NAIDOC Week 2026 runs from Sunday 5 to Sunday 12 July, celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This year’s theme is 50 Years of Deadly, marking five decades of NAIDOC Week and honouring the communities, leaders and activists who have carried the celebration forward.
Across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, the Hunter and Port Stephens, local councils, Land Councils and community organisations host marches, fun days, storytimes, cultural workshops and more. Most events are free and open to everyone.
Details for individual events are typically confirmed in June and early July, so check back or follow the links below for updates. You can also find events near you via the NAIDOC website’s local events directory.
Newcastle Events
Newcastle NAIDOC March and Festival
One of the biggest NAIDOC events in the region, the Awabakal Newcastle NAIDOC March and Festival has drawn thousands of people in recent years. It starts with a flag-raising ceremony at Civic Park from 9am, followed by a march to Foreshore Park where the festival kicks off at 10am. Expect live music, traditional dance, food, stalls, rides and community spirit. A stage programme runs through the day, with children’s performers alongside headline acts.
Date: Monday 6 July 2026
Time: 9am – 2pm
Location: Civic Park then Newcastle Foreshore
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
LitUp Presents: Dub Leffler at Newcastle City Library
Award-winning Bigambul author and illustrator Dub Leffler brings a one-hour, all-ages drawing workshop to Newcastle City Library as part of NAIDOC Week. Bookings are essential and spots are limited, so lock in a spot for the whole family early.
Date: Wednesday 8 July 2026
Time: 11am – 12pm
Location: Newcastle City Library, 15 Laman Street, Newcastle
Age Group: All ages, children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or carer
Cost: Free, bookings required
Website
Natural Art & Silent Disco with Uncle Amos Simon
A hands-on session for kids during NAIDOC Week, led by Uncle Amos Simon, a proud Worimi, Birpai and Wiradjuri man. Kids will make rope from stringybark, create artwork using natural materials, and share words in Awabakal, Gathang and Wiradjuri language. They’ll also get to enjoy a mini silent disco featuring music by Aboriginal artists.
Date: Thursday 9 July 2026
Time: Two sessions: 10–11am and 11.30am–12.30pm
Location: Newcastle City Library, 15 Laman Street, Newcastle
Ages: 5–10 years
Cost: $5 per child (supervising adults free). Additional booking fees apply. Bookings are essential.
Website
NAIDOC Beading at Wallsend Library
A relaxed, drop-in style activity for the whole family during NAIDOC Week. Sit together and make your own colourful bracelet, necklace or keyring using beads inspired by the colours of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, and reflect on what “50 Years of Deadly” means to your family.
Date: Friday 10 July 2026
Time: 10.30 – 11.30am
Location: Wallsend Library, 30 Bunn Street, Wallsend
Ages: All ages (children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or carer; infants and toddlers must be supervised at all times due to choking hazards)
Cost: Free, bookings essential
Website
Lake Macquarie Events
Aboriginal Art Workshop with Emily Lloyd — Windale Hub
Join local Wiradjuri artist Emily Lloyd for a hands-on art workshop where kids create their own Aboriginal-inspired artwork to take home. Emily’s practice spans dot painting, printmaking, illustration and animation — a great opportunity for kids to engage with First Nations art from a working local artist. Note that paint will be used, so dress the kids in older clothes or bring a cover-up shirt.
Date: Thursday 9 July 2026
Time: 11am – 12pm
Location: Windale Hub (bilyabayi), 20 Lake Street, Windale
Ages: 5–12 (children must be accompanied by an adult)
Cost: Free
Website
NAIDOC Week Storytime — Toronto Library
A relaxed and welcoming storytime for kids and families with stories, language learning and a take-home craft activity, all celebrating NAIDOC Week and the “50 Years of Deadly” theme.
Date: Friday 10 July 2026
Time: 10.30am – 11.15am
Location: Toronto Library (tirrabiyangba), Cnr Brighton Avenue & Pemell Street, Toronto
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
NAIDOC Community Showcase: 50 Years of Deadly
Join Lake Mac Arts and Culture at MAP mima in Speers Point for an afternoon of contemporary Aboriginal dance, art and workshops as part of NAIDOC Week 2026.
Performers from Midnight Dreaming studio lead a program of activities celebrating this year’s national theme, 50 Years of Deadly, with workshops running from 2pm and a performance showcase kicking off at 6pm.
