Why January 26 is a protest day for many First Nations people and how that history shapes 2026

Australians haven’t always marked the national day on January 26 and the meaning of the date remains contested – particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who view it as the beginning of invasion, dispossession and violence.

Traces the date back to 26 January 1788, when Arthur Phillip raised the Union Flag at what is now Sydney Cove, marking Britain’s claim and the start of the first colony, followed by ongoing conflict between settlers and First Peoples.

By 1935, after federation, all states had agreed “Australia Day” should be held on January 26 -and it wasn’t until 1994 that January 26 became a national public holiday.

The protest legacy: from 1938 to today

For many First Nations people, January 26 protest has deep roots.

In 1938 (the 150th anniversary of British colonisation) Aboriginal activists declared January 26 a “Day of Mourning”, led by the Australian Aborigines League and the Aborigines Progressive Association. It was a landmark moment because it brought Indigenous people from different states together nationally to protest discrimination and demand full citizenship rights.

That Day of Mourning protest led to a meeting with then Prime Minister Joseph Lyons, and ABC notes it is thought to have helped lay foundations for the 1967 referendum, which gave Indigenous Australians the right to be included in population figures and gave the Commonwealth power to make laws for them.

Another January 26 milestone: in 1972, four First Nations men set up what became the Aboriginal Tent Embassy opposite Old Parliament House in Canberra – widely recognised as the world’s longest continuous protest for Indigenous land rights.

What “Invasion Day” means

“Invasion Day” as a reframing of January 26 that highlights the violation of Indigenous sovereignty and the violent impacts of British colonisation; it is also commonly referred to as Survival Day.

Attending events in 2026

Many January 26 events are framed as open invitations to learn and stand in solidarity. Organisers often describe Survival/Invasion Day events as invitations “for everyone” to come together and learn.

In Sydney, Yabun (held annually on January 26 on Gadigal Country) as a free event featuring live music, discussions and community forums, and explains that “Yabun” means “music to a beat” in Gadigal language.