The Australian National Maritime Museum will open its doors free of charge on Sunday 5 July for a full day of First Nations dance, music, art and storytelling, kicking off NAIDOC Week 2026 with an 11am Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony at Darling Harbour.
“For 50 years, NAIDOC has championed survival, culture and pride. At the intersection of land and sea, the Australian National Maritime Museum is proud to amplify the oldest living continuous cultures on earth,” said Matt Poll, Head of Indigenous Programs. “The theme ‘50 Years of Deadly’ is a declaration that First Nations maritime stories are not history frozen in time. They are living, breathing truths shaping our shared future.”
The open day is curated by the museum’s First Nations Curatorial Team, including Poll and Dakota Dixon. All activities are drop-in and no bookings are required. Entry to all galleries and vessels is free for the entire day.
The program begins at 11am with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony by Koori Konnections. The Marra-Wanggan Dance Group, an all-women ensemble celebrating Yuin culture, will perform at 11:30am and 1:30pm and run interactive dance workshops. Baakanji Kunya musician Ross Knight plays original songs at 12:15pm, 2:15pm and 3:15pm. Dunghutti/Gomeroi artist Nioka Lowe-Brennan leads mixed-media art workshops from 10:30am to 12:30pm and again from 1:30pm to 3pm. Koori Kulcha native food tastings and sales run from 10:30am to 2:30pm.
In the Kids on Deck maker space, open from 10:30am to 4pm, children can try face painting, build model watercrafts, stamp tote bags and create rubbing art inspired by Brian Robinson’s exhibition Ur Wayii (Incoming Tide). Illustrator Dub Leffler will deliver live art demonstrations at 11:30am and 1pm. Haus of Dizzy runs a magnet-making workshop for native animal magnets, with capacity limited and materials available first come, first served. The day also includes screenings of the animation Cosmic Chase, a book nook and a drop-in space to explore touchable artefacts.
The free entry extends to current exhibitions including Brian Robinson’s Ur Wayii, Pearling Elders, Shaped by the Sea and Serving Country. Koori Kulcha’s food tastings are complimentary but some food items will be for sale. The magnet-making workshop runs while stocks last.
The museum’s routine admission and programming resume on 6 July. The 5 July open day is the only date all these drop-in activities will run together, and this year’s program adds the Dub Leffler live art and Haus of Dizzy magnets that were not offered in 2025.
The touchable artefacts drop-in and the book nook offer quiet corners for visitors who want to sit with the stories the curatorial team has placed at the centre of the day.
Quick Facts
Australian National Maritime Museum
Australia’s national maritime museum located at Darling Harbour in Sydney. It preserves and interprets Australia’s maritime history and culture, with strong focus on First Nations seafaring knowledge and stories.