NAIDOC Week 2026 runs from Sunday July 5 - Sunday July 12. This year's NAIDOC theme is 50 Years of Deadly and is a celebration of 50 years of steady, unapologetic and proud resistance.
Lots of PBS programs will be celebrating NAIDOC Week on air, we'll update this webpage as they're locked in.
Ahead of the NAIDOC Week celebrations, fill-in announcer Larry Quicksticks aired an interview and performance from proud Gumbaynggirr and Noongar woman Emma Donovan on The Afterglow, recorded a few weeks ago in PBS Studio 3.
Listen back here and watch Emma and guitarist Benjamin Edgar perform 'Wash My Soul In The Rivers Flow' live below. You can also witness Emma Donovan performing live with the MSO Friday July 10 (tix here).
On Monday July 6, tune in to The Blend as Emelyne is joined by SOVBLKPSSY, a queer Ngarrindjeri/Ramindjeri and Walkandi–Woni musician and DJ. Currently based in Naarm, they've established themselves as a force behind the decks, weaving songs of resistance with hefty club cuts to create a powerfully intimate sonic offering. Listen in from 10pm to hear about Rydeen and SOVBLKPSSY's new EP 'DONT TELL ANYONE'.
Iwuda is the solo project from First Nations bassist Davin Ojala. Named after the Anaiwan word for echidna, Iwuda draws on jazz, groove and a wide range of musical traditions to arrive somewhere distinctly its own: bass-forward modern jazz with a searching, restless quality at its core. Joining Mike Gurrieri on Mystic Brew, Davin will discuss their upcoming debut album, Music for Iwuda. Tune in from 9am on Tuesday July 7.
On Thursday July 9's edition of Down By The River, Lauren will catch up with Ngiyampaa man Pirritu about his work which honours a cultural journey connecting to land, language and family. Pirritu will also perform a live in studio acoustic set.
Don't miss Ernie's annual NAIDOC Week edition of Swinging Doors from 3pm Thursday July 9.
On Friday July 10, Milo Eastwood takes over Stone Love for a special edition of the show. Don't miss Naarm based Aboriginal and Fijian producer and rapper Miles Natau's exclusive Studio 5 Live set from 5pm. More info here.
MpathSoul joins Suzi Hutchings on Subway Sounds on Saturday July 11 ahead of their spoken word/music set as part of the The Yalinguth Archives at The Builders Arms on July 22. Once known by some as the 'Black Pub of Melbourne', The Builders Arms will be hosting an evening of yidaki, songs and stories about Fitzroy's iconic meeting places featuring talks from Uncle Robbie Thorpe, Jason Tarimu and MpathSoul. Tune in from 7pm to PBS to hear all about the evening.
Stay tuned for loads of great tunes, and lots of special guests sharing First Nations sounds and voices on the airwaves.
PBS has had the privilege of many incredible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander guests sharing their music onair. Here are just a couple of highlights that we caught on video over the past 12 months or so:
Kutcha Edwards on The Breakfast Spread March 23, 2026 (feat. Jay Jerome and Claire Dickson!)
Drifting Clouds live on The Breakfast Spread February 25, 2026
Bumpy on The Afterglow for Drive Live Wednesday February 18, 2026
Miss Kaninna on Firewater for Drive Live Tuesday February 17, 2026
Kee'ahn on The Breakfast Spread October 27, 2025
Roger Knox at Swinging City (on Swinging Doors) July 24, 2025 (feat. Toby Martin)
Charlie Needs Braces at Swinging City (on Radio City) July 24, 2025
Lian Band with William Barton on Global Village in Studio 5 Live May 26, 2025
Events:
You can find a list of NAIDOC Week events here, some highlights include:
Emma Donovan X MSO
7:30pm Friday July 10 at Hamer Hall
This NAIDOC Week, Emma reunites with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to bring Take Me to the River to life – a tribute to the timeless soul classics that shaped her music and scored the memories of an entire generation.
We Sit in Circle exhibition
Dates: 9am - 5pm July 3 - July 30 at Queen Victoria Women’s Centre
Curated by Flick Chafer-Smith, Ngarrindjeri artist and First Peoples Arts Mentor at The Torch. We Sit in Circle showcases powerful paintings and intricate weavings by First Peoples women with lived experience of incarceration. They are mothers, aunties, grandmothers, daughters, and sisters.
Artist Run Ceramic Workshop
1pm - 4pm Saturday July 11 at APY Gallery, Collingwood Yards
Join APY Gallery at Collingwood Yards this NAIDOC Week for an artist-run ceramics workshop with Ngarrindjeri artist Tiarnie Edwards. Following the workshop, Tiarnie will guide you through decorating two of your own ceramic plates. After the workshop, you're welcome to stick around for refreshments in the Collingwood Yards courtyard. Tickets essential from here.
About NAIDOC Week
National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year (Sunday to Sunday), 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. You can support and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events held across the country. Find out more at naidoc.org.au.
