Sydney Invasion Day march cleared as NSW narrows protest restrictions ahead of January 26

Sydney’s annual Invasion Day rally and march will proceed on Monday, 26 January 2026, after NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon extended Sydney’s protest restrictions but pared back the affected area, allowing organisers to keep the planned route.

Announcing the extension, Commissioner Lanyon said: “This is about making sure we enable people to protest, enable free speech, but make sure the community remains safe.”

Under the amended declaration, the restricted zone was reduced to areas including Darling Harbour and the northern city centre (excluding Hyde Park), plus the eastern suburbs, which means the city’s Invasion Day rallies can proceed as planned.

Key Sydney times

Transport for NSW is warning of large crowds around the CBD precincts on January 26 and urges people to plan travel early.

• Dawn Reflection – 5:20am to 5:40am, Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay West, The Rocks.
• WugulOra Morning Ceremony – 7:30am to 8:30am, Walumil Lawns at Barangaroo Reserve.
• Yabun Festival – 10am to 7pm, Victoria Park, Camperdown (listed as free).
• Invasion Day rally and march – 10am, meeting at Hyde Park (as listed by Amnesty and referenced by AAP as the starting point for marchers).

Transport for NSW also notes that light rail services will be affected in the city during the day, including disruption between 1pm and 2:30pm due to protest marches, alongside other Australia Day crowd-management measures.

A national day of rallies and cultural events

While Sydney’s march is one of the largest, events are also listed across other states and territories for January 26, including Melbourne/Naarm, Brisbane/Meanjin, Adelaide/Tarntanya, Perth/Boorloo and Hobart/Nipaluna.

In Melbourne, organisers are promoting the Naarm Invasion Day Protest at Parliament House (10am–2pm), followed by Share the Spirit at Treasury Gardens (12pm–6:30pm, free entry).