Reconciliation Day program 2026

The day will begin with a Welcome to Country delivered by Dr Caroline Hughes AM. The Welcome acknowledges Ngunnawal Country and pays respect to Elders past and present, recognising the ongoing connection of Aboriginal people to land, culture and community. It is an important moment of respect and reflection, setting the tone for the day and inviting everyone to walk together in the spirit of reconciliation.

A Smoking Ceremony will be conducted by Bradley Bell as a traditional act of cleansing and renewal. The ceremony uses smoke from native plants to welcome people, clear the space and promote healing, respect and connection to Country. This important cultural practice offers a moment for reflection and renewal, grounding the day in respect for culture, land and community.

Wiradjuri Echoes shares Wiradjuri culture through powerful cultural dance performances and interactive movement workshops. Dance is used to tell stories, pass on knowledge and express connection to Country, community and ancestors through rhythm and movement. Audiences are invited to experience dance as a living cultural practice and to learn about the stories and meanings behind each performance. Through dance, Wiradjuri Echoes creates opportunities for connection, understanding and respect, strengthening cultural awareness and community unity.

The ACT Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs will address the community, reflecting on the importance of reconciliation in the ACT and the shared responsibility we all hold to listen, learn and act. The address will speak to truth‑telling, respect and partnership, and the role of government and community in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is an opportunity for audiences to hear how reconciliation is being progressed locally and how collective action can shape a more just future.

Join the CEO of Reconciliation Australia for a short address that brings national and local perspectives together. Reflect on what reconciliation looks like in action — in communities, schools, workplaces and everyday life. Audiences are invited to listen, learn and consider how truth‑telling, respect and shared responsibility can strengthen relationships and create change.

Join representatives from our ACT Reconciliation Council for an address that brings national and local perspectives together. Reflect on what reconciliation looks like in action — in our communities, schools, workplaces and everyday life. Audiences are invited to listen, learn and consider how truth‑telling, respect and shared responsibility can strengthen relationships and create change.

Dream Danz Studios is a vibrant dance studio grounded in strong cultural values of leadership, respect and community responsibility. Through powerful storytelling and movement, their performances celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures while amplifying youth voice and creative expression. Featuring their Indigenous dance group Yuwaya Wiima Li, alongside contemporary performance troupes, Dream Danz presents work that blends cultural strength with modern styles. Each piece honours connection to Country, shared history and hope for a united future. Their performances are heartfelt, dynamic and deeply meaningful, reflecting an ongoing commitment to reconciliation through culture, identity and community.

ACT Young Voices and ACT Chorale bring together talented students from Years 4–12 across ACT public schools in two vibrant, representative choirs. For Reconciliation Day, the choirs present a moving choral performance featuring music by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander composers and songs that share First Nations stories and perspectives. Through rehearsal and performance, students deepen their understanding of culture, storytelling and the living voices of Australia’s First Nations peoples. Performing on Reconciliation Day is a meaningful opportunity to learn, reflect and honour the enduring contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to our shared history and community today.

Tahalianna Soward‑Mahanga is a proud Wiradjuri singer from Canberra, known for her standout performance on The Voice Australia. With a powerful voice and commanding stage presence, Tahalianna shares stories of culture, identity and community through her music. Her performances blend contemporary sound with personal storytelling, creating a moving and memorable experience for audiences. Tahalianna brings warmth, strength and connection to the stage as part of Reconciliation Day.

Hear about our winners!

Casey Donovan is one of Australia’s most versatile entertainers and a proud Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti woman. Rising to fame at 16 as the youngest ever winner of Australian Idol, she has built an acclaimed career spanning music, stage, screen and presenting. A multi-award-winning artist, Casey has achieved ARIA chart success, starred in major musical productions including & Juliet and Sister Act, and is a beloved television personality. Known for her powerful voice and authentic storytelling, Casey is a passionate advocate for First Nations communities and uses her platform to inspire connection, pride and positive change.

The School Vocal Competition showcases the songwriting and performance talents of ACT high school students, encouraging young people to engage with reconciliation through music and storytelling. Each year, students submit original songs inspired by Reconciliation Day and its themes. The winning performer is selected for their creativity, message and musical expression, and will take to the stage at Reconciliation Day to share their original song with the community.

