Each year in July, Indigo Shire participates in National NAIDOC Week to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week 2026 runs from Sunday 5 July to Sunday 12 July.
Explore the full program of local and regional events below, and find out how to apply for this year's First Nations NAIDOC Art Commission - an exciting opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists with a connection to Country in the Indigo Shire region.
About NAIDOC
National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia 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.
This year's national theme is 50 Years of Deadly - marking a milestone 50 years of NAIDOC celebrations. For five decades, NAIDOC Week has celebrated the voices of our communities: steady, unapologetic and proud. The theme is a tribute to 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 2026 Artwork Commission
As we celebrate NAIDOC Week 2026 and the milestone theme of 50 Years of Deadly, Indigo Shire Council is seeking proposals from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists for two commissioned artworks: a Cultural Commission valued at $5,000 and a new Emerging Artist Commission valued at $2,500, designed to support artists at the emerging stage of their professional practice.
We invite artists who have a connection to Country and communities within the Indigo Shire region to submit an Expression of Interest for either or both commissions. Artwork can be created in any medium and will be used to celebrate Aboriginal culture with our broader community.
Through these commissions, we seek to strengthen our community's connection to First Nations culture and provide a platform for Aboriginal artistic expression during this significant year of celebration - one that honours 50 years of NAIDOC history and the Elders, artists and communities who have shaped it.
For more information and to submit your Expression of Interest, visit the Indigo Shire First Nations NAIDOC Art Commission page.
North East Victoria & Border Region NAIDOC Events
50 Years of NAIDOC Posters Exhibition
Saturday 2 May – Sunday 11 October
Lane Gallery, Albury LibraryMuseum
www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/whats-on/museum/50-Years-of-NAIDOC-posters
Explore the 50-year history of NAIDOC through a collection of iconic posters, reflecting on how celebrations and their political themes have evolved since the 1970s. Graciously loaned by Giilangyaldhaanygalang to inspire and connect the community. Free.
Official Flag Raising Ceremony
Friday 3 July
104 Hovell St, Wodonga
10am
Wodonga Council event page
The official flag raising ceremony for NAIDOC Week 2026, celebrating this year's theme 50 Years of Deadly. Hosted by Albury Wodonga NAIDOC Committee Chairperson Summer Matthews, with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony led by local Elder Derek Murray. Followed by morning tea and an opportunity to connect with the community. Public event - anyone welcome.
NAIDOC Week Short Film Screenings
Sunday 5 – Sunday 12 July (daily)
The Cube Wodonga on the courtyard's big screen
10am, 12pm and 2pm daily
Wodonga Council event page
The Cube Wodonga Big Screen will screen three short films from the Duduroa Dhargal Aboriginal Corporation on rotation each day:
- 10am — Fire in the Landscape (5 mins)
- 12pm — 'Nyanda Nagwia Merri' Many Turtles Country (10 mins)
- 2pm — Ryan's Lagoon Burn (9 mins)
The Duduroa Dhargal Aboriginal Corporation is dedicated to Caring for Country through respectful land and waterway management, protecting Aboriginal Cultural Heritage, and preserving sacred sites, stories and traditions through intergenerational knowledge-sharing. Public event - anyone welcome.
Flag Raising & Smoking Ceremony
Monday 6 July
Alpine Shire Council Office
2-6 Churchill Avenue, Bright
10.30am
Flag raising ceremony with smoking ceremony, hosted by Alpine Shire to open NAIDOC Week 2026.
Alpine Health, Mount Beauty Hospital
2.30pm
Flag raising ceremony hosted by Alpine Health to mark the start of NAIDOC Week.
Mungabareena Community Day
Tuesday 7 July
Mungabareena
21 Hovell St, Wodonga
11am-3pm
Event page
Celebrate NAIDOC Week - 50 Years of Deadly - at Mungabareena with a fun Community Day. Everyone is welcome to come along for a delicious feed, good yarns, and fun activities for all ages.
Grand Opening of the Dharnya Cultural Centre
Wednesday 8 July
Dharnya Cultural Centre, Barmah
From 10:00am
Something big is happening at Dharnya! Join the celebration of the Grand Opening of the Dharnya Cultural Centre during this milestone NAIDOC year, proudly marking 50 Years of NAIDOC and the reopening of a place deeply connected to community. A day full of celebration and family fun, with:
Come and experience the spirit of Dharnya as Yorta Yorta people gather to honour the past, celebrate the present and look toward the future. Everyone is welcome - bring the family, bring your friends, and be part of this special day on Yorta Yorta Country.
NAIDOC Week Community Gathering
Thursday 9 July
Apex Park, Wangaratta
10am–2pm
www.wangaratta.vic.gov.au/Community/Events/Whats-On/NAIDOC-Week
A vibrant community event honouring the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Featuring a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, free BBQ, stall holders, food vendors, kids' activities, and a live performance from Isaiah Firebrace. Enjoy a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere with cultural activities and live entertainment as we acknowledge the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a strong, united future together.
Join VACCA, Inclusive Direction, Northeast Health Wangaratta, Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service, Rural City of Wangaratta and Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation for a deadly NAIDOC Week community celebration!
Yindyamarra Fireside Oration
Thursday 9 July
CD Blake Lecture Theatre, Charles Sturt University, Albury-Wodonga Campus
5.30pm–7pm
Register: events.humanitix.com/2026-yindyamarra-fireside-oration
For the first time, this prestigious oration moves from Canberra to the Albury-Wodonga campus as part of NAIDOC Week. This year's oration, 60 Long Years of Agricultural Truth-Telling, marks the 60th anniversary of the Gurindji walk-off at Wave Hill Station and reflects on how conversations about Country, culture and history can strengthen the future of Australian agriculture. Speaker: Worimi man Joshua Gilbert, author of Australia's Agricultural Identity: An Aboriginal Yarn MC: Distinguished Professor Stan Grant
This is an outdoor fireside event - bring a blanket and a thermos.
NAIDOC Community Celebration
Saturday 11 July
Myrtleford Piazza
10am-1pm
Community celebration for NAIDOC Week. The 2026 event will feature live entertainment from Brett Lee and Madi Colville-Walker, cultural activities, community stalls and opportunities for people of all ages to learn, connect and celebrate together. The event is led by Lee Couch in partnership with Tammy Campbell (local Koorie engagement support officer), Alpine Health, Alpine Shire Council and VACCA.
NAIDOC Main Event - '50 Years Deadly!' Family Fun Day
Sunday 20 September
Gateway Lakes, Albury
Time TBC
Event page
Hosted by the Albury Wodonga NAIDOC Committee, this is the community's major NAIDOC celebration for 2026. The community has chosen this date - outside NAIDOC Week itself - to ensure the best possible gathering for all. Further details on activities and program to be confirmed.
We encourage everyone across our community to come together, celebrate, and deepen their understanding of First Nations cultures and histories. All events listed are free unless otherwise noted. More events coming soon. Follow the Albury Wodonga NAIDOC Committee event page for updates.