This year’s National Reconciliation Week (NRW) theme called on all Australians to be All In for reconciliation every single day.
Across the country, hundreds of thousands went All In, in workplaces, schools, early learning services, community halls and homes to listen, learn and act.
From talks to performances, film screenings to flag raisings, creative workshops, panels, commemorations and thousands of rugged up supporters walking across bridges, people showed up demonstrating that the work of reconciliation will not happen by itself; it needs all of us.
Record numbers of people joined choirs all across the country to raise their Voices for Reconciliation, singing the Midnight Oil anthem Beds Are Burning.
Activity sheets and resources in 13 languages other than English supported more people to engage with the theme and take part in the week.
In 2026 we also marked 25 years of Reconciliation Australia. This National Reconciliation Week was a clear reminder of how far the reconciliation movement has come, and the distance we need to travel as a country.
Check out some key events this year and get planning for your NRW 2027 event now!
Photo: Reconciliation Australia
THE LONG WALK
This annual community event in Naarm is inspired by Michael Long’s historic 650km walk to Canberra and aims to keep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices at the heart of Australia’s national conversation. Reconciliation Australia staff hosted a stall and activation with Reconciliation Victoria at the community event. Attendees dropped by on their way to the Dreamtime at the G to talk, grab stickers and colouring sheets, and write down their commitments to reconciliation. Staff then joined the walk onto the MCG field.
Photo: Scenic World
VOICES FOR RECONCILIATION
More than 41,000 people across Australia took part in Voices for Reconciliation 2026 with over 700 choirs singing Midnight Oil’s iconic anthem Beds Are Burning. Echoing the National Reconciliation Week theme, All In, the song brought together communities, workplaces and schools in raising their voices for truth-telling, land rights and reconciliation.
Watch the full Voices for Reconciliation playlist on YouTube.
Photo: Reconciliation Australia
ACT RECONCILIATION DAY
Thousands of supporters gathered at Reconciliation Place to mark Reconciliation Day in the ACT – the only public holiday in Australia dedicated to reconciliation. Casey Donovan headlined the main stage, and Reconciliation Australia was proud to represent at this important day. Staff met supporters, shared posters, colouring-in and other activity resources in multiple languages, and we heard about the many ways people were being All In throughout the day.
Photo: Reconciliation WA
JUNE OSCAR’S RECONCILIATION MEMOIRS
Reconciliation WA continued their annual Reconciliation Memoirs series publishing the memoirs of Indigenous rights advocate and Chair of The Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice, June Oscar AO. The proud Bunuba woman from Fitzroy Crossing reflected on a lifetime of leadership in the pursuit of justice as part of the book launch.
Photo: Reconciliation Australia
QUEANBEYAN RECONCILIATION WALK
The annual Queanbeyan Reconciliation Walk was forced indoors due to rain but that didn’t dampen spirits! Reconciliation Australia staff joined students from schools across the region, Elders and representatives from Queanbeyan-Palarang Regional Council to mark the event and the launch of the council’s Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
Photo: Sophie Wallace, Country Arts SA
NUNGA SCREEN
Nunga Screen returned for its 15th year, bringing audiences together to experience a vibrant season of documentaries and short films celebrating First Nations cultures, languages and stories. The 2026 program featured stories from emerging and established First Nations filmmakers from across Australia. This touring showcase travelled to multiple destinations across South Australia represented by Country Arts SA.
This article is from the 56th edition of Reconciliation News. Read the rest of the issue.
