2025 Victorian Disability Sport & Recreation Festival

Celebrating Community, Inclusion and Sport

The sun was shining and so was our community at the 2025 Victorian Disability Sport & Recreation Festival! Returning to Crown Riverwalk on Friday 5 December, the festival once again brought Victorians together to celebrate International Day of People with Disability with a full day of inclusive sport, connection and discovery.

This year, more than 7,000 visitors explored the festival, engaging with 25+ exhibitors who shared their inclusive programs, services and pathways into community activity. From adaptive recreation to modified sports, attendees had the chance to learn, try and be inspired by the diverse opportunities available across Victoria.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Councillor Gladys Liu (City of Melbourne) for her warm and enthusiastic welcome, as well as to festival MC Lachlan Wills, who kept the energy high and the crowd engaged throughout the day.

Activity Zones, Live Performances and Community Spirit

Festival goers enjoyed three vibrant activity zones featuring ongoing sport demonstrations and come and try experiences in our three activity zones. Crowds gathered for DJ sets from DJ Cooper Smith, an energetic performance from dancers at emotion21.

Adding to the excitement, the Wheelchair Rugby Corporate Challenge returned, drawing enthusiastic spectators as four corporate teams battled it out in a high-intensity round robin tournament.

Engaging Schools Through the Passport Activation

We were delighted to welcome over 100 specialist school students from across Greater Melbourne as part of our interactive School Passport activation. Students visited exhibitor stalls, took part in hands-on activities, and filled their passports to earn a showbag at the end of the trail. A big thank you to Super Random Stuff for generously supplying items for our showbags.

This activation continues to be a festival favourite, giving school groups a fun and interactive way to discover inclusive sport and recreation opportunities. Students left feeling informed, excited and inspired to stay active in their communities.

Powered by Partnership and Community Support

This event would not be possible without the incredible efforts of our volunteers, exhibitors, performers and community members who helped bring the festival to life.

Our sincere thanks to our major partner,  City of Melbourne and our festival sponsors InPlace Living and Crown for their continued commitment to inclusion.

If you could not join us this year, or simply want to relive the excitement, be sure to explore our event highlights gallery and follow us on social media:

Facebook: @DisabilitySportAndRecreation

Instagram: @disabilitysportrec

LinkedIn: Disability Sport & Recreation

If you are interested in being part of the 2026 festival, please email us at festival@dsr.org.au