Every 2026 Invasion Day Protest Happening In Australia

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Each year, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the country, January 26 is a day shrouded in sorrow and mourning. It lays bare Australia’s colonial underbelly and the ongoing oppression, racism, and injustices experienced by First Nations Australians since the arrival of Sir Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet on the same day in 1788.

While we are a nation that prides itself on diversity and multiculturalism, January 26 serves as a stark reminder of just how far we still have to go in recognising the more than 60,000 years of rich culture, resilience, and connection to Country that existed long before the arrival of European settlers.

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Invasion Day — also referred to as a Day of Mourning and Survival Day — is not a day to commemorate, but rather a day to stand up and show up for our Indigenous brothers and sisters until the date is abolished as a day of celebration. From the Frontier Wars to the famous 1946 Pilbara strike in Western Australia, Indigenous Australians have a proud history of rising up and fighting for justice.

In 1938, on the 150th anniversary of European invasion, Aboriginal leaders across the nation led the first national Day of Mourning protest. "Since then, generations of mob and allies have gathered each year to resist the celebration of January 26 and to assert that our lives, cultures, and sovereignty matter", shared not-for-profit organisation Common Grounds on Instagram.

Yet year in and year out, Australians still choose to wave around the Union Jack and crack open the BBQ to patriotic cheers, all in the name of celebrating a "tradition" that has only been a public holiday since 1994.

And while recent progress has undoubtedly been made — from the introduction of the first-ever statewide treaty in Victoria to the successful Free the Flag campaign — there’s still a long way to go on our journey towards reconciliation. The onus cannot continually fall on our First Nations communities, and it’s in times like these that true allyship can move us forward together, as one.

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Ahead, you can find your closest protest, rally, and march to attend and support as an ally in 2026. You can also brush up on resources to educate yourself on Indigenous affairs before, during, and after the day.

Where and when are the Invasion Day protests in Australia?

Sydney (Gadigal)

Invasion Day Rally: Monday, January 26 at 10:00am at Hyde Park.

After marching, you can head to Yabun Festival at Victoria Park in Broadway, where you can enjoy Australia's largest one-day celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

If you're waking up early, you can also attend the dawn reflection at 5:20am at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay.

Melbourne (Naarm)

Invasion Day Protest: Monday, January 26 at 10:00am at Parliament House.

After the march, you can head along the coast to Mount Martha for Our Survival Day: Matriarchs of 2026. Here you can enjoy an incredible line-up of local artists, experiences, food and market stalls come together to support the same cause.

Perth (Boorloo)

Invasion Day Protest: Monday, January 26 at 12:00pm at Forrest Chase.

After the rally, head to Auspire's Reflect and Respect Film Dome, taking place at Langley Park from 3:00pm onwards. The event will feature the films Koora Koora: A Long Long Time Ago, plus The Story of Us and Australian Values on rotation.