As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, this milestone year offers a moment to reflect on five decades of partnership, shared values, and enduring collaboration.
The events, initiatives and activities listed below have been formally approved to feature the special 50th anniversary logo, highlighting their contribution to this significant year.
Multi-month events
31 January-18 April 2026 – Nature Within: The Architecture of Toyo Ito
Place of event: Level 4, Central Park, 28 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW.
Mid-February-end March 2026 – And Over to You: Five Conversations on Sample Return Missions by Tomoko Kate Kitagawa
Event recap: And Over to You: Five Conversations on Sample Return Missions - Lot Fourteen.
7 April-29 May 2026 – The Origami Art of Tomoko Fuse
Place of event: Kerry Packer Civic Gallery, Level 3, Hawke Building, Adelaide University, 55 North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000.
April-September 2026 – Mitsui Educational Foundation 2026 Application and Alumni Reunion
Place of event: Melbourne, VIC; Sydney, NSW; Perth, WA; Brisbane, QLD.
1 May-29 August 2026 – Suddenly This Overview
Place of event: The Japan Foundation, Sydney, Level 4, Central Park, 28 Broadway, Chippendale, NSW 2008
Event website: Suddenly This Overview.
May-December – "Music & Story - My Indigenous" 50th Australia-Japan Youth Music Collaboration by Byron Multicultural Inc.
Place of event: Sunshine Coast, QLD; Brisbane, QLD; Gold Coast, QLD; Sydney, NSW; Perth, WA.
20 June, 27 June, 20 July, and 17 October – Big Japanese Market
Place of event: Crows Nest, Macquarie Park, NSW.
Event website: Big Japanese Market.
29 June-5 July 2026 – Ichiyo Ikebana Experience
Place of event: Ichiyo School of Ikebana, Melbourne VIC.
Event website: Ichiyo Melbourne.
28 July-7 August 2026 – Youth Wing Exchange – international youth exchange
Place of event: Kagoshima, Japan and Perth, WA.
Year-round – Tokyo City University Australia Exchange Program
Exchange program locations: Multiple – Perth, Brisbane, Gold Coast.
Participating universities: Tokyo City University, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University, Queensland University of Technology, Southern Cross University.
February
2 and 4 February 2026 – Japan Roadshow 2026
Sydney – 2 February 2026
Place of event: Doltone House Hyde Park, 3/181 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, NSW.
Brisbane – 4 February 2026
Place of event: The W Brisbane Hotel, 81 North Quay, Brisbane City, QLD.
Event recap: JNTO Japan Roadshow 2026 draws 320+ Aussie advisors.
26 February 2026 – Perth USAsia: Japan Symposium
Event recap: Japan Symposium 2026 - Perth USAsia Centre.
March
1-14 March 2026 – Sojo University-Curtin University Pharmacy Exchange Perth Training Program 2026
Place of event: Curtin University, Bentley, WA; various locations around Perth, WA.
4 March 2026 – CLAIR Symposium
Place of event: University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Building 1, Level 22, Room 10, 15 Broadway, Ultimo NSW 2007.
Event highlights: Instagram - Japan Local Government Centre (CLAIR SYDNEY).
4 March 2026 – Australia Food Seminar (co-hosted by the Consulate-General of Japan in Sydney and JETRO Sydney)
Event recap: Consulate Event Gallery | Consulate-General of Japan, Sydney.
9-23 March 2026; 10-24 March 2026 – Japan-Australia Education Exchange Program (various Australian secondary schools)
Place of event: Shibuya, Tokyo and Melbourne, Australia.
13 March 2026 – Australia-Japan Canberra Space and Cyber Forum
Place of event: Canberra, ACT.
Event recap: LinkedIn - Canberra Cyber Hub.
14 March 2026 – Perth Japan Festival
Place of event: 103 Birdiya Dr, Perth, WA.
Event highlights: Instagram - Perth Japan Festival official.
14, 16-17 March 2026 – Nagano Prefecture Products Promotion Program in Perth
Place of event: Langley Park, Perth (Perth Japan Festival) and Mon Japanese Bistro.
