The Australia India Foundation has opened organisational registrations and cultural performance expressions of interest for a proposed “Melbourne Meets Modi” community reception, as preparations intensify for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expected visit to Australia in July 2026.
A message circulated to community organisations by the Australia India Foundation invites groups to participate in the event through organisational representation, community mobilisation or partnership support.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Melbourne in the first half of July 2026, marking a historic moment for the Indian-Australian community,” the invitation says.
The foundation has asked organisations interested in becoming Welcome Partners to register by 31 May 2026. It has also opened expressions of interest for cultural performances at the community reception.
According to the event organising committee, the Australia India Foundation will “organise and host a community reception to honour the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, during his upcoming visit to Australia”. It says the reception will be organised with support from Australian-based Welcome Partner organisations and local volunteers, with more details to be announced shortly.
A new website states that community organisations and individuals will have multiple ways to take part, including attendance, participation and volunteering. Welcome, Partner registration and expressions of interest for group cultural performances are listed as open, while media credentials are marked as coming soon.
The Welcome Partner registration form says successful organisations will have exclusive access to early registration for their members. Only not-for-profit organisations are eligible to become Welcome Partners, and the Australia India Foundation reserves the right to qualify and approve participating groups.
Organisations are being asked to provide details, including organisation name, website, estimated membership, ABN, location, primary and secondary contacts, and confirmation that the nominated representative has authority to speak on behalf of the organisation.
The responsibilities listed for Welcome Partners include rallying community support and attendance for the reception, encouraging participation across age, gender, geography, language, religion and economic status, ensuring allocated seats are used, creating an open and welcoming atmosphere, and allowing the organisation’s name and likeness to be used in promotional material.
The push comes amid growing expectations that Modi will travel to Australia in July as part of a broader regional visit. The Australia Today previously reported that Modi is expected to travel to Indonesia first, then New Zealand on 7 and 8 July, before arriving in Australia for a two-day visit on 9 and 10 July. Final confirmation of dates from the Indian and Australian authorities is still awaited.
Melbourne has been confirmed as the centre of the public-facing diaspora event, while official engagements are also expected to form part of the broader visit. Sources familiar with the planning previously told The Australia Today that officials had inspected potential Melbourne venues with capacities of about 14,000 and more than 35,000, and that organisers were looking for an indoor venue suitable for winter conditions.
The expected visit would come at a time of deepening India-Australia ties across trade, education, defence, mobility, technology and community links.
At the second Australia-India Annual Summit in November 2024, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister Modi noted progress across climate change and renewable energy, trade and investment, defence and security, education, skills, mobility, science and technology, and people-to-people ties.
The two leaders also highlighted the contribution of Australians of Indian heritage, describing the diaspora as a “living bridge” between the two countries.
If confirmed, the Melbourne reception would likely be one of the largest gatherings of the Indian Australian community in Australia since Modi’s major diaspora events in Sydney in 2014 and 2023.
For Melbourne’s Indian-Australian community, the opening of registrations marks the first formal step towards what organisers are framing as a major community mobilisation.
The Australia India Foundation describes itself as a not-for-profit organisation promoting cooperation between Australia and India and advancing shared values of democracy, inclusive economic development and mutual respect.
Community organisations have until 31 May 2026 to submit Welcome Partner applications and cultural performance expressions of interest.
AIF have arranged an organisation registration process information session at
Consul General of India office, St Kilda Rd. Date/Time: Tuesday, 26 May, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Please attend to get information and understand the process for organisation registration.
📋 Organisation Registration:
https://melbournemeetsmodi.au/organisations
🎭 Cultural Performances EOI:
https://melbournemeetsmodi.au/eoi
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