Liam Keenan is a proud Gamilaroi man from regional NSW who shares immersive and moving guitar music inspired by Country and lived experience. His 30‑minute acoustic performance weaves instrumental guitar and song, creating a reflective and deeply personal soundscape. Drawing on time spent growing up regionally, Liam’s music invites audiences to slow down, listen and connect through story, place and feeling. His performance offers space for reflection and connection as part of Reconciliation Day.

Culture on the Move offers hands‑on workshops that invite the community to connect with Aboriginal culture through learning and making. Led by Ronnie Jordan, a Kalkadoon Pitta Pitta woman, the workshops include traditional weaving and bush animal‑making activities suitable for all ages. Each session is delivered in a space that centres truth‑telling, cultural knowledge and respectful sharing. With more than ten years’ experience facilitating workshops across the ACT, Culture on the Move supports learning, reflection and meaningful connection as part of the journey toward reconciliation.

Making Peas/ce offers a hands‑on craft activity supported by storytelling and yarning, creating space for learning, reflection and connection. Inspired by The Legend of the Desert Pea by Aunty Beverly O’Callaghan, the activity encourages truth‑telling about Australia’s history. Through making, listening and conversation, participants of all ages are invited to engage respectfully with stories of resilience, memory and healing, and to reflect on their role in reconciliation.

Marramarra Dreaming invites the community to take part in a hands‑on beading workshop that encourages creativity, connection and cultural learning. The workshop provides a culturally safe and welcoming space for people of all ages to learn, yarn and create together. Participants are guided through beading techniques while engaging with cultural knowledge, storytelling and shared reflection. The workshop offers an opportunity to connect with Aboriginal culture through making, learning and respectful conversation.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body (ATSIEB) members represent the interest and aspirations of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in the ACT. Come along to meet the Elected Body members, hear their views, and engage in meaningful conversations about their role and the important work they do.

Register now. Join one of our expert curators on a free tour of this major exhibition. The exhibition showcases material from beautifully illustrated books which were created by the community of Papunya in the Northern Territory between 1979 and 1990. The community wrote, illustrated, and then printed more than 350 books for children in their own Pintupi and Luritja languages. The exhibition delights people of all ages as with illustrated stories of first contact, Dreamings, community life, plants and animals and more.

Register now. Since colonisation, the family history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is marked by forced removals, relocation to missions, and government policies that suppressed language and culture. Yet amongst this are stories of resistance, resilience, hope and survival. The National Library supports reconciliation by preserving and making available records that document the history, experiences, and voices of First Nations people. Join our special ‘behind the scenes’ display of resources with a visit to the Library’s Oral History recording studios and the Bringing Them Home Oral History Project. This project recorded 340 deeply personal stories from people affected by the laws and policies that created the Stolen Generations. The group will then meet with our expert librarians for an introduction to available resources for researching their own First Nations family history here at the Library, and online via Trove.

Winanggaay Ngunnawal Language Aboriginal Corporation invites the community to learn about and engage with Ngunnawal language through an interactive workshop for school‑aged children and adults. Led by dedicated community members, the session introduces simple Ngunnawal greetings, words and language games that support learning in a fun and inclusive way. The workshop shares the progress of language revitalisation and fosters understanding, respect and connection, highlighting the importance of language in culture and reconciliation on Ngunnawal Country.

Burunju invites audiences to explore Aboriginal culture through an interactive Indigenous artefacts stall and hands‑on artistic experience. Visitors can engage in a contemporary art workshop that shares traditional knowledge, storytelling and creative practice in accessible and meaningful ways. The stall offers an opportunity to learn about Aboriginal arts and culture, connect through conversation, and reflect on the role of creativity in reconciliation.

The National Zoo and Aquarium brings native wildlife education to life through an interactive display featuring Australian animal artefacts and live animals. Visitors can learn about snakes, lizards and other native species, explore items such as snakeskin, emu eggs and feathers, and engage with the Zoo’s conservation and wombat rescue teams. The experience highlights caring for Country, protecting wildlife and sharing knowledge through respectful learning. Through education and conservation, the National Zoo and Aquarium supports greater understanding, respect and connection as part of the reconciliation journey.

Register now. Join a National Capital Authority guide for a powerful and thought‑provoking walking tour of Reconciliation Place on Ngunnawal Country in the National Triangle. The tour explores stories of meeting, culture, truth‑telling and resilience through sculpture, sound and landscape. Visitors will learn about Kanberri as a meeting place, reflect on the experiences of the Stolen Generation, and hear stories of significant Indigenous people, events and contributions. The tour offers space for reflection, learning and connection as part of the journey toward reconciliation. Meeting point: Information tent