Every July, Australians are invited to come together for NAIDOC Week – a national celebration of the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year's milestone theme, "50 Years of Deadly", marks five decades since NAIDOC became a week-long national celebration, while honouring the generations of Elders, activists, artists and communities who have shaped the movement and continue to carry it forward.
Although NAIDOC Week officially began in 1975, its roots stretch back to the Aboriginal rights movements of the 1920s and the 1938 Day of Mourning, making it one of Australia's most significant cultural observances.
While NAIDOC Week is, first and foremost, a celebration led by First Nations communities, it's also an opportunity for all Australians to listen, learn and show meaningful support. Whether that's attending a community event, visiting an exhibition by First Nations artists, watching an Indigenous film, reading about Reconciliation and First Nations literature, supporting Aboriginal-owned businesses or simply taking the time to learn more about the Country you live on, every action helps foster greater understanding and respect.
From sunrise ceremonies and cultural festivals to thought-provoking exhibitions, film screenings and community gatherings, these are some of the NAIDOC Week events happening across Australia.
NSW
Event: Free Open Day – Celebrate NAIDOC
When: 5 July 2026
Where: Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney
Celebrate NAIDOC Week with free access to the Australian National Maritime Museum, where a full day of performances, storytelling, art-making, workshops and cultural tours is paired with entry to every gallery, the museum's historic vessels and the LEGO Bricktropolis – Viking Village exhibition.
Event: NAIDOC Week Flag Raising Ceremony
When: 6 July 2026
Where: Yarrila Place, Coffs Harbour
Help kick off NAIDOC Week in Coffs Harbour at this free community flag-raising ceremony, where more than 1,000 people are expected to gather for morning tea, lunch and a celebration of First Nations culture and community.
Exhibition: NAIDOC 50 Years of Deadly Art Exhibition
When: Launches 6 July 2026, with the exhibition running throughout July
Where: Lyora Matta First Nations Cultural Hub, Bankstown
Celebrate this year's '50 Years of Deadly' NAIDOC theme at the launch of Lyora Matta's month-long exhibition, showcasing First Nations art in a community celebration complete with morning tea. Launch tickets are $5.
QLD
Exhibition: Old Ways, New Marks
When: Running until 11 July 2026
Where: Caloundra Regional Gallery, Sunshine Coast
If contemporary art is your thing, don't miss Old Ways, New Marks – a colourful exhibition celebrating emerging First Nations artists and the stories of culture, resilience and creativity woven through their screen prints.
Exhibition: Still Deadly: Voices of Our Elders
When: Running until 26 July 2026
Where: Ipswich Community Gallery
Created in partnership with First Nations photographer Jim Filmer and cultural liaison Lowana Walker, Still Deadly: Voices of Our Elders honours the resilience and knowledge of Elders connected to the Ipswich region through powerful portrait photography and recorded stories. Admission is free.
Event: Sunshine Coast NAIDOC Family Funday 2026
When: 5 July 2026
Where: Kings Beach, Caloundra
Pack a picnic blanket and head to Kings Beach for this free, family-friendly NAIDOC Week celebration, bringing the community together for a day of live performances, market stalls and cultural activities by the beach.
VIC
Exhibition: We Sit in Circle
When: Running until 30 July 2026
Where: Queen Victoria Women's Centre, Melbourne
Presented by The Torch in partnership with the Queen Victoria Women's Centre, We Sit in Circle showcases powerful paintings and intricate weavings by First Peoples women with lived experience of incarceration, celebrating strength, hope and survival. Entry is free, and all artworks are available to purchase, with 100% of proceeds going directly to the artists.
Event: Meals for the Mob – Corporate Group Kitchen Volunteering Session
When: Until 15 July 2026
Where: Melbourne
Roll up your sleeves for a 3.5-hour volunteering session with SecondBite and FareShare, helping prepare and pack hundreds of nutritious, culturally appropriate meals for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing food insecurity. Bookings are available for corporate groups of up to 20 from $5,000 + GST.
Event: NAIDOC Sunrise Ceremony
When: 6 July 2026
Where: Bukareeyoo, Ocean Grove
Welcome the day on Wadawurrung Sea Country at this free sunrise ceremony, featuring a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, didgeridoo performance and community gathering, followed by family activities celebrating the plants, animals and enduring connection to Country.
SA
Event: Nunga Screen
When: 5–11 July 2026
Where: Various locations across South Australia
Returning for its 15th year, Nunga Screen brings together a powerful program of free First Nations short films—from heartfelt documentaries to family-friendly animations and compelling dramas—celebrating culture, language and storytelling through the work of emerging and established Indigenous filmmakers.
Exhibition: Kumangka Purka | Elders of Ngani Pari-Arra and Staying Strong | Jackie Saunders
When: Running until 11 July 2026
Where: The Gallery, St Peters
Celebrating Indigenous Elders, resilience and identity, these two exhibitions honour the cultural significance of the Ngani Pari-Arra Cultural Centre alongside the expressive paintings of Ngarrindjeri and Wirangu artist Jackie Saunders, whose work explores family, Country and the enduring connection between people and place.