20 March 2026 – 8th Annual Australia-Japan International Women's Day, Innovation Through Inclusion for a STEM-Ready Society
Place of event: National Communication Museum, 375 Burwood Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122.
LinkedIn: Australia Japan Business Council of Victoria.
23 March 2026 – Understanding Japan’s Economic Security Policy
Place of event: Webinar (online), co-hosted by the Australia-Japan Research Centre at the Australian National University (ANU) and the Embassy of Japan in Australia.
Event recap: LinkedIn – Professor Arata Kuno.
30 March 2026 – Forging the Next 50 Years: Australian Investment Opportunities in Japan
Place of event: Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney.
Event recap: Forging the Next 50 Years: Australian Investment Opportunities in Japan.
April
28 April 2026 – Nikkei Asia Forum Perth 2026
Place of event: Perth, WA, and online.
Event recap: Nikkei Asia Forum Perth 2026.
28 April 2026 – Beyond the Treaty: Cultural and Educational Career Pathways, Australia-Japan Youth Dialogue
Place of event: Online
Event recording: Beyond the Treaty.
May
2 May 2026 – Japanese Washi Art & Piano Concert: "A message from a world without words"
Place of event: Brighton Concert Hall, North Brighton, SA
12 May 2026 – 2026 Student Awards Evening
Event recap: 2026 Student Awards Evening.
15 May 2026 – USYD Talk: Japan is Calling
Event recap: SBS Japanese – Japan is Calling.
16-17 May 2026 – Australian Sake Awards
Place of event: Wentworth Park Sporting Complex, Glebe, NSW.
Event recap: Australian Sake Awards.
21 May 2026 – Inawashiro Educational Exchange Reception
Place of event: Canberra, ACT.
27 May 2026 – Japanese Film Screening: The Making of a Japanese & Award Ceremony
Place of event: University of Tasmania, TAS.
28-31 May 2026 – IWFF World Championships 2026
Place of event: Sydney, NSW.
June
2 June 2026 – JP-AU Resilient Energy Futures – Navigating Pathways to Net Zero
Place of event: The Westin Perth, Perth, WA.
Event recap: Forging the Future of Decarbonisation.
2 June 2026 – 50 Years of Friendship Talk
Place of event: University of Newcastle, NSW.
Event recap: Consulate-General Japan in Sydney Instagram.
6 June 2026 – RISING Melbourne Day Tripper Music Festival, supported by The Japan Foundation
Place of event: Melbourne Town Hall, VIC.
8 June 2026 – Tumbalong Nights (Vivid Sydney), supported by The Japan Foundation
Place of event: Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW.
16 June 2026 – AIIA-WA Young Professionals Network Dialogue on Australia-Japan Relationship
Place of event: Perth, WA.
Event recap: Consulate-General of Japan in Perth Instagram.
16 June 2026 – The Japan Times: Australia-Japan 50th Anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation Special Report
Link to report: Bridges Australia-Japan Report.
19-21 June 2026 – Australian Sake Festival 2026
Place of event: John Reid Pavillion, Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane, QLD
29 June 2026 – Australia-Japan 50th Anniversary Networking Event, hosted by the Australia-Japan Society (AJS) ACT and the Australia-Japan Businesswomen's Network (AJBWN)
Place of event: Parkes, ACT.
30 June 2026 – Gala Dinner Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan
Co-hosted by the National Federation of Australia Japan Societies and the Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee (invitation only).
Place of event: Great Hall, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Event recap: Gala Dinner: A Celebration of 50 Years of Friendship and Cooperation.
July
4-5 July 2026 – Australian Sake Festival 2026
Place of event: Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, VIC
6-10 July 2026 – Tanabata-Star Festival
Place of event: University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS.
Event recap: University of Tasmania Instagram.
11-12 July 2026 – Sydney Manga and Anime Show! (SMASH!)
Place of event: International Convention Centre, Sydney NSW.
13 July 2026 – The Lady Samurai: A Truer History of Japan's Unification
Place of event: The Japan Foundation, Sydney, Central Park Mall, Chippendale NSW.
Event recap: LinkedIn – Kate Kitagawa.
23-26 July 2026 – Perth Comic Arts Festival
28 July 2026 – Australia-Japan Symposium
Place of event: Sydney, NSW.
