
National Indigenous Television (NITV), and the wider SBS network, invite communities to deepen their understanding of January 26 and what it means to be Australian through the upcoming programming slate, Always Was, Always Will Be.
A schedule curated to highlight themes of Country, Identity and Nation will be featured throughout the week, January 19-26, across SBS channels, including documentaries, news, movies and more.
The Sunrise Ceremony, presented by NITV's John Paul Janke and Network 10's Narelda Jacobs, who also host NITV's The Point,will air live from Bundjalung and Yugambeh Country in Coolangatta, QLD on Wednesday 26 January at 6:00am, and will mark the commencement of a daytime simulcast of programs across NITV and SBS. The beautiful and insightful program is led by First Nations perspectives, and includes reflections from non-Indigenous and multicultural voices on Australia's past, present and future. Guests will include Wik and Soloman Islander man and musician Ziggy Ramo, Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman and Associate Professor Chelsea Watego, and prominent journalist Kerry O'Brien. The Sunrise Ceremony will also be simulcast on Channel 10.
A short introductory film titled The Land We Live On will be broadcast prior to the Sunrise Ceremony at 5:55am. In the short film, eight year old Wiradjuri filmmaker Penelope Towney will perform an Acknowledgement of Country for the Dharawal and Yuin Nations, followed by a short reflection on the significance and meaning of a Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country.
At 7:30pm on Wednesday January 26, TikTok will partner with NITV in a live concert - TikTok and NITV Present: First Sounds. Hosted by Tyrone Pynor, Bianca Hunt and Grayson McCarthy-Grogan, the concert will feature a specially curated line up of both emerging and established artists including Barkaa, JK-47, Nooky, Becca Hatch, Jesswar, Kobie Dee, Dallas Woods, Kaiit and more. In this innovative cross platform simulcast, communities across Australia will have more access than ever to these performances and celebration of culture. TikTok and NITV Present: First Sounds will be simulcast on NITV and SBS Viceland, and will also be live on NITV's TikTok, @nitv.
At 9:30pm, Larissa Behrendt's documentary Araatika! Rise Up will have its free to air premiere, simulcast across SBS and NITV. The documentary explores how a group of NRL greats came together to create a new pre-game ceremony in response to the Maori Haka - one that could celebrate Australia's First Nations cultures. After fellow Indigenous players Preston Campbell, Timana Tahu and George Rose devised their own pre-game performance, Dean Widders began a journey to bring this dance - and First Nations pride more broadly - to the game.
Tanya Denning-Orman, SBS Director of Indigenous Content, said: NITV proudly reflects and celebrates Australia's diverse First Nations peoples, showcasing our experiences, perspectives and contributions. This year's January 26 programming across the SBS network will reflect this once again, providing a platform for our voices to be heard, for an honest reflection of this country's history and what's needed for a more united and equal future. We invite all Australians to come together to join the conversation.
News & Current Affairs
On Tuesday January 25 Natalie Ahmat will host a special edition of NITV News, NITV News: January 25, which will bring audiences a wrap of events and national conversation leading into the channel's Australia Day, Survival Day and Invasion Day coverage on January 26. At 8:00pm, Karla Grant will host a special episode of Insight - Insight: Indigenous Incarceration' was created in response to Dean Gibson's powerful documentary, Incarceration Nation, broadcast on NITV and SBS in 2021,and in this special episode of Insight,audiences hear of the personal struggles of people who have spent time in prison and from families whose loved ones have died in custody, as well as those working to reduce the incarceration rates and deaths in custody of First Nations people.
NITV News will provide rolling news coverage on January 26 from every corner of the country throughout the day, accessible on air, via Facebook Live and through SBS Radio, with coverage starting with a 30-minute program at 11;30am. The coverage will conclude at 6:00pm with a full wrap up of the day's news, which will be simulcast on SBS. News and opinion pieces will also be accessible through NITV's website and social media pages.
SBS Radio will also be exploring what January 26 means to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and helping people to learn about the Country they're on, with articles covering these topics published in more than 60 languages online.
SBS Voices will publish memoir pieces from the SBS Emerging Writers' Competition, including pieces from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers, as well as narratives from migrant perspectives about learning to belong in Australia.
Programming
NITV
Each night at 7:30pm from January 19-25, NITV will air a selection of content curated around the theme of Identity', including a selection of Who Do You Think You Are episodes featuring Casey Donovan, Troy Cassar-Daley, Uncle Jack Charles and Ernie Dingo, as well as the music documentary Gurrumul and classic film Storm Boy. Likewise, at 8:30pm from January 19-25, NITV will air a curated collection of Nation' themed programming, which will highlight stories from our past and present, including History Bites Back, Looky Looky Here Comes Cooky, We Don't Need a Map, Incarceration Nation, Robbie Hood and Occupation Native. At 10:00pm each night, audiences can tune in for a selection of classic movies such as Ten Canoes, Tuduwali, Jedda, Toomelah, Radiance and Sweet Country.
Following In
More from SBS Broadcast
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
03/06/2026
Clarification: SBS's position on definitions of antisemitism
3 June, 2026
Media releases
Statement by Mandi Wicks, SBS Director of News and Current Aff...
01/06/2026
SBS confirms its broadcast sponsors for FIFA World Cup 2026
1 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has secured Hyundai, Hisense, Macca's, Rexona, bet365, Com...
28/05/2026
Get fit for the FIFA World Cup 2026 with new SBS On Demand features for the ult...
