The ABC has announced five episodes of the beloved children’s TV series Bluey have been translated and produced in Yolŋu Matha, the First Nations language of Northeast Arnhem Land, in celebration of NAIDOC Week 2026, which takes place in the first week of July.
The newly-dubbed episodes have been commissioned to celebrate Indigenous culture and language, providing a learning opportunity for viewers of all ages.
Episodes The Beach, The Creek, Sleepytime, Grandad and Rug Island have all been selected for translation for their ‘culturally relevant themes of family and country’ with a particular focus on celebrating ideas of connection.
Bluey in Indigenous language – quick links
Bluey’s Yolŋu Matha translation was produced on country
The recordings for the five episodes were produced at Yolŋu Radio’s studio in Northeast Arnhem Land, with the project led by Yolŋu Radio and the Aboriginal Resource and Development Services alongside the ABC and Bluey creators, Ludo Studio.
In this dub, Bandit is voiced by Dimathaya Burrawanga, a founding member of Yolŋu surf rock band King Stingray, and Chilli is voiced by Rosie Mununggurr.
Viewers will be able to watch the episodes on ABC iview from 5 July, and they will also screen as part of the long-running Garma Festival in August, which takes place in Arnhem Land, in the Northern Territory.
‘Bluey has become part of family life for many Australians, so hearing these stories told in Yolŋu Matha is a powerful way of bringing Northeast Arnhem Land language and culture into homes across the country,’ said Kelly Williams, ABC’s Director of First Nations Strategy.
‘At the ABC, we’re committed to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are part of the national conversation and these episodes, alongside our broader NAIDOC Week content, is a strong example of that commitment in action.’
Ludo Studio expressed gratitude for the opportunity. ‘We are very grateful to the teams at Yolŋu Radio and the Aboriginal Resource and Development Services, alongside the support of ABC, to be able to make Bluey available in the Yolŋu Matha language which will allow Bluey to be accessed by new families across Australia,’ a spokesperson said in a statement.
‘Bluey is a show that is intended for everyone to enjoy, so to be able to share it in Indigenous language at NAIDOC Week feels really special.’
Bluey will be a ‘centrepiece’ of the ABC’s NAIDOC Week celebrations
Bluey‘s new translation will be one of the centrepieces of the ABC’s NAIDOC Week 2026 celebrations and programming, alongside an array of other releases.
That includes the return of That Blackfella Show on 8 July, special NAIDOC Week programming for ABC Kids, including Little Yarns and a special edition of News Time, plus NAIDOC-focused audio programming across Radio National, triple j, Double J, metro stations, ABC Classic, ABC Jazz and ABC Listen.
The ABC News Indigenous Affairs team will also be reporting on art, history and culture throughout NAIDOC Week, while ABC News Breakfast and the ABC News Channel will feature First Nations-led stories and interviews.
