Christmas 2026

Merry Christmas 2025

Christmas is one of the busiest and most important trading periods of the year for many local businesses. Hobsons Bay City Council is committed to supporting local traders during the festive season by creating vibrant and welcoming precincts through Christmas decorations, activations and promotional initiatives that encourage residents and visitors to shop locally. As part of this program, Council will deliver a dedicated Christmas webpage as a one-stop destination for all things Christmas in Hobsons Bay, featuring:

  • a Shop Local Christmas Competition;
  • Santa photo opportunities;
  • 2026 Hamper Appeal;
  • local shopping guides;
  • and a community events calendar.

The following Expression of Interest outlines Council's Christmas Window Art program, which aims to further enhance the festive atmosphere across our shopping strips and activity centres.

Christmas Window Art Program 2026

Bring some festive cheer to your shopfront this Christmas.

Hobsons Bay City Council is inviting businesses to register their interest in receiving free Christmas window art as part of our 2026 Christmas program. A professional artist will create festive designs on selected business windows to help activate shopping precincts and encourage local shopping throughout the holiday season.

Installations will take place between late October and mid-November 2026, with artwork remaining in place throughout the Christmas period.

Before submitting an Expression of Interest, please note:

  • Christmas artwork will be professionally installed on the outside of your shopfront window with Posca markers.
  • Businesses must ensure windows are clean and ready for installation.
  • Installation dates and times will be scheduled by Council and the artist. Businesses will be notified closer to their installation date.
  • Businesses are responsible for advising their regular window cleaning contractor not to remove or wash off the artwork during the display period.
  • Businesses may be able to nominate a short festive greeting to be incorporated into the design.
  • Businesses are responsible for removing the artwork after Christmas at their own cost. The artwork can generally be removed using standard window cleaning products.

Christmas window art

 

Places are limited and registrations do not guarantee participation. Council will seek to achieve a balanced distribution of artwork across shopping precincts.

Selection criteria

If Expressions of Interest exceed available places, Council will select participating businesses based on the following criteria:

  1. Businesses must have a ground-level shopfront window that is clearly visible from the street or public realm.

  2. The nominated window must be suitable for artwork installation. Windows that are difficult to access or unsuitable due to factors such as security screens, bars, shutters, excessive height, small window panes, heavily obscured glazing or other physical constraints may not be considered.

  3. Preference will be given to businesses located within identified shopping precincts where multiple businesses are participating, to maximise the visual impact of the program.

  4. Consideration may be given to achieving a balanced geographic spread across Hobsons Bay shopping precincts.

  5. Businesses must be willing and able to maintain the artwork for the duration of the Christmas period, including ensuring window cleaning contractors do not remove or damage the artwork.

  6. Businesses must acknowledge that they are responsible for removing the artwork after the Christmas period.

  7. Final selection will also take into account artist capacity, installation logistics and scheduling requirements.

 

Submit your Expression of Interest below by Sunday 20 September to be considered for the 2026 Christmas Window Art Program.

Click here to view form.

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