Date: Saturday 11 July 2026
Time: 2pm – 8pm (performance from 6pm)
Location: Multi-Arts Pavilion (MAP mima), 96 Creek Reserve Road, Speers Point NSW 2284
Cost: Ticketed – check Eventbrite for pricing
Ages: All ages, all community members welcome
Website
Eastlakes NAIDOC Family Fun Day
Opening Ceremony at 10am, Acknowledgement of Country, Smoking Ceremony, Cultural dancers (performances), raffles and prizes. Plus free sausage sizzle, popcorn, fairy floss and children’s activities. Petting zoo, jumping castle and community stalls.
Date: Friday 11 July 2026
Time: From 10am
Location: Blacksmiths Beach Surf Club
Cost: Free
Ages: All ages
Website
Maitland Events
Wanay Disco – Metford
A community disco for all ages run by Mindaribba LALC. All children must be supervised. Contact Mindaribba LALC on 4015 7000 or [email protected] to register attendance.
Date: Monday 6 July 2026
Time: 6 – 9pm
Location: 1A Chelmsford Avenue, Metford
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free, but registration required
Website
Celebration of Existence March — Maitland
Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council hosts the annual Celebration of Existence March from Maitland Courthouse. Participants often get painted up beforehand, and lunch is provided at Mindaribba LALC after the march.
Date: Tuesday 7 July 2026
Time: 8am – 12pm
Location: Maitland Courthouse
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
NAIDOC Week Storytime with Aunty Michelle — Rutherford Library
Join Aunty Michelle for a special NAIDOC Week storytime featuring a reading of Loui and the Grass Tree, a story about discovery and the many uses of one of Australia’s most remarkable native plants. The session also includes songs, dances and hands-on exploration of artefacts made from grass tree materials.
Date: Tuesday 7 July 2026
Time: 2pm – 3pm
Location: Rutherford Library, Arthur Street, Rutherford
Ages: 3–10
Cost: Free (bookings essential)
Website
Mindaribba LALC Family Fun Day – Maitland
Mindaribba’s annual NAIDOC Family Fun Day, with an Elders tent, live entertainment, market stalls and a free sausage sizzle.
Date: Friday 10 July 2026
Time: 10am – 2pm
Location: Harold Gregson Park, 285–287 High Street, Maitland
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Crafty Cinema: Kangaroo — East Maitland Library
A free evening screening of the family film Kangaroo (PG, 107 mins), paired with a special weaving craft activity with Aunty Michelle. The film follows ex-TV personality Chris Masterman, who gets stranded in an Outback town near Alice Springs and teams up with 12-year-old Indigenous girl Charlie to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned joeys — an unlikely friendship that changes them both. Simple snacks provided.
Date: Friday 10 July 2026
Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm
Location: East Maitland Library, 3 Garnett Road, East Maitland
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free (bookings essential)
Website
Cessnock & Hunter Valley Events
Kiray Putjung Aboriginal Corporation Flag Raising and Family Fun Day — Cessnock
TAFE Park in Cessnock hosts a flag raising ceremony followed by a full community fun day with weaving workshops, entertainment, Elders marquee and market stalls.
Date: Saturday 4 July 2026
Time: 10 – 10.30am
Location: TAFE Park, Cessnock
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Les Elvin Kungera Art Gallery — Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre
A week-long exhibition of Indigenous art including scarves, jewellery, placemats and native-inspired culinary items, on display throughout NAIDOC Week.
Date: Sunday 5 – Sunday 12 July 2026
Time: Mon–Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 9am–4pm
Location: Hunter Valley Visitor Information Centre, 455 Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Little Yengo Gallery – Wollombi
View and purchase artworks and giftware by Aboriginal artists at this gallery in the Wollombi Valley. Open across NAIDOC Week, including a dedicated session on the final Sunday.
Date: Sunday 5 July and Sunday 12 July 2026
Time: 10am – 4pm
Location: Little Yengo Gallery, 2892 Wollombi Road, Wollombi
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
My Story, My Way – Cessnock
A drop-in art workshop with Ash from Thirri Thirri – Connecting the Dots, creating pieces that represent strength, place and hope. Stay for a little while or the whole session.
