2026 Special Olympics Australia National Games Closing Ceremony

The 2026 Special Olympics Australia National Games Closing Ceremony was held on Friday 23 October 2026 at the State Netball and Hockey Centre in Parkville, Melbourne, beginning at 2pm. It brought the National Games to a close. Staged in Melbourne from 19 to 23 October around the Albert Park sporting precinct, this year's Games celebrated the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics in Australia. Admission was free, though attendees needed a Humanitix registration. IGA was the presenting partner, with backing from the City of Melbourne. Hosting duties went to MC Peter Lazer. The centrepiece was a DanceSport showcase in which dancers from SA, NSW, QLD and WA covered Hip Hop, Lyrical, Jazz and Ballroom, each state delivering a three-minute routine. A 15-minute combined finale then brought in multi-sport athletes, volunteers and officials, and once the formal part ended, DJ MA BOWER took charge of the music. This date has now passed; similar upcoming events in Melbourne can be found on Palaner.