Anzac Day 2026: Dates, What's Open & Long Weekend Potential

Anzac Day 2026 falls on Saturday 25 April. Because the 25th is a Saturday, an observed public holiday applies on Monday 27 April in ACT, NSW and WA. Other states and territories observe Anzac Day on the Saturday itself without an additional Monday public holiday.

The observed holiday: how it works

Anzac Day is always commemorated on 25 April, regardless of what day it falls on. The dawn services, marches, and commemorations happen on the Saturday itself. Whether an additional weekday public holiday applies is state-specific.

In 2026, ACT, NSW and WA have both the Saturday Anzac Day date and the Monday 27 April public holiday. Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and the Northern Territory have Anzac Day on Saturday 25 April only.

The long weekend

The automatic long weekend runs from Saturday 25 April to Monday 27 April in ACT, NSW and WA. In Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and the Northern Territory, Monday 27 April is a normal working day unless your workplace has a separate arrangement.

In ACT, NSW and WA, taking Tuesday 28 April off turns the Anzac long weekend into a 4-day break from Saturday to Tuesday. In other states, you would need Monday 27 April as leave as well. Use the Leave Planner to model the combinations for your state.

Check Long Weekends to see how Anzac Day 2026 compares to other extended break opportunities across the year.

Dawn services in 2026

Dawn services will be held at their usual times on Saturday 25 April — not on the observed Monday. This is important to note: the commemorations happen on Anzac Day itself, not on the public holiday substitute.

Services are held at war memorials, cenotaphs, and RSL clubs across every state and territory. The major services in capital cities typically begin between 5:30am and 6:00am. Regional services often start slightly earlier. Check your local RSL or council website closer to the date for exact times and locations.

The national ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra is broadcast live on ABC and usually begins at 5:30am. The Gallipoli dawn service (Turkey) is also broadcast for Australians who want to observe it from home.

What's open and closed on Monday 27 April

Monday 27 April is a public holiday in ACT, NSW and WA only. In those jurisdictions, standard public holiday trading rules apply for that day:

• Closed: Banks, government offices, most professional services, and some retail shops.
• Open: Supermarkets (often with reduced hours), petrol stations, hospitals and emergency services, most hospitality venues.
• RSL clubs: Open and busy — many run commemorative programs and two-up games throughout the day.
• Two-up: Two-up (a traditional gambling game) is legally permitted in licensed venues on Anzac Day in most states. It's one of the few days it's allowed at all.

In Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and the Northern Territory, Monday 27 April is not the Anzac Day public holiday. Saturday 25 April is the public holiday date in those jurisdictions, so check local trading rules for the Saturday itself.

State-by-state notes

The observed Monday public holiday (27 April) applies in ACT, NSW and WA in 2026. Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and the Northern Territory do not receive the Monday Anzac Day substitute.

For the full list of public holidays in your state, including all observed dates, visit the Public Holidays page and select your state or territory.

The significance of the date

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli landing on 25 April 1915, when Australian and New Zealand Army Corps troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in what is now Turkey. It has been observed as a day of remembrance since 1916, and became a national public holiday in Australia in 1927.

The day is observed with particular solemnity — dawn services, marches, and moments of silence. It's one of the few Australian public holidays that retains a strong cultural weight beyond the long weekend it provides.