The schedule celebrates local programs, but also pays tribute to 50 years since the formation of NAIDOC - an acronym for the National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee.
NAIDOC Week is a significant annual celebration that recognises the history, culture, achievements, and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Held across Australia during the first full week of July, it provides an opportunity for all Australians to learn about and celebrate the world's oldest continuing cultures.
Local activities open on Monday, with at least one event every day until Friday.
The schedules is as follows:
Monday, July 6 - NAIDOC Opening:
• Morning tea at the Deniliquin Local Aboriginal Land Council (DLALC) office, 426 Wood St, Denilqiuin, from 9am.
• Flag raising ceremony at the Deniliquin Police Station from 10am
• Barbecue lunch at the Deniliquin Hospital from 11am.
Tuesday, July 7 - Elders' Day:
• DLALC will host local elders at Four Post for a full day of games, activities and sharing of stories and meals.
Wednesday, July 8 - Youth Day:
• DLALC bus trip to the Dharnya Centre in Barmah, departing at 9.30am and returning at 3pm.
• Yarkuwa Children’s Day at Yarkua Indigenous Knowledge Centre, 394 Hay Rd, Deniliquin. Explore a range of activities celebrating culture, creativity and connection between 12pm-2.30pm.
Thursday, July 9 - Community Day:
• DLALC Koori Market. This year it will be held at the Werai Land and Water office, at 52 Junction St, Deniliquin, from 10am-2.30pm. There will be market stalls, service provider stalls, a barbecue lunch and a jumping castle for the kids.
• Yarkuwa art and dance workshops, at Yarkuwa, from 12pm-2.30pm. You can experience storytelling through dance and creative art workshops, guided by Yarkuwa staff.
Friday, July 10 - Community Sports Day:
• Sports Day at the Deniliquin Satdium. Stadium and Yarkuwa staff will host a series of games and fun activities for all ages from 9.30am-3pm.A community barbecue lunch will be included, from 12pm.
The origins of NAIDOC Week can be traced back to the Day of Mourning on January 26, 1938.
On the 150th anniversary of British settlement, Aboriginal leaders gathered in Sydney to protest the mistreatment of Indigenous Australians and to demand equal rights and opportunities.
This landmark event became a turning point in the struggle for Indigenous recognition and justice.
In the following decades, Indigenous organisations and community leaders continued to raise awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues through annual observances.
The movement eventually became known as NAIDOC.
What began as a day of protest and advocacy later grew into a week-long national celebration of Indigenous culture and achievement.
Today, NAIDOC Week features community festivals, cultural performances, educational programs, art exhibitions, sporting events, and award ceremonies. Each year is guided by a theme that highlights important aspects of Indigenous history, identity, leadership, or community aspirations.
With 2026 being a milestone year for NAIDOC, the theme is ‘50 Years Deadly’.
“For five decades, NAIDOC Week has celebrated the voices of our communities — steady, unapologetic, and proud,” the NAIDOC committee said.
“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 has always been more than a week — it’s a platform, a protest, a celebration, and a statement of survival.
“Fifty Years of Deadly is a marker, not just of time passed, but of the momentum still building. It’s proof of what our people build when culture leads and community comes first. NAIDOC belongs to mob. It always has.”
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