Sydney
Date: Sunday 17 May, 2026
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Address: The Collider
477 Pitt Street, Haymarket 2000
Register: contact@positivelife.org.au
Registrations essential for catering
Positive Life NSW in partnership with ACON presents:
2026 Sydney Candlelight Memorial
Come together as we remember and honour our partners, family, friends, and loved ones who have passed away from HIV/AIDS.
Doors open at 2:30p.m. the service will be followed by refreshments 4:30p.m. –5:30p.m.
Adelaide
Date: Sunday 17 May, 2026
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (AEST)
Address: 57 Hyde St, Adelaide 5000
Register: Register to attend
We will come together to remember the many lives lost to AIDS, and to reflect on and honour those who have dedicated their time and lives to supporting people living with HIV (PLHIV) and those affected by HIV.
The event will be held at the Hyde Street Community Room. We will hear from guest speakers with lived experience, followed by a solo musical performance. Attendees will then be invited to light a candle in remembrance of those we have lost.
After the ceremony, guests are warmly invited to stay and share supper, including soup and pastries.
Your attendance is a meaningful way to show support for those we have lost, and for those who continue to live with and be affected by HIV.
Melbourne
Date: Sunday, May 17
Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (AEST)
Address: Positive Living Centre
51 Commercial Road
South Yarra, Victoria 3141
Register: Register to attend
2026 marks 41 years since the first International AIDS Candlelight Memorial was held in Melbourne. This year we recognise the vital role of peers in the response to HIV and AIDS with the theme Peer Magic: The Power of Connection, Care and Lived Experience.
Join us as we gather in community to share stories, reflect, and commemorate the friends, family, and lovers we have lost to AIDS over the decades. Together we honour the enduring strength of peer support and the people who continue to shape a more compassionate and informed future for those living with HIV.
As we light candles in remembrance, we also look forward. The memorial is a time to acknowledge the power of connection, care and lived experience, and to reaffirm our commitment to building a better world for all peers living with HIV.
The evening will feature a panel discussion on the power of peer connection, alongside reflections from community speakers including Susan Paxton, Adam Ehm and LPV CEO Richard Keane.
Music from the Low Rez Melbourne Male Choir will be woven throughout the program, leading into a candle lighting moment to honour those we have lost and celebrate their lives.
Perth
Date: Sunday, May 17
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (AWST)
Address: Robertson Park – AIDS Memorial 176 Fitzgerald St, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Register: Register to attend
Please join us for this years International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.
You’re invited to join us for this years International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, held on 17th May, where we can come together as a community to remember the many lives lost to AIDS.
It is an opportunity to honour those who dedicated their lives to helping people living with and affected by HIV, and continue to mobilise our communities in solidarity.
We will be gathering at the AIDS memorial in Robertson park at 5:30 p.m., where we will have guest speakers from WAAC and the community, a walk through the memorial garden, and the laying of the candles.
We encourage you to come along and show your support for those who have passed, and for those still affected by HIV.
Canberra
Date: Sunday, May 17
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Address: Ainslie Football Club
52 Wakefield Avenue Ainslie, ACT 2602
Register: Register to attend
We invite our communities to join us and come together to reflect on and remember at Canberra’s International AIDS Candlelight Memorial – Sunday 17 May, at the Ainslie Football Club. Doors will open at 3.00pm, with the event commencing at 3.30pm.
Join us to remember all those who have passed away from HIV/AIDS and to recognise those who have dedicated their lives to helping people living with and affected by HIV. Registration is free.
The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day is held on the 3rd Sunday of May each year.
Please note: As this event is being held at Ainslie Football Club, guests will be asked to sign in on arrival in line with venue requirements. A valid form of ID will be needed for entry. This includes:
- Australian drivers licence (physical or digital where applicable)
- proof of age or photo identity card, passport
- overseas driver’s licence (with accompanying international driving permit).
If you have any questions or concerns about this, please feel to Link to info page.
Darwin
Date: Sunday, May 17
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Address: Nightcliff Foreshore, in Sunset Park (to the left of the jetty)
This year’s Darwin event will be held at the Nightcliff Foreshore, in Sunset Park (to the left of the jetty), on Sunday 17 May from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The gathering will be informal and open to all, taking place in a shared community space. Attendees will hear brief reflections from Living Positive NT speakers before participating in a candlelight moment at sunset. Participants will also be invited to walk along the jetty and place fresh flowers into the ocean as an act of remembrance.
Battery candles will be provided.
Alice Springs
Date: Sunday, May 17
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Address: Todd Mall Markets
On Sunday 17 May, NTAHC will host a stall at the Todd Mall Markets from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., inviting the community to take part in this important day.
Visitors will be offered beeswax candles as symbols of remembrance and hope. Community members will also be invited to share personal reflections, messages, or tributes on large easels, creating a collective expression of remembrance and solidarity.
By sharing stories of loss, strength, and hope, the event aims to engage the broader Alice Springs community and help reduce stigma through visibility and connection.