30 July 2026 – Japanese Film Screening: The Making of a Japanese
Place of event: University of Melbourne, VIC.
August
1 August 2026 – Japanese Culture Experience Day 2026
Place of event: JAPANEASY, Level 1, 183 Exhibition Street, Melbourne VIC.
Event website: JAPANEASY.
3 August 2026 – Japanese Film Screening: The Making of a Japanese
Place of event: University of Tasmania, TAS.
7-10 August 2026 – Aoki Village International Exchange Program, Aoki Village Intangiable Cultural Property: 'Gimin Taiko' (Japanese drums) Melbourne performance
Place of event: Various locations, VIC.
15 August 2026 – Bonsai Society of Sydney – Annual Exhibition
Place of event: Forestville Community Arts Centre, 6 Darley Street Forestville NSW.
Event website: Bonsai Society of Sydney.
17-18 August – Japan Roadshow 2026
Place of event: Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Sydney, NSW; Pullman Brisbane King George Square, Brisbane, QLD.
Event website: JNTO Japan Roadshow.
21 August 2026 – Nippon Connect Society Australia-Japan Friendship Festival 2026
Place of event: Edith Cowan University (Joondalup Campus), Perth WA.
Event information: Instagram.
22 August 2026 – Ikenobo Sydney Chapter 30th Anniversary Exhibition and Demonstration
Place of event: The Art Gallery of NSW.
Event website: Celebration of Ikenobo Sydney chapter’s 30th anniversary commemorative ikebana exhibition.
23 August 2026 – Japanese Language Speech Contest, Victoria, 2026
Place of event: Yasuko Hiraoka Myer Room, 1st Floor, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC
Event website: The Japanese Speech Contest Victoria.
26 August 2026 – Nikkei Asia Forum Sydney 2026
Place of event: Sydney CBD.
26-28 August 2026 – International Workshop on Network for Translingual Japanese (IWTNJ 2026)
Place of event: Mangrove Hotel, Broome, WA.
Event website: International Workshop on Network for Translingual Japanese.
30 August 2026 – Shinju Matsuri - Floating Lanterns Matsuri
Place of event: Gantheaume Beach, Minyirr, WA.
Event website: Floating Lanterns Matsuri — Shinju Matsuri.
September
5 September 2026 – Matsuri Brisbane 2026
Place of event: White Hill State School, Brisbane QLD.
Event website: Matsuri Brisbane 2026.
5-6 September 2026 – 34th International Japanese- English Translation Conference
Place of event: Storey Hall, RMIT University, Melbourne VIC.
Event website: IJet 23 Melbourne.
7-20 September 2026 – South West Japan Festival
Place of event: Bunbury, Busselton, Dunsborough, Harvey (all WA).
Event website: South West Japan Festival.
10 September 2026 – Australian Sake Awards – gala dinner
Place of event: Park Royal Darling Harbour, Sydney, NSW.
Event website: Australian Sake Awards.
11-13 September 2026 – Australian Sake Festival 2026
Place of event: Overseas Passenger Terminal, Sydney, NSW
Event website: Sake Festival - Sydney.
20 September 2026 – Japan and Friends Day
Place of event: Albert Waterways Park, Mermaid Waters QLD.
Event website: Japan and Friends Day.
23-30 September 2026 – UWA Judo Club – Legacy Japan-Australia Judo Exchange Visit
Place of event: UWA Judo Club Dojo & UWA Uni Club, Goldsworthy Road, Claremont WA 6010.
October
1 October 2026 – World Sake Day Symposium
Place of event: Macquarie University, Sydney NSW.
Event website: Cellar Mates World Sake Day.
21 October 2026 – 50th Anniversary of the NARA Treaty - Australia MEXT Alumni Committee Event
Place of event: Online.
23 and 25 October 2026 – Japan Jazz Night – Celebrating 50 Years of Australia-Japan Friendship
Place of event: Liberty Theatre, NSW.
Event website: Japan Jazz Nights.
30-31 October 2026 – 2026 National Symposium on Japanese Language Education
Place of event: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Brunton Ave, Richmond, VIC.
Event website: NSJLE – National Symposium on Japanese Language Education.