50 years on, NAIDOC Week is honouring the achievements of Aboriginal people in time to celebrate

Five decades of NAIDOC Week will be celebrated in Geraldton from next week, honouring the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. NAIDOC Week 2026 will be marked from July 5 to 12, with this year’s theme being 50 Years of Deadly. Geraldton and the Mid West will join in on the celebrations and tributes to the people who built the movement, the elders who stood firm, the organisers who made space, the artists who turned resistance into expression and the communities who showed support. Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service has released its calendar of events for next week. NAIDOC Week is a big part of GRAMS’ calendar and to mark the occasion it will host five free community events. On Sunday July 5, the week will be launched with an opening concert and awards ceremony held at Queens Park Theatre, from 10am to 3pm. The day will be packed full of live music, markets, barbecue, and community spirit, with Becca Hatch, Fred Leone, Birdz, and Red Ochre set to perform. The awards ceremony will honour outstanding contributions from community members. GRAMS Geraldton will host a cake-cutting and morning tea on Monday, July 6 from 10am. There will be a flag-raising ceremony with plenty of food, with mayor Jerry Clune to attend along with GRAMS board members. Action will head to the basketball court with a tournament at the Geraldton Amateur Basketball Association on Tuesday, from 1pm to 4pm. Teams of up to eight players will compete in a fun one-division format. Those interested will need to register before. A big breakfast will be a fulfilling affair on Wednesday at the Bundiyarra Regional Aboriginal Community Kinship Stay facility from 7am to 10am. The Mayu ball will be staged on Thursday at Geraldton Grammar School’s Batavia Hall from 5pm to 9pm, in what promises to be an evening full of vibrant music, engaging activities, and cultural entertainment. This event also requires registration. Finally, on Friday, July 10 the Justice and Community Network Committee will host a free community event at Edith Cowan Square from 11am to 2pm, with a range of cultural activities, information stalls and displays and food to enjoy. Carnarvon’s NAIDOC Week calendar of events includes an opening ceremony on Monday, a photo display of the last 50 years of locals on Tuesday, an Elders morning tea and children’s ball on Thursday, a family fun day on Friday and a closing ceremony ball on Saturday.