Belswagger Morris dancing up the sun at Mount Coot-tha in Brisbane on the first of May, an annual tradition that is practiced by Morris sides worldwide to welcome the first day of Northern Hemisphere Summer. Picture: facebook.com/belswagger 

On Thursday 1 May 2026, Morris dancers across the country will drag themselves out of bed before sunrise to “dance up the sun” — an old northern hemisphere ritual that’s found a very comfortable home down under.

In Brisbane, the long-running Belswagger Morris tradition continues at the Mt Coot-tha lookout, where local sides gather at dawn in a cheerful, slightly sleep-deprived celebration that’s become a fixture of the calendar.

In Canberra, dancers from Surly Griffin Morris and Limestone Morris will meet on Mt Ainslie just before sunrise (around 6:40am), warming up with sticks and steps as the light comes in — a classic May Day scene, Australian-style.

Down in Melbourne, Brandragon Morris will be at All Nations Park, Northcote from 6:15am, promising their usual mix of tradition and tongue-in-cheek theatrics, followed by a shared breakfast and community catch-up.

In Perth, Marlee Morris will be holding a Morris dancing taster session on Saturday 3 May 2026 at 121 Monash Ave, Nedlands. It’s a more relaxed, daytime introduction — no sunrise required — inviting newcomers to pick up sticks, join the musicians, and try the dance for themselves.

While May Day traditionally marked the beginning of summer in Britain and Ireland, in Australia it’s less about strict seasonal meaning and more about participation. Some stick to the sunrise ritual. Others turn it into a social day, a workshop, or simply an excuse to gather.

What hasn’t changed is the core idea: community, continuity, and an eccentric tradition.

So whether it’s dawn on a hilltop or mid-morning in a suburban park, on 1 May 2026 — and the days around it — the bells will still ring.