Event: South Australian NAIDOC & Premier's NAIDOC Awards
When: 6 July 2026
Where: Adelaide Convention Centre
Celebrating the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across a range of fields, the annual South Australian NAIDOC & Premier's NAIDOC Awards recognise outstanding contributions to culture, community and leadership.
Exhibition: Nganampa Ngura - Our places
When: Running until 25 July 2026
Where: Post Office Projects Gallery, Port Adelaide
Created in partnership with Iwiṟi Arts, Nganampa Ngura – Our Places brings together paintings and ceramics by Aṉangu artists whose works celebrate their own Country while supporting the transmission of culture across generations.
Event: Bus Tour of Indigenous Places and Spaces in Campbelltown
When: 7 July 2026
Where: Campbelltown
Led by respected Peramangk-Kaurna Elder Uncle Ivan-Tiwu Copley, this guided bus tour visits culturally significant sites including Morialta Parri and Karra Wirra Parri, offering a deeper understanding of living Kaurna culture and the enduring importance of Country. Tickets are $20 plus booking fee.
WA
Event: Celebrate Culture and Country at El Questro
When: Until 7 July 2026
Where: El Questro Station, Durack
Celebrate NAIDOC Week surrounded by the Kimberley's spectacular landscape at El Questro, where a free program invites visitors to come together for a week centred on culture, connection and community.
Exhibition: Kaaditj – NAIDOC Emerging Artist Exhibition
When: Running until 26 July 2026
Where: Zig Zag Gallery, Kalamunda
Award-winning Noongar and Yamatji photographer and sculptor Wes Jackson presents his first solo exhibition, Kaaditj, a deeply personal exploration of memory, nostalgia and cultural knowledge through works spanning photography, sculpture and other mediums. Entry is free.
Event: Karrinyup NAIDOC Week First Nations Pop-Up Business Showcase
When: 5–12 July 2026
Where: Karrinyup, Perth
Karrinyup's week-long showcase of six Western Australian First Nations-owned businesses is an opportunity to discover Indigenous-owned brands including Kirrikin, LaJala The Label, Deadly Denim, Kaarli, Jalbi Australia and Kamia, alongside large-scale projections of works by Wadjuk artist Joan Margaret Martin and the permanent public artwork of Wadjuk artist Justin Martin. The free event celebrates First Nations creativity, entrepreneurship and culture through shopping, storytelling and art.
NT
Event: 2026 Deadly Cup Carnival
When: 5 July 2026
Where: Richardson Park, Darwin
One of the Northern Territory's biggest NAIDOC Week celebrations, the Deadly Cup Carnival welcomes more than 3,000 people each year for a free day of community, sport and health promotion, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and connection.
Event: Kalano's 2026 NAIDOC Family Fun Day
When: 8 July 2026
Where: Kalano Sports Oval, Katherine
Celebrate NAIDOC Week with the whole family at this free community event, featuring interactive workshops, waterslides, games, prizes, local service stalls and a complimentary lunch in a day dedicated to culture, community and connection.
ACT
Event: First Nations Experience of Democracy Tour
When: Daily until 12 July 2026
Where: Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House
Discover the stories of the First Nations leaders and activists who shaped Australia's political landscape on this free guided tour, exploring the legacy of trailblazers including Neville Bonner, Charlie Perkins, Faith Bandler and Wenten Rubuntja through some of the nation's most historic parliamentary spaces.
Exhibition: Wangka Wakaṉutja: The Story of the Papunya Literature Production Centre
When: Running until Sunday 11 October 2026
Where: National Library of Australia
A must-see for anyone interested in art, language or Australian history, this free exhibition explores the remarkable collection of more than 350 bilingual readers created by the Papunya community to keep language and culture alive.
TAS
Event: West Coast Community NAIDOC Week Morning Tea
When: 7 July 2026
Where: West Coast Council Chambers, Queenstown
Celebrate NAIDOC Week over a free community morning tea in Queenstown, bringing locals together to connect, reflect and honour First Nations culture.
Event: NAIDOC at TIAGARRA
When: 6 July 2026 (10:30am arrival for 11am flag raising)
Where: TIAGARRA, Devonport
One of Tasmania's flagship NAIDOC Week celebrations, NAIDOC at TIAGARRA brings together a flag-raising ceremony, live music and performances from First Nations artists including Nawnta DENNI, Nitas Yirrmal, Kiz and Hermit, alongside food, drinks and a full day of community celebration.
Event: South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation Community Day
When: 7 July 2026, 10am to 1:30pm
Where: Port Cygnet Cannery, Cygnet
Immerse yourself in a day of cultural workshops, storytelling and traditional knowledge, with weaving, kelp basket making, cultural fire stick making, yarning with Elders, a smoking ceremony and a lunch of wallaby stew, seafood chowder and damper.
Event: NAIDOC Race 2026
When: 7 July 2026, 10am until 2pm
Where: Karadi Aboriginal Corporation, Goodwood
Swap the traditional fun run for an Amazing Race-style adventure as teams explore Hobart's northern suburbs, complete cultural challenges and celebrate Tasmanian Aboriginal culture together, with prizes for the best-dressed teams and a community barbecue to finish the day.
You can find more events around the country on the NAIDOC website.
