Australia prepares for Invasion Day/Survival Day rallies and ceremonies nationwide on January 26

Cities and regional centers across Australia prepared for a wide slate of events on January 26, 2026, a date many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people mark as Invasion Day, Survival Day, or the Day of Mourning. Organizers framed the gatherings as acts of remembrance and resistance, blending cultural ceremony with calls for truth-telling and justice.

In Sydney, plans included early-morning reflection and ceremony near The Rocks, the WugulOra event, the long-running Yabun festival at Victoria Park, and a rally and march beginning in Hyde Park. The reporting also noted that anti-protest restrictions were narrowed in Sydney, enabling the planned Invasion Day protest to go ahead on Monday.

Across other states and territories, organizers listed dawn services, smoking ceremonies, community festivals and marches, with events scheduled in Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart and many regional towns. Several programs highlighted local traditional owners and community-led formats, emphasizing cultural continuity and the importance of Indigenous voices in setting the tone and aims of the day.

While event formats differ by location, the shared thread is a push to broaden public understanding of the historical meaning of January 26 for First Nations people, and to connect commemoration with present-day concerns. Organizers have urged participation that centers respect, safety and solidarity, with many events combining ceremony and protest to underscore both grief and resilience.