NAIDOC Week is held in the first full week of July each year and celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is observed across Australia through community events, school activities, workplace programs, cultural learning, ceremonies, art, music and local celebrations.
NAIDOC Week is held in the first full week of July each year. NAIDOC Week 2026 runs from Sunday 5 July to Sunday 12 July 2026.
NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is a time for recognition, respect, learning and community celebration.
No. NAIDOC Week is not a national public holiday in Australia. It is an important national observance, but it is not an official Australia-wide day off work or school.
NAIDOC Week is held from the first Sunday in July to the following Sunday. Themes, posters, awards and local events should be checked each year through official NAIDOC and local community sources.
| Year | NAIDOC Week dates | Day range | Theme note | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday 5 July to Sunday 12 July 2026 | Sunday to Sunday | Reported theme: 50 Years of Deadly | Check official NAIDOC resources, posters and local event listings closer to the week. |
| 2027 | Sunday 4 July to Sunday 11 July 2027 | Sunday to Sunday | Theme to be announced | Schools, councils and workplaces should prepare early in Term 2. |
| 2028 | Sunday 2 July to Sunday 9 July 2028 | Sunday to Sunday | Theme to be announced | May overlap with school holiday periods in some states. |
| 2029 | Sunday 1 July to Sunday 8 July 2029 | Sunday to Sunday | Theme to be announced | First Sunday of July begins NAIDOC Week. |
| 2030 | Sunday 7 July to Sunday 14 July 2030 | Sunday to Sunday | Theme to be announced | Later start because the first full week begins on Sunday 7 July. |
| 2031 | Sunday 6 July to Sunday 13 July 2031 | Sunday to Sunday | Theme to be announced | Update the page when the official theme and poster are released. |
Simple answer: NAIDOC Week is held in the first full week of July each year, running from Sunday to Sunday.
NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee. The acronym remains in use because of its historical origins and connection to the long-running movement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recognition, commemoration and celebration.
NAIDOC Week has roots in earlier Aboriginal rights, recognition and observance movements, including the Day of Mourning and later national observance efforts.
NAIDOC Week recognises the strength, survival, culture, language, Country, community and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Events are held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, schools, councils, workplaces, libraries, arts organisations and government agencies.
Each year, NAIDOC Week has a national theme. The theme helps guide events, school activities, workplace programs, posters, awards, community celebrations and media coverage. Because the theme changes each year, this page should be reviewed annually.
The national theme changes each year. It should be added to this page once the official theme is announced.
The official NAIDOC poster is often used by schools, councils, libraries, workplaces and community groups for promotion and displays.
The National NAIDOC Awards recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, achievers, creators and community contributors.
Content maintenance note: Update this page every year with the official theme, poster, awards information and local event links. This keeps the page useful and protects accuracy.
NAIDOC Week should be planned respectfully and, where possible, in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, organisations, Elders, Traditional Owners or local community representatives.
Respectful planning: NAIDOC Week is not just a theme week. It is a time to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, listen to community leadership, and avoid using culture as decoration without context or consent.
NAIDOC Week events are held across Australia. The exact events vary each year and may include marches, flag raising ceremonies, community days, cultural performances, art exhibitions, film screenings, talks, workshops, school events and awards.
| Event type | Common organisers | What to check | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community celebrations | Local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, councils and community groups | Date, location, cultural protocols, accessibility and registration details | Support events led by local First Nations communities. |
| School activities | Schools, early learning centres and education departments | Age-appropriate resources, local context and cultural guidance | Plan before the end of Term 2 where possible. |
| Workplace events | Employers, agencies, staff networks and RAP working groups | Speakers, cultural learning, procurement and internal commitments | Avoid one-off token events; connect the week to longer-term action. |
| Arts and culture | Galleries, museums, libraries, theatres and arts organisations | Exhibitions, artists, performances, talks and workshops | Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and creators. |
| Official ceremonies | Councils, government agencies and community organisations | Welcome to Country, Acknowledgement of Country, flag raising and protocols | Ensure cultural protocols are followed respectfully. |
Local search opportunity: This page can later support city or state pages such as “NAIDOC Week Sydney”, “NAIDOC Week Melbourne”, “NAIDOC Week Brisbane” and “NAIDOC events near me”.
NAIDOC Week sits within a wider Australian calendar of First Nations history, culture, recognition and reconciliation dates. These dates are related, but they are not the same.
National Sorry Day is observed on 26 May and recognises the Stolen Generations and the ongoing impacts of past government policies.
National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June and focuses on reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.
Mabo Day is observed on 3 June and recognises the High Court decision that overturned terra nullius and acknowledged native title.
This site mainly covers Australian public holidays, but NAIDOC Week belongs in the events and observances calendar because Australians search for its dates, meaning, theme, events and school resources.
| Event or holiday | Fixed or changing date? | Public holiday in Australia? | Why people search it |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAIDOC Week | First full week of July | No, not a national public holiday | Dates, theme, events, school activities and First Nations cultural learning. |
| National Reconciliation Week | Fixed: 27 May to 3 June | No, not a national public holiday | Reconciliation dates, history, workplace events and school activities. |
| Mabo Day | Fixed: 3 June | No, not a national public holiday | Mabo decision, native title history and First Nations recognition. |
| Australia Day | Fixed: 26 January | Yes, public holiday across Australia | Public holiday date, national debate, ceremonies and long weekend rules. |
Site structure recommendation: Keep this page as a top-level event page at /naidoc-week/. Do not make it a child page of public holidays, because NAIDOC Week is not a national public holiday. Link it from the /events/ hub and related First Nations observance pages.
Use these pages to plan around Australian events, observances, public holidays and long weekends.
NAIDOC Week is held in the first full week of July each year, from Sunday to Sunday.
NAIDOC Week 2026 runs from Sunday 5 July to Sunday 12 July 2026.
NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee. The acronym remains in use because of its historical origins.
No. NAIDOC Week is not a national public holiday in Australia.
Everyone can take part in NAIDOC Week events, learning activities and community celebrations, while respecting that the week centres Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and achievements.
The NAIDOC Week theme changes each year. Check the official NAIDOC website for the current theme, poster and event resources.
Schools may hold cultural learning activities, invite First Nations speakers, use official resources, learn about local Country and language groups, and explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.
Workplaces may hold cultural learning sessions, support First Nations businesses and artists, review Reconciliation Action Plan commitments, and give staff opportunities to attend local NAIDOC events.
No. NAIDOC Week should be a top-level event page at /naidoc-week/ because it has direct search demand and is not a child of a public holiday. It should be linked from the /events/ hub.