Australian Play Week is coming. Join Play Australia and organisations across the country in celebrating play from 6 to 12 June 2027. A national week celebrating play, wrapped around the UN International Day of Play on Friday 11 June.
Add the week to your calendar | Join the celebration | Sign up for updates
Save The Dates!
Something good is coming to the calendar. In 2027 Australia will celebrate its first Australian Play Week, from Sunday 6 June to Saturday 12 June 2027.
The week will wrap around the UN International Day of Play on Friday 11 June.
It gives all Australians more time to plan, more chances to reach families, schools, services and councils, and more room to turn one international day into a week of play all Australians can join in with.
What is Australian Play Week?
Australian Play Week is an annual national week of play, held every year in the week that includes 11 June. It is a national, locally delivered campaign.
To read more about the UN International Day of Play click here.
The week belongs to play, not to any one organisation. Play Australia, Australia’s national peak body for play since 1913, has established it but organisations from across the Australian play sector are joining us to celebrate in their own way.
Play Australia supports the national co-ordination but the activity are planned and delivered by organisations, services, councils, communities and families.
There is no set program and no single way to take part. Big or small, planned or spontaneous, it all counts.
Why a week?
- To raise awareness of play and why it matters for every child and every community.
- To wrap around the UN International Day of Play, so the day becomes part of a week of activity people can join in with.
- To give the sector, and everyone in it, a boost partway through the year when a shared celebration is most welcome.
- To give states, territories and local communities a common moment to organise around, while keeping the way they celebrate entirely their own.
The UN International Day of Play recognises play as a fundamental right of every child under Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Key dates for 2027
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 5 November 2026 | Australian Play Week and the Australian Play Awards announced |
| 11 November 2026 | Australian Play Awards nominations open |
| 14 February 2027 | Australian Play Week Free Toolkit shared and the first round of “Save the Dates” for special events announced. |
| 11 March 2027 | Australian Play Awards nominations close |
| 6 to 12 June 2027 | The first Australian Play Week |
| Friday 11 June 2027 | UN International Day of Play |
Get involved
Every organisation can interpret the week to suit its members, services, families and communities. Some ideas to spark your thinking:
- Run an open day, a play session, a community event or a family afternoon.
- Hold a team or staff play break or invite other organisations to join one.
- Work with your local council on a play space activation or a free community day.
- Share stories, photos and quotes from children, families and educators on social media.
- Offer a free resource, a workshop or a webinar during the week.
- Link up with another organisation in your area and plan something together.
- Simply add the week to your celebrations calendar and tell your members and networks.
Call to action: Tell us what you are planning. Add your organisation to the list of organisations celebrating with us. [Link to sign up form]
Celebrating with us
These organisations are adding Australian Play Week to their celebrations calendar:
[Organisation names to be added as they confirm. Show logos where supplied.]
Australian Play Awards
Australian Play Week will coincide with the inaugural Australian Play. Nominations open on 11 November 2026 and close on 11 March 2027.
You can nominate people, programs, places or organisations that deserve recognition, or create an award category for your sector that we can include in the National Awards System.
Nominate (opens 11 November 2026)
Questions and answers
Who is Australian Play Week for?
Everyone who cares about children’s play, including organisations, services, schools, councils, workplaces, families and communities.
Does it cost anything to take part?
No. The name, dates, logo and toolkit are free for anyone to use.
Do I have to run an event?
No. You decide how much to do. Adding the week to your calendar and spreading the word is a great way to take part.
What is the difference between Australian Play Week and Children’s Week?
They are different weeks with different purposes.
Australian Play Week is in June, based around the UN International Day of Play and promotes the value of play for healthy human development. It is linked to Article 31 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) which covers the child’s right to play.
Australian Children’s Week is in October promoting awareness of all children’s rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). (www.childrensweek.org.au)
Resources
Coming in 2027… A toolkit with logos, key messages, social media tiles and an activity guide will be added to this page. Sign up below and we will tell you when it is ready.
In the meantime, use this social media “Save the date” to spread the word.
Stay in touch
Sign up for updates. [Email sign up form]
Questions? Email play@playaustralia.org.au