2026 NAIDOC Local Grants Opportunity

Overview

NAIDOC Local Grants support activities held for NAIDOC Week (5 to 12 July 2026) that celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, achievements and their continuing contribution to our country and Australian society. Funding is available across 3 funding streams: 1.       Educational Institutions (up to $1,500) 2.       Small-scale grants (up to $10,000), and 3.       Large-scale grants (more than $10,000 and up to $25,000). NAIDOC Local Grants provide a contribution towards the cost of local and regional NAIDOC Week activities across Australia - it is not expected to cover the full running costs of an event. It is expected that most grants will be awarded for $10,000 or less. Non-Indigenous organisations are strongly encouraged to work with their local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in planning activities. All applicants must meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the 2026 NAIDOC Local Grants Opportunity - Grant Opportunity Guidelines. Applicants seeking a large-scale grant of more than $10,000 and up to $25,000 will also be assessed against the selection criterion and compared to other applications in the large-scale grants stream. The NIAA distributes available funding across NIAA Regions, based on geographic location and the number and proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents. Funding preference is given to Indigenous Organisations when distributing funding within each NIAA Region (in accordance with the Grant Funding Preference Priorities set out in the 2026 NAIDOC Local Grants Opportunity - Grant Opportunity Guidelines). NIAA delegates will decide on the number and value of grants awarded in each of the 3 funding streams within NIAA Regions. We expect most grants will be offered to applications in Stream Two – Small Scale Grants. Grant Funding Preference Priorities may also impact on the number of applications funded under Stream One.