NAIDOC Week 2026 marks 50 years of national celebrations recognising the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Held from 5–12 July 2026, NAIDOC Week provides all Australians the opportunity to learn about First Nations histories and cultures, and to take part in the many community-led events across the country. This year’s theme, ‘50 Years of Deadly’, honours the Elders, organisers, and artists who have carried the movement forward, and looks ahead to the next 50 years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, language, and culture.

Historical Background

The origins of NAIDOC reach back nearly a century, when Aboriginal-led organisations were campaigning for recognition, rights, and justice. In the 1920s and 1930s, groups such as the Australian Aborigines Progressive Association and the Australian Aborigines League pressed for change through petitions, public meetings, and national boycotts. That advocacy culminated on 26 January 1938, when more than a thousand people gathered in Sydney for the Day of Mourning, held on the 150th anniversary of British colonisation. Widely regarded as one of the earliest large-scale civil rights demonstrations anywhere in the world, the Day of Mourning set the course for decades of organised commemoration that followed.

In 1940, the Day of Mourning became Aborigines Day, which was observed annually. In 1955, Aborigines Day was moved to July so it could serve as both a protest and a celebration of culture. The National Aborigines Day Observance Committee was formed the following year, became fully Aboriginal-led in 1974, and was extended into a full week of activities in 1975. In 1991, the committee was renamed NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) to also recognise Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture, giving the week the name by which it is known today.

50 Years of Deadly

This year’s theme, 50 Years of Deadly is “both a reflection and declaration”, honouring the Elders, organisers, artists, activists, and communities who have helped shape and sustain the movement over five decades.

“NAIDOC has always been more than a single week. It is a platform for truth-telling, a celebration of identity, and a statement of continuity. Today, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are leading change across every field. From health and education to media, business and the arts – telling their own stories, in their own way, on their own terms.” – NAIDOC

NAIDOC Co-Chair, Steven Satour, said: “50 Years of Deadly recognises the leadership and cultural authority that carried this movement forward and affirms that NAIDOC’s next chapter will be shaped by community leadership, long-term vision, and a stronger, more sustainable future.”

For NAIDOC Co-Chair, Aunty Professor Lynette Riley, the theme “…honours the people who stood firm, who kept organising, creating and leading, and who ensured culture and community remained at the centre of everything NAIDOC stands for.”

Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon. Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, noted that the theme “reflects the pride, strength and resilience of First Nations people” and encouraged all Australians to get involved.

2026 National NAIDOC Week Poster

Paralpi by Zaachariaha Fielding, a proud Yankunytjatjara man from the APY Lands in South Australia, was selected from submissions across Australia as the official poster for National NAIDOC Week 2026. The artwork's vivid colours and symbolism reflect the enduring strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across NAIDOC's 50-year history and beyond.

“Paralpi is about movement – movement through generations, through memory, through song and story,” said Fielding about Paralpi. “It speaks to the strength our people carry and the beauty of culture continuing to evolve while staying deeply connected to who we are.”

How to participate

NAIDOC Week is celebrated through community-led, local events across Australia. These include flag-raising ceremonies, family days, food festivals, and sporting events, as well as exhibitions, marches, music performances, and cultural talks –  both in-person and online. To find out what’s happening near you, visit the Local NAIDOC Week events page.

All Australians can also mark the week by learning about the history of NAIDOC Week and this year’s theme, and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led organisations and businesses. Individuals, community groups, and workplaces might also take the opportunity to reflect on how they can support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership and self-determination throughout the year.

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Resources

• 2026 National NAIDOC Week Poster
• NAIDOC History Timeline
• National NAIDOC Week
• National NAIDOC Week Theme

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CourtHeath acknowledges the Traditional Aboriginal Owners of Country throughout Victoria and pays respect to Elders past and present, and to the ongoing living culture of Aboriginal people.

A participant in the UN Global Compact, CourtHeath seeks to raise awareness about the sustainable development goals and the principles of the Global Compact with business and government organisations in Victoria.

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