2026 Indigenous Nationals Artwork Revealed as Event Celebrates 30 Years

In 2026, UniSport Australia (UniSport) will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Indigenous Nationals presented by bp (Indigenous Nationals), marking three decades of culture, community, and competition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander university students across the country.

The milestone event will return to where it all began, with The University of Newcastle (UON) and The Wollotuka Institute (Wollotuka) hosting the historic anniversary. This is a fitting way to honour the legacy of a competition that has grown from a student initiative into one of the most significant Indigenous sporting events on the Australian university calendar, bringing together more than 500 student-athletes each year and thousands of participants over its 30-year history.

This legacy is reflected each year through the event’s annual official artwork, playing an important role in visually depicting the spirit of Indigenous Nationals.

The 2026 Indigenous Nationals artwork is an original piece by Ms Marissa Stanley, a proud Wiradjuri woman. The artwork design captures the diversity of Mobs from universities across the country coming together, each representing their culture. Upon presentation of the artwork at Wollotuka, Ms Stanley shared the following about her piece:

“When I was first coming up with the concept and thinking about the story I wanted to tell through this artwork, I struggled a bit, as I knew I wanted it to be about Newcastle but felt like something was missing, until I realised that Indigenous Nationals isn’t just about the place it’s being held, but about all the different Mobs that come from each university to represent their culture. To tell this story of all the universities coming together, in the artwork there is a meeting place to signify The University of Newcastle and Wollotuka Institute, and the three different paths leading to the meeting place, represent the many universities that Indigenous Nationals brings together. The smaller circles, each with different patterns, symbolise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student-athletes from across the country making the journey to Newcastle for Indigenous Nationals, representing their university and Mob. The white reflects past teams and communities who came to Newcastle 30 years ago to compete in the first Indigenous Nationals, where it all started at Wollotuka. Finally, the brown signifies the community coming together and the hard work it takes to make Indigenous Nationals happen, as well as the support shown to all the universities that compete and bring Mobs together.”

Artist: Marissa Stanley – Wiradjuri
Year Of Production: 2026
Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Ms Stanley’s artwork will serve as the official visual identity of the milestone 30th anniversary event, embedded across key elements, including this year’s medals.

It encapsulates the spirit of the occasion, as the 2026 event will bring teams from universities across Australia to the land of the Awabakal and Worimi peoples for a week of competition across basketball, netball, touch football and volleyball, from 29 June to 3 July.

UniSport plays a central role in delivering Indigenous Nationals, ensuring it provides a national stage for Indigenous student-athletes.

UniSport CEO Mark Sinderberry emphasised the organisation’s role in supporting this major national sporting event. “UniSport are incredibly proud to help deliver Indigenous Nationals and provide a platform where Indigenous student-athletes from across the country can come together. Events like this are central to UniSport’s role in fostering inclusive and meaningful sporting experiences within the university sector,” he said.

First held in 1996, Indigenous Nationals began as a class project led by 13 students in the Diploma of Aboriginal Studies (Community Recreation) at The Wollotuka Institute. What started as a grassroots initiative has since evolved into a nationally recognised event, and 30 years on, its legacy continues through the memories of those connected to its origins.

Mr Raymond Kelly Junior was 15 years old when he attended the very first Indigenous Nationals. His mother, who worked at Wollotuka as a staff member, was competing in basketball, touch football, netball and t-ball. “I remember the first Indigenous Nationals being a lot of fun, some teams were extremely competitive, and others were just there for the cultural sharing and social events. Since then, over the last 30 years I have seen the games grow into a major calendar event for university students and staff across the nation,” Mr Kelly said, reflecting on the event’s progression.

Drawing on his own experiences at Indigenous Nationals, he highlighted the contrast between the early years and more recent editions of the event. “In 2019 I was the coach and manager of the Wollotuka team and had the pleasure of taking a wonderful group of UON students to compete in Western Australia. What stood out the most was how big the games had gotten, as teams were wearing complete sports uniforms including socks and backpacks, which was very different from the first event where some teams were in mixed uniforms and had to write names and numbers on the back with texter.”

These memories showcase how Indigenous Nationals has grown while staying true to its roots.

With the 2026 artwork unveiled, Indigenous Nationals celebrates three decades and looks forward to shaping the next 30 years of university sport.

UniSport Australia respectfully acknowledges the Awabakal and Worimi peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which the 2026 Indigenous Nationals will take place.