NAIDOC Week 2026
RACING QUEENSLAND UNVEILS NAIDOC WEEK CELEBRATIONS FOR 2026
The Queensland racing industry will come together in celebration of NAIDOC Week 2026 with a trio of showcase races, as part of its commitment to strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Racing Queensland’s celebration of NAIDOC Week which runs from July 5 to 12, celebrates the theme “50 Years of Deadly”, recognising the strength, leadership and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
Racing Queensland’s NAIDOC Week celebrations will see a dedicated race held across the three codes:
- Thoroughbred at Townsville on Sunday, July 5 - RQ NAIDOC Celebration Race;
- Harness at Redcliffe on Thursday, July 9 - RQ NAIDOC Celebration Pace; and
- Greyhound at The Q on Saturday, July 11 - RQ NAIDOC Celebration Chase
NAIDOC Week branding will feature on the strappers bibs, saddle cloths, harness helmet covers and winners’ presentation rugs at all three of the races.
The winner of each race will also be presented with an RQ NAIDOC Week Trophy.
The NAIDOC Celebration Chase on July 11 coincides with the code’s night of nights, headlined by the $1 million Brisbane Cup – one of the richest greyhound races in the world.
In 2025, Racing Queensland ran a NAIDOC Celebration Artwork competition, with Bindi Lee’s artwork, titled Where the Tracks Meet, selected as the winning design.
The artwork encapsulates the profound connection between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians within the racing industry. It highlights a shared journey and the unity of cultures coming together, with the tracks symbolising both racing pathways and the broader journey towards reconciliation.
RQ’s NAIDOC Week celebrations form part of its ongoing vision for reconciliation and its commitment to recognising and celebrating First Nations cultures across the Queensland racing industry.
In 2024, RQ launched its First Nations Hub, featuring a number of important tools that contribute to RQ’s journey towards reconciliation, including its:
- First Nations Strategy;
- Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Employment Strategy;
- Racing For Reconciliation video series; and
- First Nations Careers page.
The page also features a photo gallery, a list of club locations with traditional names and a contact page.
Click here to view the RQ First Nations hub.
