National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day 2026
Living Our Truth | Tuesday 4 August 2026
The 2026 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day theme is Living Our Truth, honouring the power of truth-telling, the sharing of knowledge across generations and the importance of telling our stories.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day is a national celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, held each year on 4 August since 1988. The day is led by SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak body representing children, young people and families, and is an opportunity for all Australians to recognise and celebrate the strength, pride and potential of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
For 2026, Living Our Truth celebrates the voices, stories and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities. It recognises the importance of truth-telling as a foundation for identity, belonging and cultural strength, and honours the role of Elders and community in passing knowledge to the next generation. This year, we celebrate children as the next generation of leaders; confident, proud and ready to carry forward the strong voices, stories and knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities.
On Children’s Day, early learning services, schools, libraries, sporting clubs, organisations and communities across the country take the lead in their own celebrations in ways that reflect local knowledge, priorities, culture and activities. These celebrations take many forms, including storytelling, cultural learning, art exhibitions, sports days and community gatherings that create spaces where children are seen, heard and celebrated for who they are.
We invite all Australians to join the nationwide celebration, to listen to and value children’s voices, and to recognise the importance of nurturing their experiences, identities and aspirations. Together, we can ensure every child grows up safe, strong, connected to culture and supported to reach their full potential.
Children’s Day 2026 falls on a Tuesday. We would love to see how you are celebrating! Register your event to share your celebration and stay up to date with the latest news and resources or find an event near you.
What is Children's Day?
Learn about Children’s Day and why culture, family and community are central to every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child growing up strong, proud and connected.
What is Children’s Day?
Celebrate the day
Be part of the celebration. Plan an event at your service, school or community, or partner with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to celebrate the day.
Celebrate Children’s Day
Children's Day Resources
Access resources to support your celebrations, including children’s activity sheets, posters, promotional materials and social media assets that help you share and celebrate.
Resources
Register your event
Hosting an event for your community and mob? Register your celebration to showcase your event, share stories and connect with communities across the country as we celebrate.
Register your event
List of Children's Day 2026 events
Want to find an event in your community? Explore a list of Children’s Day 2026 events happening across the country and see how communities are celebrating in their own ways.
View this year's events
Marlee Silva is the Children’s Day 2026 Ambassador!
SNAICC is incredibly honoured to welcome Marlee Silva as the 2026 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day Ambassador.
Marlee is a proud Gamilaroi and Dunghutti woman who grew up on Dharawal Country in NSW. She is an acclaimed writer, television presenter, podcast host and sports commentator, and a staunch advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families and communities.
Marlee is widely recognised for her storytelling across film, television and publishing, including the documentary Skin in the Game, which examines the role of rugby league in Australian society and its influence beyond the field; exploring how sport shapes culture, behaviour and expectations, and how these spaces can contribute to or challenge issues such as gendered violence, accountability and cultural change. Marlee is also the author of My Tidda, My Sister: Stories of Strength and Resilience from Australia’s First Women and Stand Proud.
SNAICC is so excited to celebrate National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day 2026 alongside Marlee!
Read the full Ambassador announcement!What is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day?
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day is a national celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children held each year on 4 August since 1988.
Children’s Day celebrates children growing up strong in culture and connected to family, community and Country. It recognises culture as a source of strength, resilience and identity for children, and affirms that these connections are fundamental to a child’s wellbeing, development and lifelong outcomes.
Children’s Day is an opportunity for all Australians to recognise and celebrate the strength, pride and potential of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. It calls on all of us to listen to and value children’s voices, now and into the future, while deepening understanding of the role that families, communities and culture play in raising children who are safe, supported and thriving.
Children’s Day is led by SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak body representing children, young people and families. Each year, SNAICC hosts a national flagship Children’s Day event in partnership with a local community, bringing together children, families, Elders, leaders and communities to celebrate children and elevate the strength, priorities and leadership of community.
In 2025, the Children’s Day flagship event was held on Gumbaynggirr Country at Kulai Preschool Aboriginal Corporation with Aunty Julie Carey, Otis Hope Carey, the Gumbaynggirr community and the students and educators of Kulai Preschool, Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School and Gummyaney Aboriginal Preschool. The celebration was filled with joy, as children danced their songs, spoke their language and were held strong by mums, dads, aunties, uncles, nanas and grandpas. It was a living example of what we celebrate and promote every year on National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day.
Across the country, early learning services, schools, libraries, sporting clubs, organisations and communities lead their own Children’s Day celebrations in ways that reflect and centre local culture, knowledge and priorities. These celebrations take many forms, including storytelling, cultural learning, art exhibitions, music festivals, sports days and community gatherings, creating spaces where children are seen, heard and celebrated for who they are and the futures they carry.
SNAICC supports these community-led celebrations by developing and sharing resources, including more than 20,000 Children’s Day bags each year, alongside event listings, promotional materials and activity ideas. Together, these supports enable hundreds of events across Australia and ensure Children’s Day is accessible and visible; celebrating children, culture and connection in every corner of the country.
Learning from Country
Learning from Country is by Tovani Cox, a proud Bunuba, Gija, Karajarri, Yawuru and Miriwoong woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is the official National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day artwork.
This artwork celebrates the strength, curiosity and voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. It reflects the idea that every child has the right to be heard and to lead their own journey through life. The figures of children moving together across Country represent connection, culture and shared learning. Surrounding them are elements of nature, trees, animals, pathways and flowing patterns that is symbolising the environment as a teacher. These elements show how children learn not only from people, but from the land, stories and everything around them.
The pathways in the artwork represent life’s journey, filled with choices, growth and discovery. Each child walks their own path, yet they are supported by community, culture and Country. The bright sun and the background reflect the wider world, full of opportunities, knowledge and stories waiting to be explored. This piece expresses that no matter where children come from, there is a vast and welcoming world that encourages them to learn, grow and discover who they are. It honours their voices, their leadership and their unique journeys.
View the full art pieceArtist: Tovani Cox
Tovani Cox is a proud Bunuba, Gija, Karajarri, Yawuru and Miriwoong woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Born in Broome, Tovani is passionate about art and design and often her inspiration is from her long-standing commitment to self-determination and rights of First Nations people and communities. She was predominantly raised in Noongar country in Perth, and since early 2017 has been living on Wurundjeri country in Melbourne and travels home to the Kimberley as often as she can to connect with kin and country.
Tovani has qualifications in Digital Graphic Design from RMIT University, and wants to pursue further skills and training using art as therapy and healing.
View the full art pieceJoin the National Celebration
Children’s Day is an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate the strength, pride and potential of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
By taking part, you are supporting children to grow up safe, strong, connected to culture and proud of who they are, and contributing to a shared commitment to ensure every child is supported to thrive.