The 2026 Ballarat Heritage Festival full program reveals four days of Hidden Histories

THE 2026 festival explores the cultural forces that have shaped Ballarat, from the world’s oldest continuing culture and gold rush migration through to the communities shaping the city today.

With the full program now live, the festival features a diverse line-up of exhibitions, heritage experiences, steam train journeys, historic precinct tours, antiques, competitions and more, inviting audiences to experience Ballarat’s history from new perspectives.

Ballarat Revealed: Hidden Histories, Shared Together

Transforming the historic Ballarat Mining Exchange into a space dedicated to the city’s layered past, the exhibition will flow from the main space into specially curated booths, each presenting a distinct moment, community or perspective from Ballarat’s history, pairing personal narratives with wider historical chapters.

Taking centre stage will be a large-scale replica of Ballarat’s 1901 Chinese Arch, first erected to welcome visiting dignitaries and a striking reminder of the Chinese communities who played a vital role in shaping the region during the gold rush. Within the Mining Exchange, a dedicated First Nations exhibition space will present stories of Country and culture from the Wadawurrung people, Traditional Owners of the Ballarat region.

When: 21 – 24 May, 10am-5pm

Where: Ballarat Mining Exchange

Price: Free entry

Returning Favourites: Ballarat Antique Fair

The Ballarat Civic Hall will host the 55th Ballarat Antiques Fair with 28 premier antique dealers from five states, offering a diverse selection of furniture, jewellery, glassware, silver, artworks, objets d’art and ceramics.

When: 22-24 May

Where: Ballarat Civic Hall

Price: $12 – $15 entry with items available for purchase

Heritage Harvest Weekend

A vibrant celebration of regional flavour will return to Sovereign Hill on 23–24 May, shining a spotlight on Ballarat’s community of producers, makers and artisans.

Headlining the weekend is award-winning author and renowned food personality Alice Zaslavsky, joined by local toastie expert Tim Bone and Herald Sun Food and Wine Editor Kara Monssen.

Visitors can explore a lively marketplace filled with handcrafted goods and gourmet delights, take part in hands-on workshops designed for all ages, and enjoy a program of live cooking demonstrations featuring leading chefs, bakers and artisans from Ballarat and beyond.

When: 23 & 24 May, 10am to 5pm

Where: Sovereign Hill

 

Ballarat Beard and Stache Competition

Entrants can show off their grooming game at the 10th annual Ballarat Beard and Stache Competition on Saturday 23 May at Hop Temple. It’s free to enter, with great prizes up for grabs.

Plus, don’t miss the Dog Beard and Stache Competition, also at Hop Temple on Sunday 24 May.

Pups rocking a serious beard or a killer outfit will be in the draw for some epic prizes.

When: Saturday 23 May

Where: Hop Temple, Ballarat CBD

Free registration: beardcomp.com.auVintage

Car Show

Step back in time with a striking showcase of classic cars along Camp Street, celebrating more than 120 years of automotive history.

Saturday May 23 highlights vehicles and machinery from the 1900s through to the early 1930s, with a mix of static displays and working demonstrations bringing this formative era to life.

Sunday May 24 shifts focus to rare and distinctive models from the late 1930s to the 1980s, featuring Australian-built classics alongside iconic finned designs, American imports and standout European marques.

When: 23 & 24 May, 10am to 4pm

Where: Camp Street, Ballarat CBD

Steam Train Rides

Steamrail Victoria will rekindle the romance of rail travel in Ballarat across 23–24 May, with heritage steam train shuttle rides operating throughout the festival weekend.

Visitors can step aboard for an 18-kilometre journey to the charming township of Yendon. After a brief stop just beyond the town, the train returns to Ballarat Station, offering a memorable contrast as it passes modern V/Line services on approach.

For those looking to arrive in true 1920s style, one-way heritage services will also run between Melbourne and Ballarat.

When: 23 & 24 May

 

Horse & Carriage Rides

Experience Ballarat’s historic precinct from a unique vantage point with a leisurely horse and carriage ride. Travelling at a gentle pace, visitors can take in the city’s charming streetscapes, notable landmarks and grand architecture.

When: 21 – 24 May

Time: Departing hourly between 10am – 5pm

Where: Ballarat Town Hall

Delicious Additions:

Aunty Jacks Heritage Beer Paddle: Enjoy a curated tasting paddle that traces the evolution of global beer styles and their influence on Ballarat’s brewing heritage, pairing each pour with Stories that bring this rich history to life.

Let it Rise – The History of Baking in Ballarat: Explore Ballarat’s rich breadmaking heritage, from Wadawurrung traditions to gold rush-era bakeries, through storytelling, live demonstrations and tastings that reveal bread’s enduring significance.

Hidden Histories of Ballarat Distilling: Kilderkin Distillery presents an immersive experience uncovering Ballarat’s early distilling history, blending storytelling, guided tours and tastings to reveal the characters and craft behind Victoria’s first licensed whisky and gin.

Craig’s Royal Hotel Building Tour and Devonshire Tea: With rare access to hidden spaces, uncover Craig’s Royal Hotel’s rich history spanning local legends to ghost stories, before concluding with a traditional Devonshire tea.

New Exhibitions

Night at the Museum: An after-dark museum experience invites visitors to explore the Sebastopol Historical Society’s exhibits and historic 1875 schoolhouse, uncovering hidden stories and heritage displays by an eerie, autumn glow.

Little Figures, Long Shadows: A series of 3D-printed busts honours ten LGBTIQA+ figures connected to Ballarat, celebrating their diverse lives and legacies through an exhibition produced at the Ballarat Library Maker Space.

Ken Searle’s 1998 Painting of Ballarat: Through a unique research project and partnership with Australian National University, Federation University and the Art Gallery of Ballarat, the Eureka Centre presents Ken Searles’ monumental painting, Ballarat 1998.

The Photographic Work of Bon Strange: Explore familiar landscapes through the creative lens of Ballarat local, Bon Strange, in the late 1930’s.

BALLARAT HERITAGE FESTIVAL

When: 21-24 May 2026

Where: Various sites, venues and locations across Ballarat

Tickets and info: ballaratheritagefestival.com.au

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