For non-Indigenous Australians, January 26 has in recent years been celebrated as “Australia Day”; for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, it’s Invasion Day — a day of mourning, survival and invasion day rallies. The date has become a day of grieving what the tall ships from England brought with them — death, suffering, and the beginning of what’s now over two centuries of injustice and dispossession to First Nations people.
Being a good ally to Indigenous Australians is about more than talking the talk; you need to walk the walk. This means you need to take action, too. But on January 26 this could be very literal — by walking in an Invasion Day protest.
Thousands of people see January 26 as a day to mourn those who have passed and hold protests and demonstrations to fight for Indigenous rights to mark invasion day in Australia.
Just about every major capital city holds rallies and gatherings to call for action on things such as transparency around Indigenous deaths in custody and changing the date of Australia Day from January 26 (or abolishing the holiday all together).
So here is a list of Invasion Day events for 2025. It includes gatherings, protests, demonstrations, rallies, and marches on Sunday, January 26, for you to go to and stand in solidarity with First Nations people across the mainland and our surrounding islands.
If you can’t attend a rally, consider participating online or by paying the rent instead.
Invasion Day Rallies, Protests & Other Events
Events to attend in Warrane / Sydney
VIGIL: TRUTHS
During the Sydney Festival, gathering space Vigil: Gunyah at Barangaroo Reserve has been hosting conversations and workshops curated by broadcaster Rudi Bremer. It ends with a special annual event called Vigil: Truths on Invasion Day, which focuses on “being heard, sharing knowledge and presenting First Nations visions for the future”.
The Vigil: Truths event is free and will be held at Barangaroo Reserve at 7pm on Sunday, January 26.
DAWN REFLECTION
A Dawn Reflection will be held in Circular Quay from 5:20am, and will be accompanied by the Sydney Opera House being lit up with Aboriginal artwork to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land.
To see it, head to the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay.
INVASION DAY 2024 MARCH
The main Sydney Invasion Day rally is once again starting at Belmore Park at 10am, before marching through the Sydney CBD.
THE WUGULORA CEREMONY
The WugulOra Ceremony (which includes a smoking ceremony and dance) will be held from 7:30am at Barangaroo Reserve. If you want to see it but can’t attend in person, it’ll also be broadcast on NITV.
YABUN FESTIVAL
Celebrating over 20 years, Yabun returns to Victoria Park in Broadway this year, and will also be streamed on the Yabun Festival website and on Koori Radio 93.7FM from 12pm.
Yabun Festival is the largest one-day gathering and recognition of First Nations people in Australia.
BLAK POWERHOUSE
Blak Powerhouse is a collaboration between the Indigenous social enterprise We Are Warriors and the Powerhouse Museum which seeks to “take back a day of sorrow” and turn it into “a day of power and positivity.”
You can check it out at Manning Bar, with music kicking off from 5:15pm on January 26.
NGARRAMA — NEWCASTLE
If you don’t live in Sydney, don’t worry. There are plenty of events you can attend.
One is Ngarrama, held by the University of Newcastle for the fourth year in a row. Kicking off at 7pm, Ngarrama features performances, dancing and illuminated puppets. Although the event is free, it is best to book a ticket in advance HERE.
SURVIVAL DAY — KATOOMBA & GRIFFITH
They may not be marches or protests but Survival Day events will be held from 11am to 3pm in two locations in Katoomba and Griffith.
The Griffith Local Aboriginal Land Council, alongside Griffith City Council, will be hosting the event at the Regional Aquatic Leisure Centre. It’ll be free to enter and attendees will be able to be immersed in activities including traditional dancing, singing, cultural stalls and live music.
In Katoomba, a Survival Day event will be held at Katoomba North Public School.
Events to attend in Naarm / Melbourne
DAWN SERVICE
A dawn service will be held at Domain Gardens, Linlithgow Avenue at 5am on January 26.
PILK PURRIYN TRUTH TELLING
From 5.30am to 7am at the Cosy Corner Beach a truth telling and smoking ceremony will be held in partnership with Surf Coast Shire Council.
INVASION DAY 2024 PROTEST
The dawn service will be followed by the annual Invasion Day Rally at 10am at the Victorian Parliament which marches all the way to Flinders St Station.
REIGNITE OUR SPIRIT SURVIVAL DAY
The ‘Our Survival Day’ event will be held at The Briars at 10am. There will be performances from Jony Berry, Emma Donovan and Thomas Mayo.
Tickets are free for mob and $35 each for allies.
BALIT NURRAN / SHARE THE SPIRIT FESTIVAL
Rain, hail or shine the Share the Spirit Festival at the Treasury Gardens will be happening. It kicks off at 11.30am with First Nations musical acts from 1pm to 9pm.
Events to attend in Tarndanya / Adelaide
MOURNING IN THE MORNING
Mourning in the Morning is a reflective event that features a smoking ceremony held by Kaurna cultural leaders Uncle Moogy Sumner and Rev Ngarrindjeri. It will be held at Elder Park / Tarntanya Wama at 7am.
SURVIVAL DAY MARCH 2024
This year’s Survival Day March is happening at Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga at 12.00pm.
Events to attend in Boorloo / Perth
DAY OF MOURNING CEREMONY
Greens senator Dorinda Cox will be hosting a ceremony to acknowledge the past and take action towards a better future from 9am at Victoria Gardens Foreshore.
INVASION DAY 2024 PROTEST
An Invasion Day rally is currently planned for Forrest Chase, on Wellington Street in Boorloo (Perth), from 12pm. There will be a rally before the march kicks off at 1.30pm, ending at Stirling Gardens with a 2pm Yarning Circle with grassroots Elders.
BIRAK CONCERT
The City of Perth will hold its annual Birak Concert again this year, filled with incredible First Nations entertainment. It starts at 3.30pm and concludes at 7.30pm.
Events to attend in Meanjin / Brisbane
INVASION DAY RALLY
Kicking off at 8am at Queens Gardens for sign making, the march begins at around 9am and will finish at Musgrave Park. Local businesses will also have a pop-up mini-market across the event locations.
WE HAVE SURVIVED!
The Sunshine Coast is holding its own Invasion Day event to commemorate Indigenous folks’ survival. The We Have Survived! event will be held at Sunshine Coast City Hall and kick off at 9am. At 10am there will be a march, which will end with an open mic for people to share their stories and make meaningful connections.
Events to attend in Canberra
SOVEREIGNTY DAY RALLY
The Sovereignty Day rally organised by the Aboriginal Tent Embassy will take place at the Garema Place from 9.30am.
Events to attend in Gulumoerrgin / Darwin
SMOKING CEREMONY
Starting at 7.45am the Larrakia People will hold a Smoking Ceremony at Darwin Waterfront Lagoon, with storytelling and performances by local Indigenous performers.
FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITY GATHERING
This mob-only event will take place at Gulumerridjin Larrakia Country, 12 Smith Street Darwin City. For more info, click HERE.
Events to attend in Nipaluna / Hobart
INVASION DAY MARCH
Hobart’s Invasion Day march will kick off at 11.15am at the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC), followed by a rally at 12pm on Parliament Lawns.
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