The world's favourite blue heeler family will soon be speaking Yolŋu Matha, with the ABC announcing the hit children's series Bluey will be broadcast in a First Nations language for the first time.
The project, led by Yolŋu Radio and the Aboriginal Resource and Development Services (ARDS), was developed in collaboration with the ABC and Bluey producers Ludo Studio.
Five episodes of the globally successful series — The Beach, The Creek, Sleepytime, Grandad and Rug Island — have been translated into Yolŋu Matha, a group of languages spoken in Northeast Arnhem Land.
The episodes were selected for their themes of family, connection and Country.
ARDS co-chief executive officers Julia Wormer and Sylvia Nulpinditj said the project represented an important opportunity to celebrate one of the world's oldest living language traditions through a contemporary cultural phenomenon.
"Bluey has become a shared language for families right across Australia, so to hear these stories told in Yolŋu Matha, languages spoken on this continent for thousands of generations, is incredibly special," they said.
"We're grateful to the ABC, Ludo Studio, and our talented cast and crew for bringing this vision to life. We hope this project contributes to a future where First Nations languages are increasingly heard, celebrated and recognised as a vital part of Australia's story."
The Yolŋu Matha episodes will premiere on ABC iview on July 5 as part of the broadcaster's NAIDOC Week programming and will also be screened at the Garma Festival in August.
Produced at Yolŋu Radio's studio in Northeast Arnhem Land, the project features Yolŋu voices throughout.
Bandit is voiced by Dimathaya Burrawanga, a founding member of Yolŋu surf-rock band King Stingray, while Chilli — Bluey and Bingo's mother — is voiced by Rosie Mununggurr.
The grandad in the hit series, which is available in over 140 countries and has been dubbed in over 20 languages, is voiced by respected Elder Andrew Gurruwiwi.
Whilst much of the episodes are the same, there are some Balanda (English) words in the original show that don't translate. Instead, the producers have used Yolŋu concepts and stories.
ABC Director of First Nations Strategy, Kelly Williams, said the initiative highlighted the broadcaster's commitment to elevating First Nations languages and cultures.
"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," the Bundjalung woman said.
"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 said making Bluey available in Yolŋu Matha would help the series reach new audiences while recognising the significance of Indigenous languages during NAIDOC Week.
"We are very grateful to the teams at Yolŋu Radio ARDS, alongside the support of ABC, to be able to make Bluey available in the Yolŋu Matha language," they 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."
The translated episodes form a centrepiece of the ABC's NAIDOC Week 2026 programming, which will showcase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, creative voices and languages across its television, radio and digital platforms.
