What's on: NAIDOC Week 2026 events across MLHD
NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
The official 2026 NAIDOC Week theme is Fifty Years of Deadly.
For five decades, NAIDOC Week has celebrated the voices of our communities - steady, unapologetic, and proud.
Each year, its themes have called for truth, celebrated culture, honoured resistance, and reminded the nation of who we are.
Fifty Years of Deadly marks a milestone. It’s a tribute to the people who built this movement. the Elders who stood firm, the organisers who made space, the artists who turned resistance into expression, and the communities who keep showing up, year after year.
NAIDOC Week 2026 runs from July 5-12. You can support and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events being held across the Murrumbidgee Local Health District.
You can find a list of events by location below.
NAIDOC Week events by location
Monday 6 July
Wagga Wagga First Nations March & Flag Raising Ceremony
- Time: 10.00am–11.30am
- Hosted by: Wagga Wagga City Council
- March begins at Morgan & Baylis streets and concludes at the Civic Centre forecourt for the flag raising ceremony.
Tuesday 7 July
Community NAIDOC Event
- Time: 10.00am–1.00pm
- Hosted by: Riverina Medical & Dental Aboriginal Corporation (RivMed)
- Wagga Showgrounds
- Community stalls, entertainment, free lunch, rides and games.
Wednesday 8 July
3x3 Deadly Basketball Gala Day
- Time: 9.30am–4.00pm
- Location: Equex, 150 Copland Street
- Free lunch, entertainment, haircuts, Indigenous games and face painting.
Wagga Wagga Base Hospital Community Event
- Time: 11.00am–2.00pm
- Location: Wagga Base Hospital Lecture Theatre
- Information stalls, free sausage sizzle and giveaways for children.
Thursday 9 July
Anglicare Community Event
- Time: 10.00am–1.00pm
- Tobruk Street, Ashmont
- Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony, dancers, live music, free lunch, service providers and haircuts.
Friday 3 July
Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner
- Time: 6.00pm–10.00pm
- Tickets: $40
- Includes two-course meal and entertainment by TJ Simpson.
Monday 6 July
Flag Raising Ceremony
- Time: 10.00am
- Hosted by Griffith City Council
- Official ceremony and community morning tea.
Wednesday 8 July
2026 NAIDOC Week Celebration
- Time:11.30am-1.30pm
- Animoo Avenue Lawn Area (near Gate 2 entrance)
- Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, Free BBQ Lunch
Thursday 9 July
NAIDOC Family Fun Day
- Time: 10.00am–2.00pm
- Griffith Regional Sports Centre
- Elders tent, services expo, photo booth, arts and craft, face painting, food, games and rides.
Friday 3 July
Welcome to Country & Smoking Ceremony
- Time: 10.00am
- Wodonga City Council, 104 Hovell Street
- Light refreshments provided.
Saturday 4 July
Radical Son – Bilambiyal (The Learning Performance)
- Time: 7.00pm
- The Cube Wodonga.
Sunday 5 July
Film Screenings
- Time: 10.00am–2.00pm
- The Cube Courtyard
- Fire in the Landscape 10am, Nyanda Nagwia Merri Many Turtles Country 12pm, Ryans Lagoon Burn 2pm.
Monday 6 July
Wiradjuri Language Workshop
- Time: 12.30pm–1.30pm
- Myer Centrepoint Albury.
Community Event
- Time: 11.00am–3.00pm
- Hosted by Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation.
- 21 Hovell Street, Wodonga.
Wednesday 8 July
Dharnya Day Grand Opening
- Time: 10.00am–11.00am
- Dharnya Cultural Centre, Barmah.
Friday 10 July
Taylor Hampton Book Reading
- Time: 11.30am–12.30pm
- Myer Centrepoint Albury.
Wednesday 8 July
Cultural Activities & Morning Tea
- Time: 9.30am–11.30am
- Berrigan MPS
- Guest speakers, artwork and painting activities.
Monday 6 July
Yarning Stick Making Workshop
- Time: 10.30am–11.30am
- Youth aged 12+
- Coolamon Shire Library
- Bookings required by calling 6927 2492
Tuesday 7 July
Dot Painting Workshop
- Time: 10.30am
- Facilitated by Rob Clark
- Coolamon Shire Library
- Bookings required by calling 6927 2492
Friday 10 July
Candle Marking Workshop
- Time: 10.30am
- Native scents and candle art.
