funding · Inner West Council
Inner West backs 2026 Christmas program with decorations, grants and Light Up Fest
Seasonal decorations will roll out from mid-November, with new feature installations planned for Dulwich Hill Station Plaza, Leichhardt Town Hall, Annandale and Alex Trevallion Plaza.
Inner West Council has endorsed its Christmas in the Inner West program for 2026, locking in decorations from mid-November and backing a wider package of festive activations across the area.
At its 21 April meeting, the council approved deployment of Christmas decorations across the Inner West and endorsed procurement of new key decorations for Dulwich Hill Station Plaza, Leichhardt Town Hall, Annandale and Alex Trevallion Plaza, as recorded in the public minutes.
The adopted program also includes Inner West Light Up Fest, reusable bunting for shop fronts on main streets, a festive grants program and community Christmas decoration workshops.
For residents and local businesses, the program points to seasonal displays and council-supported activity in late 2026, including grants and workshops as well as decorations in several centres. The minutes do not set out funding totals for the Christmas package in the adopted motion.
Council also asked for more work on additional initiatives. A briefing note is due by August 2026 on the feasibility and delivery of an Inner West Christmas events calendar, a Christmas communications strategy promoting local businesses, artists and community organisations, including a shopfront competition, and a dedicated webpage for Light Up Fest.
The Christmas item was one of several matters adopted in globo during the meeting. In the same block of decisions, councillors also endorsed Lackey Street event-ready improvements in Summer Hill, new parklets in Australia Street, Newtown, and further concept development for a community centre and public space at Stanmore Library.
Reference minutes
Source: Inner West Council, ordinary council meeting of 21 April 2026, public minutes.
Key facts from the minutes
- Inner West Council endorsed deployment of Christmas decorations from mid-November 2026 across the Inner West.
- Council approved procurement of key Christmas decorations for Dulwich Hill Station Plaza, Leichhardt Town Hall, Annandale and Alex Trevallion Plaza.
- The adopted 2026 program includes Inner West Light Up Fest, reusable bunting for shop fronts, a festive grants program and community decoration workshops.
- A briefing note is due by August 2026 on possible additional initiatives including an events calendar, communications strategy and dedicated Light Up Fest webpage.
Why it matters
- Residents and businesses can expect council-backed Christmas decorations and festive activity across the Inner West in late 2026, with more details on extra initiatives due later this year.