Ukrainian Catholic ChurchAustralia, New Zealand and Oceania
Uki Fest: National Ukrainian Festival held in Sydney
March 15, 2026
From 13 to 15 March 2026, the largest Ukrainian cultural festival, “Uki Fest”, took place in central Sydney. Over the course of three days, the event welcomed thousands of visitors who came to experience Ukrainian culture and traditions.
Ukrainians from across Australia travelled to Sydney for the festival, which was held for the sixteenth time this year, including clergy and the faithful of the Melbourne Eparchy. Among the distinguished guests were representatives of local government, community organisations, and the Ukrainian community. The “Uki Fest” programme featured performances by artistic groups, as well as music and dance, and presentations of Ukrainian culture, traditions, and cuisine.
His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne, also took part in this important event for the Ukrainian community in Australia. Addressing the participants, His Eminence said: “As I look around today—at the music, the dance, the embroidery, the food, and especially the joyful faces of our children—I am reminded that our culture is alive. It is not something kept in a museum or preserved only in memory. It is something we live, something we carry, and something we share. Even far from our homeland, we continue to sing our songs, dance our dances, speak our language, and pass on our traditions with love. And yet, as we celebrate, we cannot forget the deep tragedy that continues to unfold in Ukraine. For more than four years now, our people have endured the suffering of war—families separated, homes destroyed, lives lost, and millions displaced. Every Ukrainian, no matter where they live, carries this pain in their heart. It is a wound that touches us all. But what moves me so deeply—and what I see so clearly here today—is that even in the shadow of this suffering, Ukrainians do not lose their spirit. We do not lose our joy. We do not lose our identity. We do not lose our hope. Instead, we gather—like today—to proclaim that our culture cannot be destroyed, our voice cannot be silenced, and our future cannot be taken away. This is the miracle of the Ukrainian soul: that even in hardship, we create beauty; even in sorrow, we celebrate life; even in darkness, we shine with faith.”
The Bishop expressed his gratitude to the organisers and all who contributed to the festival. “You are not only keeping our traditions alive; you are strengthening the heart of our nation. You are showing Australia, and the world, that Ukraine lives.”
The festival was a vivid testimony that Ukrainians in Australia continue to preserve their spiritual and cultural heritage and actively pass it on to future generations. It is important for us to be together not only in prayer but also at gatherings like this, where we can support one another, share our culture, and bear witness to who we are.
Photo: Giovanni Portelli
