Debra Messing to headline JCA campaign event in Sydney
As concern over antisemitism continues to rise in Australia following the Bondi terror attack and a series of community incidents, high-profile US actress and advocate Debra Messing is set to visit Sydney as a keynote speaker at the Jewish Communal Appeal’s 2026 Annual Campaign Event.
Best known for her role as Grace Adler in “Will & Grace”, Messing has built a career across television, film and stage, while increasingly using her public platform to speak on Jewish identity and Israel, particularly since the October 7 attacks.
Debra Messing speaking for JCA in (photo: supplied)
In the aftermath of those attacks, she has emerged as one of the most prominent voices in Hollywood advocating for Israel. She addressed the March for Israel in Washington and travelled to Israel in December 2023, where she met with hostage families and survivors.
Speaking about her decision to become more vocal, Messing has said: “I realised very quickly that silence was not an option.”
She also executive produced the documentary “October H8te”, examining the surge in antisemitism following October 7, and has spoken widely about Jewish resilience and identity.
Messing’s connection to Jewish life is long-standing. Raised in Rhode Island in a Jewish family, she studied at Brandeis University before earning a Master of Fine Arts from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Her activism extends beyond Israel advocacy. She has served as a global health ambassador focusing on HIV/AIDS, testified before a US House Foreign Affairs subcommittee, and supported a range of civic and human rights initiatives, including LGBTQ+ causes.
The JCA event will take place on Sunday, 31 May 2026, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, with the exact location to be confirmed the day prior. Guests are asked to arrive at 3:00pm for a 3:45pm start, with tickets priced at $54.
Organisers said they were “proud and honoured” to host Messing, describing her as “one of the most informed and powerful voices advocating for the truth in the face of hatred and misinformation”.
The annual campaign is a central fundraising event for the Jewish Communal Appeal, supporting a wide network of social welfare, education and community organisations across Sydney.
Messing’s appearance is expected to resonate strongly with a community increasingly focused on visibility, advocacy and response in a challenging climate.
Tickets and further details are available at: https://events.humanitix.com/jca2026
