At eight in the morning on the South Perth foreshore, the flag climbs the pole and a Welcome to Country carries across the grass while the river glints behind the stage. New citizens line up for their certificates, the Auspire Community Citizen of the Year Awards are read out, and by half past nine the Rotary Club of Como has the barbecue going. You can smell it before you see it. This is Australia Day in Perth — a morning of ceremony on one bank, a long afternoon and evening of music, markets and fireworks on the other — and the whole thing is easy to join as a visitor.
Watch the morning ceremony on the South Perth foreshore
The City of South Perth runs its Australia Day Morning Ceremony from 8.00 to 9.30am on 26 January 2027. It includes the flag raising, a traditional Welcome to Country, and one of the city's annual citizenship ceremonies, alongside the Auspire Community Citizen of the Year Awards for volunteering, social inclusion, sport, arts, health and environment. The Mayor of South Perth, Greg Milner, and councillors attend with state and federal representatives, and the Governor of Western Australia, the Honourable Chris Dawson, gives an address. An Auslan interpreter stands at the side of the stage throughout the ceremony.
- Then eat: the Great Aussie Breakfast runs 9.30–10.30am, a barbecue breakfast from the Rotary Club of Como at $7, with proceeds going back into the local community.
- Getting there: use the Coode Street carparks and overflow parking on the Sir James Mitchell Park reserve, and follow the parking attendants. Accessible parking is available.
- Know before you go: there are no fireworks or celebration zone at South Perth Foreshore on Australia Day — the evening action is across the water.
Picnic on Langley Park as the city builds to the light show
The City of Perth's riverfront event, branded Hancock Prospecting Australia Day, centres on Langley Park along the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River), which the city names as the best vantage point. Gates effectively open at 3pm and the site runs until 9.30pm. Bring a rug and your own picnic, or buy food and drink in the Hancock Prospecting Picnic Zone, which has seating and shaded areas. The City of Perth also holds its own Australia Day Citizenship and Awards Ceremony with the Auspire Community Citizen of the Year Awards, and introduces a new City of Light Champion Award this year.
- Reflect Respect Celebrate Film Dome presented by Auspire, 3–8pm, free.
- Multicultural Zone, 3–8pm, free: live performances, market stalls and arts and crafts workshops showcasing Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and multicultural communities.
- Carnival Rides and Sideshow Alley, 3–9.30pm, tickets for purchase.
- Freestyle Motocross and BMX stunt shows, 3–7.15pm, free, followed by a sky dive display at 7.15pm.
- Drone and fireworks light show, 8.30–9pm, free, telling an Australiana story — subject to wind conditions and change.
Choose your side of the river for the 8.30pm show
Where you stand changes what you get. The City of Perth recommends Elizabeth Quay and Barrack Square if you want the narrated soundtrack and event facilities — neither is audible or available outside those areas. If you would rather spread out, Langley Park is the city's own pick for the view. Wherever you settle, expect road closures: the closure map and carpark list sit on the Visit Perth website along with the full programme, so plan your journey and arrive early rather than improvising on the day.
Build the rest of the day around the river
Treat the 26th as two halves. Start on the South Perth side for the 8am ceremony and the $7 breakfast, then cross to Langley Park for the 3pm opening of the picnic zone and stay through to the 9pm finish. The gap in the middle is yours: the South Perth reserve and Coode Street carparks put you within walking distance of the foreshore, and the river connects the two banks. If you are travelling with someone who needs accessible parking or an Auslan interpreter, both are provided at the South Perth ceremony — check the Visit Perth programme for facilities at the city event.
Dates, times and line-ups can shift, and the light show in particular is weather-dependent, so confirm the programme on the City of Perth and City of South Perth pages before you book. Then put 26 January 2027 in the diary, pick your bank of the Swan, and plan to be on the grass by eight.