Date: Monday 6 July 2026
Time: 9.30am – 11.30am
Location: Makers Space, Performance Arts Culture Cessnock (PACC), 198–202 Vincent Street, Cessnock
Cost: Free (bookings essential via mypacc.com.au)
Ages: All ages
Website
Wayapa Rhymetime — Cessnock Library
A First Nations rhymetime and music session for little ones, celebrating NAIDOC Week’s “50 Years of Deadly” theme with stories, songs, activities and seasonal bush tucker.
Date: Monday 6 July & Tuesday 2 July 2026
Time: 10am – 10.45am
Location: Cessnock Library, 65–67 Vincent Street, Cessnock
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free (bookings essential)
Website
Barkuma’s NAIDOC Family Fun Day
A community fun day with free entertainment and giveaways for all ages, connecting the wider community with services available for Cessnock’s Indigenous community. Food and drinks available for purchase. No pets, no alcohol.
Date: Tuesday 7 July 2026
Time: 10am – 2pm
Location: Binarri Jinama-Gu, 1075 Old Maitland Road, Sawyers Gully
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Film: The Sapphires — PACC
A special screening of the much-loved Australian film The Sapphires, following four young Aboriginal women whose all-girl group entertains US troops in Vietnam in 1968.
Date: Wednesday 8 July 2026
Time: 10am – 11.30am
Location: Performance Arts Culture Cessnock (PACC), 198–202 Vincent Street, Cessnock
Ages: All ages
Cost: $5 (bookings essential via mypacc.com.au)
Website
Boomerang Arts — Cessnock Youth Centre
A creative session for young people to paint and decorate wooden boomerangs while exploring storytelling for NAIDOC Week.
Date: Wednesday 8 July 2026
Time: 2pm – 4pm
Location: Cessnock Youth Centre, 49D Aberdare Road, Aberdare
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Kurri Kurri Community Celebration
A community gathering featuring a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by Wonnarua Elder Uncle Warren Taggart, followed by an afternoon of connection, creativity and community activities.
Date: Thursday 9 July 2026
Time: 12pm – 3pm
Location: Kurri Kurri Community Centre, 251 Lang Street, Kurri Kurri
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Aboriginal Genealogy Workshop — Cessnock Library
A hands-on session with Rhianna Williams of Dhiiyaan Nhanya Aboriginal Genealogy (joining via Zoom), guiding participants through reliable online tools for tracing Aboriginal ancestry.
Date: Saturday 11 July 2026
Time: 9.30am – 12pm
Location: Cessnock Library, 65–67 Vincent Street, Cessnock
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free (bookings essential)
Website
Kiray Putjung Aboriginal Corporation NAIDOC Family Fun Day
A full day out celebrating Aboriginal culture, with live music, raffles, rides, Aboriginal dancers and a BBQ.
Date: Sunday 12 July 2026
Time: 10am – 2.30pm
Location: Cessnock TAFE Grounds, Darwin Street, Cessnock
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Port Stephens Events
NAIDOC Week Street March and Fun Day — Raymond Terrace
Port Stephens Council’s annual Street March and Fun Day kicks off with a community march departing Riverside Park, followed by a free family day with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, dance and entertainment, community stalls, a free BBQ and activities for the kids. Run in partnership with the Worimi and Karuah Local Aboriginal Land Councils, NSW Police and the RAAF.
Please note: A separate NAIDOC Week Flag Raising Ceremony is also held at Council’s Administration Building, Raymond Terrace on Monday 6 July 2026 from 8.30am.
Date: Thursday 2 July 2026
Time: 10am – 2pm (march departs Riverside Park at 10am)
Location: Riverside Park, Raymond Terrace
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
NAIDOC Week Flag Raising Ceremony – Raymond Terrace
Port Stephens Council’s official NAIDOC Week ceremony is a meaningful way to mark the start of the week in the Hunter region. The morning includes a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony and official flag raising, followed by morning tea. This year’s theme, “50 Years of Deadly”, celebrates the strength, resilience and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities over the past five decades. Everyone is welcome.
Date: Monday 6 July 2026
Time: 8:30am (ceremony begins at 9am)
Location: Port Stephens Council Administration Building, Raymond Terrace
Ages: All ages
Cost: Free
Website
Know of More Events?
Local event details are updated as councils and organisations confirm their programmes, usually from mid-June. If you know of a NAIDOC Week event in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, the Hunter or Port Stephens that we’ve missed, let us know at info(at)newywithkids.com.au and we’ll add it to the list.
