In brief
- Anzac Day is celebrated on 25 April each year.
- The date falling on a Saturday this year means not everyone gets an additional day off.
Anzac Day is held on 25 April each year to commemorate Australian and New Zealand Army Corps soldiers who have served and died in military combat.
The date marks the landings at Gallipoli, Türkiye, during the First World War in 1915, the first major military action fought by Australian soldiers during the conflict.
Each year, the sacrifices made by Anzac soldiers in that and all subsequent conflicts are honoured through dawn services, marches, and performances of the Last Post.
Anzac biscuits, rum and milk, and the game two-up — which is generally legalised until the sun sets — are all traditional aspects of celebration on 25 April.
Who gets a public holiday for Anzac Day 2026?
Anzac Day is observed as a public holiday in all Australian states and territories.
However, because the date falls on a weekend this year, only a handful of states will get an additional day off.
In February, NSW Premier Chris Minns announced that Australia's most populous state would be granted an extra public holiday for Anzac Day for the next two years.
Anzac Day falls on a weekend in 2026 and 2027, with the state leader opening the door to further holidays in subsequent years.
The additional public holiday will be observed on the following Monday, 27 April.
The ACT has also announced it will observe the public holiday on the same Monday this year.
The two jurisdictions join Western Australia, which has had a long-standing practice of providing an additional day off if Anzac Day falls on a weekend.
For every other state and territory, it will be business as usual on 27 April.
Working on a public holiday
The Fair Work Ombudsman states that all employees have the right not to work on a public holiday.
Employers can ask employees to work in some circumstances, depending on the nature of the workplace and the role and type of work that the employee does.
Most employees will still be paid their base rate even if they are not performing their role on the day, in line with the national employment standards.
The rules do not apply to casual employees, and Fair Work encourages employees to check with their employer or the Fair Work website if they are uncertain.
In NSW, the decision to add the additional public holiday was criticised by small business groups, which argued it would lift costs.
The Australian Restaurant and Cafe Association has said that it will encourage its members not to open on Monday to ensure its employees benefit from the public holiday.
Anzac Day events
Commemorative events will be held across the country throughout the day to mark the occasion.
These will begin with dawn services, the first of which is held at the Cenotaph in Sydney at 4.20am, the time of the Gallipoli landing.
The dawn service at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance will start at 5.30am, while the service at Adelaide's National War Memorial will start at 6am local time.
The State War Memorial in WA, the Darwin Cenotaph in the Northern Territory, the Shrine of Remembrance in Brisbane, and the Hobart Cenotaph in Tasmania will host similar events.
Other services will be held throughout the day, including "gunfire breakfasts", marches, and church services.
In addition, pubs across the country will host two-up tournaments.
What is open on Anzac Day?
Anzac Day is a restricted trading day nationwide, meaning that most major retail stores, supermarkets, and department stores must remain closed until at least 1pm, and in some jurisdictions until the end of the day.
Smaller, independent retailers, hotels, bars, and corner stores are generally exempt from closure requirements.
Alcohol sales are also restricted, meaning that bottle shops will be closed all day in some states. In Victoria and Tasmania, these retailers can open from 1pm or 12.30pm.
Monday is not a restricted trading day, which means there are no rules suspending businesses from operating as usual.
However, some independent retailers, cafes, and restaurants may choose to remain closed on the day.
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