The occasion calendar
The Australian F&B occasion calendar
The moments that decide whether a month of posting works: seasonal and national dates, festivals, and the food micro-days that fill a content calendar. Each page carries the lead time, the angle, and a campaign you can start from.
Coming up
International Beer Day
local craft-brewery tap takeover and beer-and-parma night; first Friday of August
7 August 2026
start by 31 July 2026 · food micro-occasion
Father's Day (AU)
AU-specific first-Sunday-of-Sep date — hearty breakfast/BBQ bookings, beer or coffee gift add-ons
6 September 2026
start by 9 August 2026 · fixed date
AFL Grand Final
Grand Final party catering, footy-food platters and big-screen bookings (VIC has the Fri 25 Sep public holiday)
26 September 2026
start by 5 September 2026 · festival
International Coffee Day
made for AU cafe culture: flat white/long black hero post, single-origin feature, loyalty double-stamp day
1 October 2026
start by 21 September 2026 · food micro-occasion
NRL Grand Final
Sunday-arvo footy bookings, wings-and-schooner bundles — strongest in NSW/QLD
4 October 2026
start by 13 September 2026 · festival
Halloween
spring-evening spooky menus, themed cocktails/mocktails and family trick-or-treat trade
31 October 2026
start by 10 October 2026 · festival
Melbourne Cup Day
'race that stops the nation': long-lunch packages, bubbles, fashion-on-the-field dress-up (VIC public holiday; social nationwide)
3 November 2026
start by 6 October 2026 · festival
Black Friday
gift-card bonuses and shopper-refuel deals
27 November 2026
start by 6 November 2026 · fixed date
Christmas Day
SUMMER Christmas: seafood, cold hams, pavlova and rooftop/outdoor lunches — book out early, take deposits
25 December 2026
start by 13 November 2026 · fixed date
Boxing Day
post-Christmas + cricket + sales crowds: casual walk-in menus, leftovers-remix specials, all-day trade
26 December 2026
start by 26 November 2026 · fixed date
New Year's Eve
warm-night ticketed set menus, harbour/rooftop fireworks packages and pre-paid bar bookings
31 December 2026
start by 10 December 2026 · fixed date
Earlier this year
New Year's Day
summer recovery brunch and iced-coffee reset — light, feel-good menus for the first day of a hot new year
1 January 2026
start by 18 December 2025 · fixed date
Back to school (AU)
parent mornings return as term one starts late January
19 January 2026
start by 29 December 2025 · fixed date
Australia Day
peak-summer long weekend: BBQ platters, seafood, lamington/pavlova specials and pre-booked group tables
26 January 2026
start by 5 January 2026 · fixed date
World Nutella Day
Nutella-loaded brunch add-ons — croissants, waffles and freak-shakes for a low-lift social post
5 February 2026
start by 31 January 2026 · food micro-occasion
National Pizza Day
limited-edition slice or two-for-one pizza bundle; easy shareable UGC moment
9 February 2026
start by 4 February 2026 · food micro-occasion
Valentine's Day
book-ahead date-night prix-fixe and shared plates; run a Galentine's brunch angle too
14 February 2026
start by 24 January 2026 · fixed date
National Tim Tam Day
uniquely-AU: Tim Tam Slam with a flat white, or a Tim Tam-inspired dessert special
16 February 2026
start by 11 February 2026 · food micro-occasion
Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse)
prosperity set menus and yum cha; strong in Sydney/Melbourne CBD and multicultural suburbs
17 February 2026
start by 27 January 2026 · lunar date (approximate)
St Patrick's Day
green-themed pints, Guinness pairings and a beverage-led evening trade push
17 March 2026
start by 3 March 2026 · festival
International Waffle Day
sweet-and-savoury waffle brunch board — hero item for AU cafe culture
25 March 2026
start by 18 March 2026 · food micro-occasion
Good Friday
Easter long-weekend seafood focus (fish Friday) and hot cross bun + coffee pairings
3 April 2026
start by 13 March 2026 · fixed date
Easter Sunday
family long-lunch bookings and kids'-eat-free autumn menus; chocolate dessert specials
5 April 2026
start by 15 March 2026 · fixed date
ANZAC Day
respectful, non-promotional tone: dawn-service early opens, ANZAC biscuits; avoid discounting the commemoration
25 April 2026
start by 11 April 2026 · fixed date
Mother's Day
biggest bookings day of the year for many venues — premium set brunch/high-tea, pre-paid, book weeks ahead
10 May 2026
start by 12 April 2026 · fixed date
Australian Fashion Week
show-week crowds around Carriageworks and inner Sydney
11 May 2026
start by 11 April 2026 · festival
King's Birthday (national exc. QLD & WA)
start-of-winter long weekend: cosy comfort-food menus, mulled options, long lazy lunches
8 June 2026
start by 25 May 2026 · fixed date
End of financial year sales
corporate lunches and function spend before the books close
30 June 2026
start by 9 June 2026 · fixed date
World Chocolate Day
winter dessert spotlight — molten puddings, mochas and hot chocolate flights
7 July 2026
start by 30 June 2026 · food micro-occasion
Christmas in July
AU winter tradition: a proper roast/mulled-wine Christmas feast in the actual cold — big group-booking driver
25 July 2026
start by 4 July 2026 · festival