 October 2026. If your child’s school takes part, the newsletter may mention an orange dress-up day.
Why do people wear orange for Harmony Week?
Orange is “the official colour of Harmony Week”, and it has been since the first event in 1999. The website explains: “Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.”
Wearing something orange is an easy way for children to join in. It doesn’t need to be a whole outfit: an orange hair tie, a pair of socks or a paper badge is plenty.
What happens on 21 March?
Harmony Week includes 21 March, the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The Harmony Week website says that while the week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity, “it is also important to focus on the urgency of combatting racism wherever and whenever it arises.”
For Prep to Year 3, it’s enough to explain it as a day about treating everyone fairly and kindly, whatever they look like, wherever their family comes from and whatever language they speak at home. (For grown-ups: the United Nations explains that the day commemorates the Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa in 1960, when police fired on a peaceful protest against apartheid laws.)
Australia’s many backgrounds
Harmony Week is a good time to notice how many different stories there are around us. The Harmony Week website shares these figures from the 2021 Census:
- “More than half (51.5 per cent) of Australian residents were born overseas or have at least one parent who was.”
- “More than 150 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander languages are spoken in Australia”.
- “We identify with over 300 ancestries.”
Children often find that their own class has families from many places, and that’s something to celebrate.
Talking about belonging with young children
Young children are naturally curious about differences: a classmate’s lunch, a different language at pick-up, a grandparent who wears different clothes. Harmony Week is a chance to make that curiosity warm and respectful.
- Start with your own family. Where were Nan and Pop born? What languages have people in your family spoken? Every family has a story.
- Name the good in difference. “Isn’t it great that Leila can speak two languages?” helps children see differences as interesting, not strange.
- Talk about fairness. If your child says something unkind about someone’s background, stay calm and explain why it could hurt. Our post on calm-down strategies has ideas for talking through big feelings.
Ways to celebrate Harmony Week at home
- Wear orange. Choose one orange thing together on the first day of the week.
- Say hello in new languages. One new greeting a day, written on a card on the fridge.
- Where does your name come from? This is one of the official school ideas. Find out the story or the language behind your child’s first and last names.
- Draw an “everyone belongs” logo. Another official idea: design a picture that shows everyone belongs in your family, school or neighbourhood.
- Share a family food. Cook a dish from your family’s background, or try one from a friend’s, and talk about where it comes from.
- Read stories from many places. Borrow picture books set in different countries, or told by First Nations authors, from your local library.
KidStudy’s Year 3 History lesson Celebrations in Australia looks at the many celebrations Australians share. For more about remembering and celebrating together, see our guide to explaining Anzac Day and Remembrance Day to kids, and for the places families live, Australia’s states and territories for kids.
Questions parents ask
What is Harmony Week?
Harmony Week is an annual Australian Government celebration of Australia’s cultural diversity, led by the Department of Home Affairs. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone, and its message is “everyone belongs”.
When is Harmony Week 2027?
The 2027 dates haven’t been announced yet. Harmony Week is held in March, in the week that includes 21 March; in 2026 it ran from Monday 16 to Sunday 22 March. Check the Harmony Week website closer to the time.
Why do we wear orange for Harmony Week?
Orange is the official colour of Harmony Week and has been since the first event in 1999. The website says orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations, and the encouragement of mutual respect.
What is the message of Harmony Week?
Everyone belongs. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, whatever their cultural or language background.
Is Harmony Week the same as 21 March?
Harmony Week includes 21 March, which is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The week celebrates diversity, and the day is a reminder to stand up against racism.
How can kids celebrate Harmony Week at home?
Wear something orange, learn to say hello in a new language each day, find out where your family names come from, share a family food, and read stories from many cultures together.
Sources
- Harmony Week: Everyone belongs, Department of Home Affairs
- About Harmony Week, Department of Home Affairs
- Get involved, Department of Home Affairs
- Primary school ideas, Department of Home Affairs
- International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, United Nations