25/05/2026
SBS announces exclusive TV broadcast schedule for FIFA World Cup 2026
21 May, 2026
Media releases
Luke Wilkshire, Tommy Oar, Andrew Redmayne, Sarah Walsh ...
22/05/2026
Statement regarding 2026 National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award for the late...
20/05/2026
From Gulkula to the nation: Yothu Yindi Foundation and NITV deepen national acce...
20/05/2026
SBS appoints David Fernandez as National Manager, Digital & TV Sales
20 May, 2026
Media releases
SBS has appointed David Fernandez as National Manager, Dig...
18/05/2026
Delta Goodrem shines for SBS as more than 3.27 million Australians tune in for E...
17/05/2026
Delta Goodrem's Eurovision Eclipse marks end of a stellar run
17 May, 2026
Media releases
Bulgaria wins Eurovision 2026
Relive every spellbinding mome...
15/05/2026
Joint Statement: News Bargaining Incentive
28 April, 2026
Media releases
The vibrancy of Australian democracy relies on the robust and open exchange of new...
15/05/2026
Call it Deltavision, Australia's through to the Grand Final of this year'...
14/05/2026
SBS Board appoints Jane Palfreyman Managing Director
13 May, 2026
Media releases
The Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Board of Directors is pleased to an...
14/05/2026
Transforming bold ideas into market-ready productions: Digital Originals returns
14 May, 2026
Media releases
SBS, NITV and Screen Australia have announced ...
14/05/2026
Australia Uncovered Returns to SBS with Bold New Season Featuring John Safran on...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
11/05/2026
You're not meant to look at an Eclipse, but you won't be able to take yo...
30/04/2026
SBS & NITV LEAD NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK 2026 WITH LANDMARK GULPILIL DOCUMEN...
29/04/2026
Surgeon Dr Jasmina Kevric wins 2026 Les Murray Award
29 April, 2026
Media releases
Australia for UNHCR and SBS are proud to announce that Dr Jasmina Kevric...
22/04/2026
SBS names shortlisted brands for 2026 SBS Media Sustainability Challenge
22 April, 2026
Media releases
National broadcaster also releases its second annual...
16/04/2026
SBS reveals all-star alumni team to celebrate 70 years of the Eurovision Song Co...
02/04/2026
SBS Welcomes Back Cup Fever! For The Biggest FIFA World Cup Ever
2 April, 2026
Media releases
Santo Cilauro, Ed Kavalee and a host of special guests retur...
02/04/2026
Truth. Power. Perspective: NITV's Flagship Current Affairs Programs Return t...
27/03/2026
NITV to broadcast farewell to Rhoda Roberts AO with special coverage and week-lo...
21/03/2026
New campaign from NAATI and SBS CulturalConnect highlights how we all deserve t...
21/03/2026
Statement regarding Rhoda Roberts AO
21 March, 2026
Media releases
SBS is deeply saddened by the passing of Widjabul Wieybal woman from the Bundjalung Na...
20/03/2026
Feast for cycling fans as SBS extends road cycling broadcasts to include all Gra...
19/03/2026
Silicon Valley satire The Audacity premieres 15 April on SBS and SBS On Demand
19 March, 2026
Media releases
From one of the writer/producers of Succession...
19/03/2026
SBS brings communities together at Bondi Pavilion for Harmony Week multilingual ...
19/03/2026
Clarification from SBS regarding Western Sydney expansion
19 March, 2026
Media releases
From an SBS spokesperson:
SBS wishes to clarify some media coverag...
18/03/2026
Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture
18 March, 2026
Media releases
New SBS Audio podcast For The Culture, hosted ...
17/03/2026
New campaign from NAATI and SBS CulturalConnnect highlights how we all deserve ...
12/03/2026
AFL and NITV partner to launch new First Nations led program Inside the Huddle&...
06/03/2026
Statement on the appointment of Dr Nicholas Pappas AM as SBS Chair
6 March, 2026
Media releases
The SBS Board and Executive have welcomed the appointment o...
05/03/2026
SBS and Mint Pictures to chronicle the Bondi terror attack in major feature docu...
05/03/2026
Winter Olympic stars return to the ice for ISU World Figure Skating Championship...
04/03/2026
100 Days to Go: SBS Unveils World Class Team for The Greatest Show on Earth -The...
02/03/2026
Global powerhouse Delta Goodrem to represent Australia at this year's Eurovi...
02/03/2026
SBS brings together prominent voices to discuss rising social division and seek ...
02/03/2026
NITV Unveils Wednesday Night Sport Night
2 March, 2026
Media releases
A Midweek Hub for Blak Sport
Flagship NRL program Over The Black Dot moves to Wednes...
18/02/2026
SBS brings Australians together to mark Ramadan and Eid with communities nationw...
16/02/2026
SBS's Powerhouse Current Affairs Line-up is Back with the Conversations and ...
12/02/2026
Our Medicine S2: Frontline Medicine Through A Blak Lens
12 February, 2026
Media releases
A Bigger, Bolder Second Series showcasing First Nations Frontline ...
10/02/2026
World-first opt-out function now fully integrated on SBS On Demand
10 February, 2026
Media releases
SBS has announced a suite of audience-first enhancement...
09/02/2026
SBS Media Sustainability Challenge returns for 2026
9 February, 2026
Media releases
The challenge offers brands and agencies $500,000 in advertising invent...
04/02/2026
Queer Renegades: SBS Audio's new podcast reclaiming Australia's queer hi...
03/02/2026
The smash-hit series The Hospital: In the Deep End returns to shine a spotlight ...