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AUSTRALIA DAY AUS LIGHTS PARADE ROUTE ANNOUNCED TODAY AND YOU'RE INVITED!

Australia Day Council SA

INTERVIEWS ARE NOW AVAILABLE WITH ALL SPOKESPEOPLE ON THE FACTSHEET

16 January 2026: The Australia Day Council of South Australia has today announced the official route for the Aus Lights Parade, a much-loved community street procession that kicks off the evening program for Australia Day in South Australia on Monday, 26 January.

The Aus Lights Parade is a vibrant street procession celebrating South Australia’s communities, featuring more than 1,300 participants from over 55 community and multicultural organisations.   Audiences of all ages can expect a fast-moving mix of music, dance and performance that entertains and delights, offering something to enjoy at every turn.  Starting at 6pm on War Memorial Drive (next to the Adelaide Oval), it will move onto King William Street before finishing at Elder Park, Tarntanya Wama, home of Aus Lights on the River - the state’s flagship Australia Day celebratory event.

Chief Executive Officer Jan Chorley said South Australians are warmly invited to watch the parade, with great viewing areas along the entire route.

“The Aus Lights Parade celebrates diversity, showcasing community contributors and many nationalities that shape our shared cultural fabric.  We encourage South Australians to line the route and show their support before attending the main event in Elder Park,” she said.

The one-hour parade will feature performances such as big band drums and bagpipes from the Adelaide Pipe Band; high-energy rock’n’roll dancing by the Adelaide Rock & Roll Club; stunning athletic performances choreographed by Calisthenics SA; the driving drums and high-energy dance from the must-see Suns of Africa; and be transported across the globe to places like Peru, Sri Lanka and Latin America, enjoying their folkloric dance and traditional costumes, as well as China with the Chinatown Adelaide Dragon Dance Team and the precision and power of bagpipes from the Scottish Association.

The parade finishes at Aus Lights on the River, with gates opening from 5pm ahead of a fun-filled evening of free family entertainment. From immersive light installations and large-scale Australian bird displays to shadow-puppet storytelling, creative workshops for children and roving performers, there is plenty on offer for younger audiences throughout the night.

Expect a flag raising, the Australian anthem along with live performances including the headline act and winner of the Voice, Diana Rouvas, the Festival Statesmen Choir, Young Adelaide Voices and musical collaborations with the Adelaide Youth Orchestra, alongside international cuisine and a major fireworks finale at 9.30pm. The evening continues with lighting along the northern bank and Adelaide Riverbank precinct, with DJ Tommy Tequila closing out the event until 11pm.

Ms Chorley said Australia Day in South Australia reflects the breadth of stories that continue to shape the nation.

“Australia Day in South Australia reflects three interconnected stories,” she said. “Our Indigenous peoples, the many of us who came from settlement and the multicultural and refugee communities who have since made Australia home.  Together we unite to form our shared national identity.”

Australia Day begins with Mourning in the Morning, a First Nations-led ceremony held at Elder Park/Tarntanya Wama on the banks of the River Torrens/Karrawirra Parri. South Australians are warmly invited to gather from 7.30am to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures and perspectives.

The ceremony will open with a Welcome to Kaurna Country and a smoking ceremony conducted by Elder Uncle Moogy Sumner. The program will then feature First Nations speakers, including a keynote address from Anthony McEvoy SC an eminent barrister specialising in native title, land rights and environmental law, who was announced today, alongside music and dance performances led by South Australian First Nations artists. Mourning in the Morning is shaped and led by South Australian First Nations community leaders and is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians, inviting all to come together in reflection, truth-telling and respect.

The entire Australia Day program has been designed to provide space for people to come together in ways that are meaningful to them. 

“Australia Day is not a simple day, it never has been,” Ms Chorley said. “But it can be a meaningful one when we make room for reflection, connection, compassion and shared humanity, and consider what this day means to each of us as Australians.  Right now, it is more important than ever to come together, to unite with respect for one another.  I hope Australia Day provides a platform for people to unite in a way that is meaningful to them, to reflect on their own story and what being Australian means to them, whilst being respectful of others who may have a different story,” she said.

