Mayoral Column – Australia Day events in the City

Thursday, 22 January 2026

Every year, this City comes together for Australia Day to celebrate our diversity and strong sense of community spirit.

Council is set to host two citizenship ceremonies on 26 January, when I will proudly welcome 368 new citizens to Penrith. It’s incredible to have so many people choosing to call this City their home - and it is telling of how special Penrith really is.

We are fortunate to have our newest citizens bring their experiences from different backgrounds that enrich and strengthen our growing multicultural community.

Whether we are citizens through birth or by choice, citizenship of our great country is a chance to embrace shared identity, the common bond that unites Australians, while respecting our differences.

I invite you to join our Australia Day community celebrations at Ripples Leisure Centre St Marys and Ripples Penrith. Enjoy free entry to your closest pool party and make a splash with family and friends.

There is something for everyone, with live circus performances, a mermaid experience, garden games, giveaways and a range of family-friendly activities. First Nations–led cultural experiences including boomerang painting will provide learning and engagement opportunities.

Our youngest residents will love the splash parks featuring water jets and slides and there are plenty of shaded areas.

Ripples Leisure Centre St Marys and Ripples Penrith will be open from 8am to 6pm. Be sure to arrive early to secure a spot and make the most of this free community event. Find out more at penrith.city/australiaday

To keep everyone safe and ensure it’s an enjoyable experience for all, Ripples will implement capacity restrictions. Keep an eye on socials for updates.

Council looks forward to celebrating with our community and we thank the Australian Government for supporting these events through the National Australia Day Council.

However you choose to celebrate Australia Day, I encourage you to embrace our beautiful environment, connection to nature and what we value most about living in this wonderful City.

Cr Todd Carney
Mayor of Penrith

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Thursday, 22 January 2026.