09/06/2026
🏆 We’re proud to share that Fairfield City Council and our Major Events Team won the Festivals and Community Events - National Lion Dance Competition category at the 2026 NSW Local Government Excellence Awards!
First staged as the headline attraction of the 25th anniversary Cabramatta Moon Festival in September 2025, the National Lion Dance Competition (NLDC) was Australia’s first national-level lion dance competition, bringing together 17 elite teams from across the country to compete in traditional and high-pole categories.
Delivered in partnership with the Australian Dragon & Lion Dance Federation and the local lion dance community, the NLDC celebrated the rich cultural heritage, discipline and athleticism of lion dancing while elevating the art form to a nationally recognised competitive standard.
Embedded within one of Australia’s largest multicultural festivals, the competition attracted thousands of visitors, increased cultural engagement in Cabramatta town centre, and was livestreamed internationally to audiences across Asia.
This award recognises the power of community-led cultural events to foster pride, strengthen connections, activate public spaces and showcase the vibrant living heritage that makes Cabramatta so unique.
A huge thank you to our partners, performers, and community who helped make this achievement possible 🦁✨💜🙏🏼
