International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

Traditionally held on the 3rd Sunday in May each year.

A group of people holding lanterns on the beach at sunset

We remember – We take action – We live beyond HIV

We remember the lives we have lost so that we can take actions that keep us safe, healthy and alive.


About the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial:

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is a time for all of us 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. People living with HIV started the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial in 1983 and since then there have been thousands of events organized across the world by community-based organisations, from motorbike rallies by women living with HIV to uplifting ceremonies in places of worship and workplaces. Such events have helped raise awareness about HIV and more importantly have helped break down stigma within our communities.






Darwin Candlelight Memorial 2026

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 6:00pm to 7:00pm.


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 Memorial – 2026

On Sunday 17 May, NTAHC will host a stall at the Todd Mall Markets from 9:00am to 1:00pm, 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