Aunty Alice Kolasa leads NAIDOC Week flame walk

Aunty Alice Kolasa, a Wurundjeri Elder, carried the ceremonial flame from Camp Sovereignty to Federation Square on Monday 6 July, opening NAIDOC Week 2026 in Melbourne.

The walk, led by the deep drone of yidaki (didgeridoo), began before sunrise and culminated in the raising of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags as a minute of silence honoured ancestors and those who fought for cultural survival.

National Indigenous Times described the moment: “Naarm has officially kicked off NAIDOC Week 2026 with a powerful flag raising ceremony, marking the beginning of 50 Years of Deadly.”

The free public ceremony launched a week of events across Victoria under the theme ’50 Years of Deadly’, recognising five decades of the national movement that celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Community members who took part shared their reflections. One post on Instagram captured the feeling: “A spiritual morning, walking in from Camp Sovereignty, led by the Yidaki playing and the ceremonial fire carried from Camp Sovereignty to Federation Square by our Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Alice Kolasa, creating a powerful movement.”

The flame walk from Camp Sovereignty, a significant site for Indigenous protest and culture, to the heart of the city symbolised the connection between traditional lands and the modern centre of Melbourne. The procession brought the 50th anniversary theme to life in a way that a simple flag raising could not.

For families who could not make the early start, Fed Square lit up each evening in the Aboriginal flag colours throughout the week. The projections turned the precinct into a beacon for the celebration, visible from Swanston Street and the Yarra River.

NAIDOC in the City on 10 July at the Main Square is another free highlight. Christine Anu performs live, and market stalls and children’s activities fill the area. Combine it with a visit to the Koorie Heritage Trust inside Fed Square, where the ground-floor gallery and workshops are ideal for school-aged kids.

Getting there: Flinders Street Station is a two-minute walk. Trams along Swanston Street (routes 1, 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67, 72) stop directly at Federation Square. Parking in the CBD is expensive and limited, so public transport is the better option, especially during NAIDOC in the City when crowds are expected.

While you are at Fed Square, the Koorie Heritage Trust offers free exhibitions and the NGV Australia and ACMI, both a short walk away, also run NAIDOC programming during the week. The cafés along the Yarra promenade are a quick spot for lunch.

As the flags reached the top of the poles on Monday morning, the crowd stood in silence. The week ahead is a chance to do more than watch: to walk, listen, and learn.