Lakemba Nights during Ramadan 2026

Ramadan is a sacred month in the Islamic calendar. During this month, Muslims worldwide focus on fasting, prayer, reflection and community. Ramadan commemorates when the Quran was first revealed by God to the Prophet Muhammad.  Fasting during daylight hours – from dawn to dusk – is one of the five pillars of Islam. 

Each evening, at dusk (or sunset) the fast is broken with a nightly communal meal shared with family and friends called Iftar. Lakemba became a popular place to meet to share Iftar, and many local eateries started popping up to support Ramadan.  Now during Ramadan, Haldon Street Lakemba provides an inclusive and immersive cultural experience for locals and visitors alike to enjoy a diverse range of Islamic and global cuisines.

This event is on during Ramadan from 6pm-2am, every Thursday to Sunday from 19 February – 15 March. To experience the shortest queues and crowds, we recommend visiting early in the evening.  The event will not operate on Monday to Wednesday this year.

Lakemba Nights during Ramadan takes place on Haldon Street and surrounds in Lakemba, close to Lakemba Train Station. It is easily accessible by public transport, with many bus routes bringing you to the heart of the event. Plan your trip at transportnsw.info

Road closures and detour routes will be in place every night from 19 February – 15 March.

Parking is extremely limited. Please be mindful and respect our residents and by not obstructing driveways or footpaths. There are also road closures in the area. Traffic rangers will be on patrol throughout the event and fines will be issued for infringements.  

We strongly recommend taking public transport to the event or parking at a nearby station and catching public transport the rest of the way.

No, unfortunately due to the metro upgrade the T3 Bankstown Line will not run from Sydenham-Bankstown for the duration of the event, with no trains running to Lakemba. During this time, travel will be free for all passengers on the dedicated pink buses connecting Sydenham and Bankstown, known as Southwest Link. These will run from: 

• SW1 (all stops) – Sydenham, Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park, Canterbury, Campsie, Belmore, Lakemba, Wiley Park, Punchbowl, Bankstown. 

• SW2 (limited stops) – Sydenham, Belmore, Lakemba, Wiley Park, Punchbowl, Bankstown. 

• SW3 (limited stops) – Sydenham, Canterbury, Campsie. 

For more information on the latest trackwork notifications, please plan your trip on the Transport NSW website here. 

Nights can be cool at this time of year, so we suggest bringing layers and dressing respectfully, considering the event’s cultural significance. We recommend dressing as you would to visit a mosque, church, synagogue, temple or other religiously significant building.

Yes, this is a family-friendly event and is also alcohol-free. However, please note that the streets can be busy, especially on weekends, which can make it difficult to use a pram or buggy. It is a special event for our Muslim community who are celebrating the Holy Month of Ramadan, but non-Muslims are welcomed to share the cultural experience, learn about Ramadan and try the incredible foods on offer.

No, this is a free event to attend. Food and drinks can be purchased from one of the many stallholders.

Many of the stallholders can take cards, but we suggest bringing cash to be safe. There are Commonwealth Bank ATMs located at 74-78 Haldon Street, an ANZ ATM at 83 Haldon Street and another ATM at 120 Haldon Street. 

We don’t recommend bringing your dog, or any other animals. Lakemba Nights during Ramadan can get very busy, which makes it unsafe for pets.  In addition to this, some sectors of Islam also consider dogs impure, which makes them inappropriate to be around food and prayer.   

Yes, Lakemba Nights during Ramadan will still be on if it rains. However, in the case of severe weather conditions, the event may be cancelled for a night. To stay up to date on important event updates, please follow Where Interesting Happens and City of Canterbury Bankstown on Facebook and Instagram. Other event updates will also be available on this website when available.  

There are several mosques in Lakemba, some on Haldon Street and others within easy walking distance. Mosques away from Haldon Street, Quigg Street and Railway Parade will be quieter with less traffic and pedestrians.

Lakemba Nights during Ramadan is an alcohol-free event. Alcohol is forbidden in the Islamic faith so you cannot purchase any alcohol at the event. Please note it is also illegal to bring alcohol, as it is a public event on the street. Use of alcohol or drugs will not be tolerated.

The focus of this event is to celebrate and share food together so is primarily a food market. There is no music or entertainment at this event.

In an emergency, call 000. For other issues, Council staff members, police and security staff will be patrolling the event and can answer questions or give help. You can also go to the event control centre in the Women’s Rest Centre at 111 Haldon Street, where we will be able to help you, including offering first aid. Look out for the green banner displaying the first aid symbol.

Talk to a Council staff member, a police officer, or a member of the security team who will show you to the control centre in the Women’s Rest Centre at 111 Haldon Street, where we will be able to help you.

We welcome families at Lakemba Nights during Ramadan, however children should always be accompanied by an adult. Please supervise your children and never leave them unattended. Tell your child what to do if they do get lost, which is to speak to a security guard or go to our control centre for help.