Australia Day 2026 Ambassadors Announced To Celebrate Australia
Announcement posted by Destination NSW 07 Jan 2026
Australia Day in New South Wales
Australia Day Ambassadors and NSW Communities Ignite National Pride
Reflect. Respect. Celebrate.
Wednesday 7 January 2026
Images can be found here
Local Government Areas across NSW will play host to 111 inspirational Australians on 26 January as the Australia Day Ambassador Program, the largest in the country, enters its 36th year.
Set to take part in local events spanning the state, ambassadors for 2026 represent all facets of our community and what it means to be Australian. They are champions in their respective fields; from a world-renowned interior designer, a celebrated Superbike Champion, an awarding winning flautist, and celebrity chefs, to the voice of Blinky Bill.
Every year, the Australia Day Council of NSW selects a group of remarkable Australians whose achievements spark a sense of national pride and 2026 is no different. Their personal journeys are as unique and uplifting as the towns and regions they travel to.
From Balranald Shire Council in the Murray Region, the Kyogle Council in the Northern Rivers, to Parramatta and Blacktown in Sydney, the Ambassador program covers every corner of the state and enriches local events and celebrations.
Participating ambassadors and LGAs have both seen an increase from 2025, a testament to the way NSW communities and residents are honouring our national day in a way that is meaningful to them.
Minister for Jobs and Tourism the Hon Steve Kamper said: "Australia Day is an opportunity to celebrate what unites us. Our shared values. Our diversity. The spirit of mateship that defines our nation and what makes us inherently Australian.
"It is wonderful to see so many inspiring individuals volunteering their time to support Australia Day 2026 in NSW communities. The breadth of their collective achievements is truly remarkable.
"The Australia Day Ambassador program and the sheer volume of local events planned across the state are a reminder of how strong our sense of community in NSW truly is."
Ambassador commitments include presenting community members with Citizen of the Year awards, participating in local events and welcoming new Australians at citizenship ceremonies. They also get involved in judging quintessentially Australian competitions such as thong throwing, yabby races, watermelon eating and backyard cricket, all while experiencing the warm hospitality that only NSW can offer.
Each reason for an ambassador to partake in the longstanding program and what they seek to contribute with their role is different.
First time Australia Day Ambassador, TV Cook, Broadcaster and Writer, Fuzz Ali said: "I am excited to get out into the community, and to meet our local heroes who embody this spirit. People who have been here for more than 60,000 years, and those who arrived in our generation, all hoping to leave the world, and this wonderful country, better than how we first experienced it.
"I had the privilege of being born in Australia, growing up in Fiji, and returning to Australia as an adult, I've experienced the generosity of this country here at home, and out in the wider world. This is something worth celebrating."
General Practitioner and television host Dr Cindy Pan has been an ambassador for over 15 years and her commitment to the program is a personal one.
"It's taken me to places I might otherwise not have visited and it's a valuable opportunity to reflect and consider what it means to be an Australian, to consider my heritage and how my parents each came to be here; to explore and interrogate our family's and our country's past, appreciate our present, dream about our future." she said.
Australia Day events whether regional or metropolitan are the catalyst for bringing people together within their local communities to celebrate their achievements, strengths and unique character.
The full list of 2026 NSW Australia Day Ambassadors and the communities they will visit is available at: australiaday.com.au/about/australia-day-ambassadors.
The NSW Government's lead agency for tourism and major events, Destination NSW, is delivering the Australia Day in NSW event program on behalf of the Australia Day Council of NSW.
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