- Coolamon Shire Library
- Bookings required by calling 6927 2492
Ongoing Activities
Country Connection Exhibition
- 3–26 July
- Exhibition of local artist Rob Clark's work
- Coolamon Shire Library
First Nations Authors Book Display
- 5–12 July
- Showcase of First Nations literature
- Coolamon Shire Library
Monday 6 July
NAIDOC Morning Tea
- Times: 10.00am
- Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony
- Community morning tea and student artwork display.
Community Morning Tea and exhibition
- Time: 11.00am
- Community morning tea in the Town Hall foyer. "We Still Belong" created by Cootamundra High School students with Desert Pea Media after Morning Tea.
Thursday 9 July
NAIDOC Celebration Brunch
- Time: 11.00am–1.00pm
- Fig Tree Park
- Brunch, dance performance and face painting.
Monday 6 July
- 9.00am: Official Opening & Flag Raising (Deniliquin LALC office)
- 10.00am: NSW Police Flag Raising at Deniliquin Police Station
- 11.00am: NAIDOC Community BBQ Lunch at Deniliquin Hospital.
Tuesday 7 July
Elders Day
- Time: 12.00pm–1.30pm
- Four Post Campgrounds
- Luncheon, games and storytelling.
Wednesday 8 July
Youth Day
- Excursion to Dharnya Centre and children's activities in Waring Gardens.
Thursday 9 July
Community Day
- Markets, dance performances and art workshop at Werai Land & Water Office.
Friday 10 July
Community Sports Day
- Time: 9.30am–3.00pm
Deniliquin Sports Complex
Community BBQ from 12pm.
Tuesday 7 July
Official Flag Raising
- Time: 10.00am
- Mirrabooka Library
Children's Disco
- Time: 1.30pm–3.30pm
- Gundagai Services Club
Thursday 9 July
Story Time
- Time: 10.00am
- Mirrabooka Library
Saturday 11 July
Gundagai NAIDOC Ball 2026
- Time: 6.00pm
- Gundagai District Services Club
- Entertainment, community awards, catering and photo booth.
- Tickets are $50 and can be purchased via Humanitix
Monday 6 July
NAIDOC Community Fun Day
- Time: 10.00am
- Hillston Community Hall.
Friday 10 July
Morning tea, barbecue
- Time: 11.00am
- Murrin Bridge Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Includesgiveaways, art activities, raffle
Friday 3 July
Official Flag Raising
- Time: 10.00am
- Leeton Main Council Office
- Features special performance by Parkview Public School Wiradjuri Dance Group
Tuesday 7 July
Smoking Ceremony, Traditional Dance & Music Performance
- Time: 10.00am
- Lockhart MPS
- Includes NAIDOC-themed baking and arts and crafts
Monday 6 July
Official Flag Raising
- Time: 10.45am
- Marie Bashir Park
- Followed by morning tea.
Tuesday 7 July
NAIDOC Story Time
- Time: 10.30am–11.30am
- Narrandera Library.
Thursday 9 July
Community Youth Mural
- Time: 10.30am
- CRC Hall.
Friday 10 July
Community Event
- Time: 11.00am–2.00pm
- Showground Hall
- Information stalls, art workshops, kids rides and food stalls.
Thursday 9 July
NAIDOC Community BBQ
- Time: 12.00pm
- Temora Hospital
Sunday 5 July
NAIDOC Mass
- Time: 10.00am
- Tumut Catholic Church.
Monday 6 July
Flag Raising Ceremony
- Tumut Police Station
- Followed by morning tea at Cooee Cottage.
Tuesday 7 July
Snowy Valleys Council Flag Raising
- Followed by morning tea.
Wednesday 8 July
School Art Exhibition
- Tumut Visitors Centre.
Thursday 9 July
Tumut Hospital NAIDOC Celebration
- Time: 9.30am–12.00pm
- Community BBQ, cultural activities, raffles and games.
Friday 10 July
Brungle Community Tree Planting & BBQ
- Time: 11.00am
- Free community barbecue.
Friday 10 July
3x3 Deadly Basketball Gala Day
- Time: 12.00pm–3.00pm
- West Wyalong Basketball Stadium.
Saturday 11 July
NAIDOC Story Week – One Community, Many Stories
- Time: 12.00pm–4.00pm
- McCann Park.
Tuesday 7 July
Community NAIDOC Event
- Time: 10.30am
- Young Hospital
- Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony and morning tea.