National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June every year. The dates mark two major milestones in Australian history: the 1967 referendum anniversary and the anniversary of the High Court Mabo decision. The week encourages Australians to learn about shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to consider practical action toward reconciliation.
National Reconciliation Week is held from 27 May to 3 June every year. In 2026, it runs from Wednesday 27 May to Wednesday 3 June.
27 May marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum. 3 June marks the anniversary of the Mabo decision. These dates are the fixed bookends of National Reconciliation Week.
No. National Reconciliation Week is not a national public holiday. The ACT has a separate Reconciliation Day public holiday, but that is different from National Reconciliation Week.
National Reconciliation Week uses the same fixed dates every year: 27 May to 3 June. The weekday changes each year, which matters for schools, workplaces, councils and community events.
| Year | National Reconciliation Week dates | Start day | End day | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 27 May to 3 June 2026 | Wednesday | Wednesday | Good for midweek school, workplace and community programs. |
| 2027 | 27 May to 3 June 2027 | Thursday | Thursday | Plan events across two working weeks. |
| 2028 | 27 May to 3 June 2028 | Saturday | Saturday | Weekend start; workplaces and schools may plan events during the following week. |
| 2029 | 27 May to 3 June 2029 | Sunday | Sunday | Community events may sit on weekends, with school/workplace activities during the week. |
| 2030 | 27 May to 3 June 2030 | Monday | Monday | Clean full-week planning window for organisations. |
| 2031 | 27 May to 3 June 2031 | Tuesday | Tuesday | Useful for school assemblies, workplace forums and community programs. |
Simple answer: National Reconciliation Week is always 27 May to 3 June. The start and end dates do not move.
The dates of National Reconciliation Week are not random. They connect the week to two defining moments in Australia’s reconciliation story.
27 May marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum, when Australians voted to change the Constitution in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
3 June marks the anniversary of the High Court’s Mabo decision, which recognised native title and rejected terra nullius as a legal fiction.
The week between these dates invites learning, reflection and practical action toward a more just relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians.
National Reconciliation Week encourages Australians to learn about shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to consider how each person, organisation and community can contribute to reconciliation.
Understanding the history of colonisation, resistance, survival, policy, land rights, the 1967 referendum, the Mabo decision and ongoing inequality is central to meaningful reconciliation.
Reconciliation requires respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures, knowledges, languages, Country, communities and self-determination.
The strongest programs connect awareness with action, including truth-telling, anti-racism, relationship building, policy review, procurement and support for First Nations leadership.
Respectful note: National Reconciliation Week should not be reduced to one-off symbolism. Good planning should be informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, local context and ongoing commitments.
National Reconciliation Week is widely recognised by schools, universities, councils, workplaces, government agencies, libraries, clubs and community groups.
Planning tip: Start planning in April or early May. This gives time to engage speakers, confirm cultural protocols, prepare resources and avoid last-minute tokenism.
These dates sit close together and are often planned as a connected period of learning, reflection and action.
| Date or period | What it marks | Public holiday? | Related page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May | National Sorry Day, recognising the Stolen Generations and the impact of past government policies | No, not a national public holiday | National Sorry Day |
| 27 May to 3 June | National Reconciliation Week | No, not a national public holiday | National Reconciliation Week |
| 3 June | Mabo Day, marking the anniversary of the Mabo decision | No national public holiday | Mabo Day |
| First full week of July | NAIDOC Week, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and achievements | No, not a national public holiday | NAIDOC Week |
Content cluster note: Link National Reconciliation Week strongly with National Sorry Day, Mabo Day and NAIDOC Week. These pages should support each other as a First Nations dates and observances cluster.
National Reconciliation Week is not a national public holiday. However, the Australian Capital Territory has a separate Reconciliation Day public holiday. This can confuse users, so the distinction should be clear.
Runs from 27 May to 3 June every year. It is a national observance period, not a national public holiday.
The ACT has a separate Reconciliation Day public holiday. Check the ACT public holiday calendar for the current year’s date.
For dates and meaning, use this page. For official days off work in the ACT, use the ACT public holiday page.
This site mainly covers Australian public holidays, but National Reconciliation Week belongs in the events and observances calendar because Australians search for its dates, meaning, theme, school resources and workplace planning.
| Event or holiday | Fixed or changing date? | Public holiday in Australia? | Why people search it |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Reconciliation Week | Fixed: 27 May to 3 June | No, not a national public holiday | Dates, meaning, themes, school activities, workplace programs and reconciliation context. |
| National Sorry Day | Fixed: 26 May | No, not a national public holiday | Stolen Generations, remembrance, learning and community events. |
| Mabo Day | Fixed: 3 June | No national public holiday | Mabo decision, native title history and First Nations recognition. |
| ACT Reconciliation Day | State/territory public holiday date varies by year | Yes, in the ACT only | ACT public holiday date, long weekend planning and entitlements. |
Site structure recommendation: Keep this page as a top-level event page at /national-reconciliation-week/. Do not make it a child page of public holidays, because National Reconciliation 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.
National Reconciliation Week is held from 27 May to 3 June every year.
National Reconciliation Week 2026 runs from Wednesday 27 May to Wednesday 3 June 2026.
27 May marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum.
3 June marks the anniversary of the High Court Mabo decision.
No. National Reconciliation Week is not a national public holiday. The ACT has a separate Reconciliation Day public holiday.
It encourages Australians to learn about shared histories, cultures and achievements and to consider how to contribute to reconciliation.
National Sorry Day is held on 26 May and recognises the Stolen Generations. National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June and focuses on reconciliation action and learning.
Mabo Day is 3 June and marks the anniversary of the Mabo decision. It is also the final day of National Reconciliation Week.
Schools may teach about the 1967 referendum, the Mabo decision, local Country, First Nations histories, cultures, languages, truth-telling and reconciliation.
No. National Reconciliation Week should be a top-level event page at /national-reconciliation-week/ because it has direct search demand and is not a child of a public holiday. It should be linked from the /events/ hub.