Diversity Festival 2026

21 – 25 September 2026

9.00am – 9.00pm AEST

Free for UNSW

Festival

A packed program of free events, performances and workshops led by students and staff, the festival invites you to explore important and complex topics through open, respectful dialogue - from equity and identity to systemic change, creative expression and belonging.

About

For

Current UNSW Student Current UNSW Staff UNSW Alumni Future Student or Parent Industry Partner General Public

Kensington campus

Price

Free for UNSW

A packed program of free events, performances and workshops led by students and staff, Diversity Festival invites you to connect, learn and be inspired.

Explore important and complex topics through open, respectful dialogue, from equity and identity to systemic change, creative expression and belonging.

Whether you're interested in thought-provoking discussions on equity, diversity and inclusion, hands-on workshops, live music and dance performances, cultural celebrations, immersive experiences or film screenings, there's something for everyone.

Come along, discover new perspectives and be part of the conversation shaping a more inclusive UNSW community.

There will be a series of events in the festival from Monday through to Friday. Explore the full program here: Diversity Festival 2026

Events

22 Sep 10.00am 3.00pm

Global Village Cultural Showcase

Come and celebrate the people and cultures that make UNSW, UNSW. Enjoy live music and cultural performances, explore student stalls and activities, grab a FREE lunch from the food trucks and take your turn on the 'We Belong' red carpet. Have your professional portrait taken and become part of our We Belong collective artwork, celebrating the diversity of the UNSW community.

Art and Culture

Campus events

22 Sep 11.00am 3.00pm

Meet Pepper: Exploring Inclusive Technology in Healthcare

Meet Pepper, the UNSW Health Translation Hub’s social robot, and discover how robotics can support accessibility, wayfinding and inclusive experiences in healthcare settings. Interact with Pepper, explore its capabilities, and share ideas for how technology can enhance the experience of patients, visitors and clinic staff.

Education

Medicine and Health

22 Sep 5.00pm 9.00pm

Deaf President Now! Film Screening

Discover the powerful story behind one of the most significant disability rights movements in modern history at Diversity Festival.

Art and Culture

Campus events

Education

23 Sep 10.00am 4.00pm

The Conscious Closet: SHARE Fundraiser and Second-Hand Market

Vibe, thrift, and make a tangible impact right in the heart of campus! The Conscious Closet is a lively, community-centred outdoor pop-up market that raises vital funds for youth-led health advocacy.

Campus events

23 Sep 10.00am 11.00am

Ask Us Anything: Disability

Equitable Learning Services is hosting Ask Us Anything: Disability, inspired by the ABC’s You Can’t Ask That. Hear directly from a panel of speakers with lived experience of disability answer questions you’ve always wanted to ask. Throughout the event, our panellists will generously share their lived experience of disability, as they shape the narrative on their own terms, in a safe and candid space.

Education

23 Sep 10.00am 5.00pm

Queer Artist Market

The Queer Artist Market, organised by the Boys and Girls Love Media Society and Webcomic Society, is an artist market which celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community through the sale of original artworks, prints, keychains, and other merchandise.

Art and Culture

23 Sep 1.00pm 5.00pm

Deaf President Now! Paddington Campus Film Screening

Discover the powerful story behind one of the most significant disability rights movements in modern history at Diversity Festival.

Art and Culture

Campus events

Education

23 Sep 2.00pm 3.30pm

7th Annual Inclusive Education Showcase

Back by popular demand! We welcome educators, students and the wider community to join us as we share the latest insights into universal design for learning (UDL), inclusive education in practice and tips to ensure that all students thrive in educational settings.

Design

Education

Humanities and Social Sciences

Innovation

Politics and Society

23 Sep 7.00pm 9.00pm

Seen, Heard, Included: Rethinking Belonging in the Age of AI

Seen, Heard, Included explores what belonging means in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. Drawing on research into gender equality, recruitment and resume-screening bias, and the ways large language models respond to names, gender, culture and identity, this interactive event examines how technology can influence who is seen, heard and given opportunities across workplaces, professional sectors and communities.

Education

Engineering

Innovation

Science

24 Sep 8.00am 1.00pm

Diversity Cup Netball Tournament

Get ready for a day of fast-paced action, friendly competition, and campus spirit at our university netball tournament. Whether you’re playing to win or cheering from the sidelines, it’s the perfect opportunity to meet new people, stay active, and be part of an unforgettable student experience.

Campus events

24 Sep 11.30am 3.30pm

Auslan & Deaf Awareness Workshops with Signpedia

Discover the beauty of Auslan and learn how to communicate more inclusively in this engaging, hands-on workshop designed for university students. Whether you’re curious about the lived experiences of Deafness or want to build practical signing skills, join us to connect, learn, and broaden your perspective.

Campus events

24 Sep 1.00pm 2.00pm

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property at Universities

Discover innovative First Nations-led research at UNSW through a series of short lightning presentations from the UNSW Node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures, the UNSW Indigenous Land and Justice Research Group, and Nura Gili: Centre for Indigenous Programs.

Campus events

Education

24 Sep 2.00pm 3.00pm

Do Disabled People Really Belong in Our Community?

Why are there proposed cuts to NDIS funding? How does this impact community attitudes toward people with disability? Our expert panel take on these questions and more! Join us as former Disability Royal Commissioner Alastair McEwin AM and Megan Spindler-Smith, Acting CEO of People with Disability Australia (PWDA), tackle these difficult questions.

Campus events

Politics and Society

24 Sep 4.00pm 5.30pm

Bridging the Education Divide: Building Teacher Training That Works for All

Join UNSW and NSW education leaders for a timely panel on how co-designed teacher professional learning can strengthen STEM teaching. A more diverse and capable future STEM workforce starts in our classrooms, with teachers who feel confident, supported and equipped to inspire students from all backgrounds. Bridging the Education Divide brings together leaders from UNSW, the NSW Department of Education and schools to explore how co-designed professional learning can strengthen STEM teaching across metropolitan, regional, rural and remote communities.

Education

Science

25 Sep 9.30am 10.30am

Inclusive Music-Making Through Body Movement and Vibration

Using AirSticks, motion-based musical instruments co-developed by Dr. Alon Ilsar, your movements are transformed into live music in real time. Visualisations and vibrations provide additional ways to experience music, making it possible to participate even if you cannot hear. Rather than watching a performance, you can create music with others through movement.

Art and Culture

Engineering

25 Sep 11.00am 1.00pm

Beyond Borders: Crossing Cultures, Building Belonging

Every time someone moves to a new country, they carry their culture with them, and every community they land in has its own. That gap is where culture shock, homesickness, and misunderstanding live. This event uses real, personal stories as a starting point for building genuine cross-cultural understanding. Organised by AIESEC in UNSW.

Campus events

Education

25 Sep 11.00am 3.00pm

Meet Pepper: Exploring Inclusive Technology in Healthcare

Education

Medicine and Health

25 Sep 11.30am 12.30pm

My Body, My Home: Small Moves, Big Health

Join us for a gentle chair-based wellbeing session designed especially for people who spend long periods sitting. This in-person event is the perfect opportunity to unwind, stretch and reconnect with your body in a relaxed, friendly environment.

Campus events

Medicine and Health

25 Sep 12.00pm 2.00pm

Our Voices, Our Community

An uplifting celebration of music, culture, and community. This interactive event includes live performances from diverse cultural groups from the UNSW community, while The Big Sing – Louder Together is an opportunity to join in a shared informal singing experience to sing, laugh and connect!

Art and Culture

Check out the line up and register now for your free tickets.

Diversity Festival 2026

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