Latin Christmas and New Year in Australia 2026: traditions, parties and where to eat
Velitas, novenas, posadas, hallacas and the twelve grapes, done in an Australian summer. Latin parties confirmed for December in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, plus bakeries in three cities.
By Latinhood newsroom4 Nov 20264 min read
December in Australia means beach, barbecues and summer heat. For a lot of Latin families here it also means trying to keep a Christmas that was built for a different season. This guide covers the traditions people bring with them, the Latin parties already confirmed for December 2026, and where to find the food that makes it feel like home.
The traditions, in short
7 December, Día de las Velitas. In Colombia the eve of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated with candles, and it is the unofficial start of the Christmas season. In Australia it is usually a small family thing on a balcony or in a backyard, and some community groups sell candle kits.
Novena de aguinaldos. Also Colombian, and done in Ecuador and parts of Venezuela too. For the nine days before Christmas, families and friends meet to pray, reflect and sing villancicos. If you are new in town, asking around for a novena is a nice way to meet other Latin families.
Las Posadas. The Mexican and Central American version runs from 16 to 24 December. It is a novenario too, and celebrated across Hispanic America and by Hispanic communities abroad.
Hallacas. Corn dough filled with a beef, pork or chicken stew with raisins, capers and olives, wrapped in plantain leaves and boiled. It is a Christmas dish and often called a national dish of Venezuela. Making them is a whole-family, whole-day job.
The twelve grapes. One grape for each chime at midnight on 31 December, one for each month of the new year. It comes from Spain, and plenty of Latin American families do it too. It is one of the easiest traditions to keep going in Australia: all you need is a bunch of grapes and a clock.
Parties already confirmed
These are on the events page and confirmed on the organisers' ticket pages.
Sydney
- The Amazing Race - Latino Lunch 2026, Sunday 6 December from 10am, starting at Sutherland Park, Chatswood. Teams decorate their cars and follow clues and challenges, with a Latin lunch at the end. A good end-of-year plan for families and groups of friends.
- La Cita Reunion, Sunday 27 December, 8pm to 3am, at Pontoon Bar in Darling Harbour. The organisers bill it as the return of "the legendary home of Latinos in Sydney" for one night of the Christmas long weekend. Salsa and bachata in the main room, Latino and reggaeton in the courtyard.
Brisbane
- New Year's Eve at La Boca Bar and Grill Brisbane, 31 December from 6pm, by the Brisbane River. All-you-can-eat seafood, Argentine asado from the grill and desserts. Bookings are essential.
Gold Coast
- Forró Gold Coast Xmas Party, Saturday 12 December from 4pm. Their first Christmas party, with two live bands, a DJ and Brazilian food stalls. The venue is still to be announced.
- Ano Novo Brazos 2027, 31 December from 9pm to 5am at Broadbeach Tavern. A Brazilian New Year's party with samba, sertanejo and funk, and a balcony view of the Broadbeach fireworks at midnight.
Melbourne. We have no Latin Christmas or New Year's parties confirmed yet. December starts strong though, with VIDA Latin Festival in Yarraville and a Cuban timba night, Viva Cuba! Fiesta Cubana at SOKOL in North Melbourne, both on Saturday 5 December. Keep an eye on the events page, we keep adding new ones.
Where to buy the Christmas food
Melbourne
- Tatacoa makes Huila-style Colombian tamales every Saturday. Tamal for Christmas breakfast, sorted.
- South Connection in North Melbourne is an Argentinian bakery with empanadas, medialunas and traditional pastries.
- Del Alma in Prahran has Colombian treats and pastries.
Sydney
- Tuki Bakery in Darlinghurst is an Argentine bakery known for its dulce de leche pastries.
- La Selecta Bakery in Liverpool bakes Chilean food, with empanadas as the star.
- Baked@Bina's in Earlwood is a Brazilian Portuguese bakery.
Brisbane
- Tamales Project in West End makes handmade Mexican tamales.
- El Salvador Delicias in Coopers Plains does Salvadoran pupusas and tamales.
- Magia Alfajores & more in Woolloongabba has Argentine pastries and empanadas.
Order early, and check holiday opening hours before you go. Most of these are small kitchens, and Christmas orders are a lot of work.
Sources
- Day of the Little Candles (Wikipedia)
- Novena de aguinaldos (Wikipedia, Spanish)
- Las Posadas (Wikipedia)
- Hallaca (Wikipedia)
- Twelve Grapes (Wikipedia)
- The Amazing Race - Latino Lunch 2026 (Eventbrite)
- La Cita Reunion, Long Weekend Fiesta (Eventbrite)
- New Year's Eve Seafood Buffet, La Boca Bar & Grill (Eventbrite)
- Forró Gold Coast Xmas Party (Humanitix)
- Ano Novo Brazos 2027 (Eventbrite)
Cover photo: "UVAS POR AÑO NUEVO" by Kattia Perez Cordova, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.