News

The 2026 National NAIDOC Awards finalists have been announced, marking the start of NAIDOC Week 2026, which runs from 5 to 12 July.

This year’s finalists reflect the National NAIDOC theme ‘50 Years of Deadly,’ celebrating the First Nations Elders, organisers, artists and communities who have built and sustained the NAIDOC movement over five decades.

Alongside this year’s finalists, the late Rhoda Roberts AO has been named the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, honouring her extraordinary leadership and lasting impact on Australia’s arts and cultural landscape.

ABC Education and the National NAIDOC Committee have launched the official NAIDOC Week Education Resources 2026, giving teachers the tools to bring this year’s theme, “50 Years of Deadly

The National NAIDOC Committee has announced that the 2026 National NAIDOC Awards and associated 50-Year Celebration events, originally scheduled to be held in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) on 3 and 4 July 2026, will now take place on 15 August 2026.

The National NAIDOC Committee is proud to announce acclaimed artist and musician Zaachariaha Fielding as the winner of the 2026 National NAIDOC Week Poster Competition, and to honour the late Rhoda Roberts AO with the 2026 National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award.

These two recipients reflect the spirit of this year’s NAIDOC theme, 50 Years of Deadly — celebrating five decades of Blak excellence, cultural strength, creativity and leadership, while honouring those whose legacies continue to shape the future.

Entries for the 2026 National NAIDOC Poster Competition have been extended until 11:59pm AEDT, Sunday 8 March 2026.

The National NAIDOC Poster Competition encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists to share their creativity and cultural expression with artwork that reflects the official 2026 National NAIDOC Week theme: 50 Years of Deadly.

Entries for the 2026 National NAIDOC Week Poster Competition close on Sunday 1 March 2026 at 11:59pm (AEDT).

Don't miss out on your chance to enter!

How to Submit

Submit via the NAIDOC submissions platform, available via the NAIDOC website.

What you need to check before you submit:

The National NAIDOC Committee has today unveiled its 2026 national theme, 50 Years of Deadly, marking five decades of NAIDOC Week, a week dedicated to amplifying and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures.

The Australian Government proudly supports National NAIDOC Week celebrations and funding through NAIDOC Local Grants. In 2026, up to $3 million is available to support local communities and organisations across Australia celebrate NAIDOC Week from 5 to 12 July 2026.

The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) manages the NAIDOC Local Grants and the application process.

ABC Education is pleased to once again partner with the National NAIDOC Committee to create the official NAIDOC Week education resources.

2025 National NAIDOC Awards Finalists

Please join the Committee in congratulating the outstanding finalists for the 2025 National NAIDOC Awards. The Committee are grateful to have received over 200 nominations, reading your stories about the tireless work being achieved in our communities across the nation. Thank you to everyone who took the time and effort to submit a nomination and helping us celebrate Blak excellence.

The National NAIDOC Committee is proud to announce the winner of the 2025 National NAIDOC Week Poster Competition — Ancestral Lines by Jeremy Morgan Worrall — and to honour AFL icon and lifelong advocate Michael Long as the recipient of the 2025 National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award.