Australia Day in South Australia is supported by the Australian Government through the National Australia Day Council and the City of Adelaide and is supported by the Government of South Australia.  Mourning in the Morning Smoking Ceremony key event partner SA Power Networks community support partners Adelaide PHN, Adelaide University,  Credit Union SA,  Sarah Constructions, SDA , and Sofitel Adelaide.   Aus Lights Parade community support partners South Australian Aquatic & Leisure Centre , Galipo Foods and Altus Traffic.

Full program details, event timings and accessibility information are available at www.australiadaysa.com.au/aus-lights-2026                                                                          ENDS.

FACT SHEET 

EVENT: AUSTRALIA DAY IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2026

PRESENTED BY: Australia Day Council of South Australia (ADCSA)
DATE: Monday 26 January 2026
LOCATION: Elder Park/Tarntanya Wama & King William Street, Adelaide

MEDIA ASSETS:                        here

CONNECT WITH US:               

Website -                www.australiadaysa.com.au/aus-lights-2026

LinkedIn -               https://www.linkedin.com/company/australiadaysa

Facebook -             https://www.facebook.com/AustraliaDaySA/

Instagram -            https://www.instagram.com/Australiadaysa/

YouTube -               https://www.youtube.com/user/AustraliaDaySA

SPOKESPEOPLE:

NAME	TITLE	TOPICS
Jan Chorley	Australia Day Council of South Australia CEO & official spokesperson	Event Program Launch
Anthony McEvoy	Eminent barrister specialising in native title, land rights and environmental law	Mourning in the Morning Keynote
Deb Moyle	Justice Lead Australian Red Cross Tiraapendi Wodli Program Manager Member JRNA  Justice Reinvestment Network SA Voice member - Kumangka Warrarna Wangkanthi Ngarrindjeri Mimini	Mourning in the Morning Keynote and panel
Diana Rouvas	Headlining the entertainment	Voice winner (2019)
Katie Schultz	Children's Entertainment Roving Puppets - Birds	Roving Puppets - Birds
Nic Mollison	Rotunda Illumination Native Australian Birds	Native Australian Birds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

Mourning in the Morning

Time: 7.30am – 8.45am
Location: Elder Park/Tarntanya Wama

A respectful and inclusive First Nations–led ceremony shaped by South Australian Aboriginal leaders.

Event includes:

• Welcome to Kaurna Country and Smoking Ceremony conducted by Elder Uncle Moogy Sumner
• First Nations speakers
• Contemporary music and dance

 

21 Gun Salute

Time: 12.00pm – 12.15pm
Location: Torrens Parade Ground

A traditional 21 Gun Salute

 

Aus Lights on the River

Time: 5.00pm – 11.00pm
Location: Elder Park/Tarntanya Wama

• Aus Lights on the River is a free, vibrant and inclusive evening celebration featuring multicultural cuisine, family activities, immersive light and sound experiences and staged performances.
•  Large-scale bird installations, shadow-puppet storytelling, creative workshops for children, roving performers, immersive light and sound experiences and multicultural food offerings.
• The Official Ceremony, Fireworks Finale and Northern Bank Lighting Display are all part of this major evening program.

From sunset - Lighting display along the northern bank

6.00pm – 7.00pm - Aus Lights Parade

7.15pm – 8.15pm - Community performers on the main stage

8.30pm – 9.30pm Official Ceremony featuring Diana Rouvas (2019 winner of The Voice Australia), Festival Statesmen Choir, Young Adelaide Voices and musical collaborations with the Adelaide Youth Orchestra

9.30pm – 9.40pm - Fireworks Finale over the River Torrens/Karrawirra Parri and an illuminated northern bank light show

9.40pm – 11.00pm - DJ set closing the event

ENDS.

Contact details:

Contact Gabrielle Leonello from littlelion PR for interviews or more information: [email protected] or 0425 554 454