Anzac Day is observed on 25 April every year across Australia. It is a day of remembrance, reflection and national respect for Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in war, conflict and peacekeeping operations.
Anzac Day is always observed on 25 April. The date does not move. What changes is whether a state or territory also gives an additional public holiday when 25 April falls on a weekend.
Yes. Anzac Day is a public holiday across Australia. The public holiday is tied to 25 April because that is the anniversary of the 1915 Gallipoli landing.
Some states and territories provide an additional Monday public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend. Others keep the public holiday on 25 April only.
Anzac Day should not be treated as just another long weekend. It is one of Australia’s most solemn national days. The day honours the original Anzacs who landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, and more broadly recognises all Australians and New Zealanders who have served, suffered and died in war, conflict and peacekeeping.
For many people, the day begins at a dawn service or local memorial. The quiet start to the day is part of its power: reflection, gratitude and remembrance come first.
The phrase is not a slogan. It is a reminder to remember sacrifice, service, grief, courage and the human cost of war.
Even when an additional day is provided in some states, the commemoration remains fixed to 25 April. The additional day does not replace the meaning of Anzac Day itself.
Anzac Day is always 25 April. The table below shows the day of the week for upcoming years and whether an additional public holiday may be relevant when 25 April falls on a weekend.
| Year | Anzac Day date | Day | Public holiday note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 25 April 2026 | Saturday | Anzac Day is on Saturday. NSW, ACT and WA list an additional Monday public holiday. Other states and territories should be checked against their own rules. |
| 2027 | 25 April 2027 | Sunday | Anzac Day is on Sunday. Some states and territories list Monday 26 April as the public holiday or an additional public holiday. |
| 2028 | 25 April 2028 | Tuesday | Anzac Day falls on the weekday itself. |
| 2029 | 25 April 2029 | Wednesday | Anzac Day falls on the weekday itself. |
| 2030 | 25 April 2030 | Thursday | Anzac Day falls on the weekday itself. |
| 2031 | 25 April 2031 | Friday | Anzac Day falls on a Friday and creates a long weekend in every state and territory. |
Important: 25 April is always Anzac Day. The only question is whether a state or territory also provides an additional weekday public holiday when 25 April falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
The biggest source of confusion is not the date of Anzac Day. The date is always 25 April. The confusion comes from weekend rules. Some states provide an additional public holiday, some only do so when 25 April falls on a Sunday, and some keep the public holiday on 25 April only.
| State or territory | When 25 April falls on a Saturday | When 25 April falls on a Sunday | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 25 April plus an additional Monday in 2026 | 25 April plus an additional Monday in 2027 | NSW lists additional Anzac Day public holidays for 2026 and 2027. |
| Victoria | 25 April only | 25 April only | Victoria commemorates Anzac Day on the day it falls, with no standard replacement Monday. |
| Queensland | 25 April only | Monday public holiday where 25 April falls on a Sunday | Queensland’s listed rule provides Monday observance when 25 April is a Sunday. |
| Western Australia | 25 April plus the following Monday | 25 April plus the following Monday | WA provides the next following Monday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend. |
| South Australia | 25 April only | 25 April only | SA treats 25 April as the fixed public holiday and does not provide a standard extra Monday. |
| Tasmania | 25 April only | 25 April only | Tasmania lists Anzac Day on the actual date, with no standard replacement Monday. |
| ACT | 25 April plus the following Monday | 25 April plus the following Monday | The ACT provides an additional weekday public holiday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend. |
| Northern Territory | 25 April only | Monday public holiday where 25 April falls on a Sunday | NT lists a Monday public holiday where Anzac Day falls on a Sunday. |
Plain-English summary: In every state and territory, Anzac Day remains 25 April. Extra Monday rules are state-specific. For payroll, penalty rates, business trading and workplace rosters, use the relevant state or territory source.
These two years cause the most confusion because Anzac Day falls on a weekend in both years.
Anzac Day is Saturday 25 April 2026. NSW, ACT and WA list an additional Monday public holiday on Monday 27 April 2026. Other states and territories generally keep Anzac Day on Saturday 25 April only.
Anzac Day is Sunday 25 April 2027. NSW, QLD, WA, ACT and NT list Monday 26 April 2027 as a public holiday or additional public holiday. Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania generally keep Anzac Day on Sunday 25 April only.
Anzac Day is marked through services, marches and community remembrance. Exact arrangements differ by city, town, RSL branch and local council, but the tone of the day is consistent: respect, reflection and remembrance.
Dawn services are among the most recognised Anzac Day ceremonies. They reflect the quiet, early-morning discipline of service and are held at war memorials, cenotaphs and community gathering places across Australia.
The Last Post, followed by silence, is one of the most solemn parts of many Anzac Day services. It marks respect for those whose service has ended and whose sacrifice is remembered.
Many communities hold marches, wreath-laying ceremonies and memorial services. For many families, Anzac Day is also a day to remember relatives who served.
Anzac Day is observed across Australia, from major national ceremonies to small local services. These places are commonly associated with Anzac Day remembrance and public attendance.
The Australian War Memorial is one of the most significant places for Anzac Day commemoration in Australia, including national services and remembrance ceremonies.
The Shrine of Remembrance is central to Melbourne’s Anzac Day commemorations, including dawn service traditions and the Anzac Day March.
For many Australians, the most meaningful service is local: a dawn service, wreath laying, school ceremony or town march close to home.
Anzac Day can affect work, pay, trading hours, events, travel and school holiday planning. Because the rules differ between states and territories, the safest approach is to separate the commemoration date from the public holiday rule.
Public holiday entitlements depend on your state or territory, your award or agreement, and whether the day is a usual work day for you.
Check state public holiday dates, penalty rates, trading restrictions and roster obligations before finalising staffing for Anzac Day or any additional Monday public holiday.
When Anzac Day falls near a weekend or school holiday period, accommodation, travel and event bookings can be affected. Plan early, but keep the day’s solemn meaning in mind.
Use these state and territory pages to check the exact public holiday rules that apply where you live or work.
Use this page for general planning and quick answers. For employment, payroll, trading hours or government notices, check official sources before relying on a public holiday rule.
Anzac Day is 25 April every year.
Yes. Anzac Day is a public holiday across Australia. The date is always 25 April.
No. Anzac Day itself does not move. It remains 25 April. Some states and territories may also provide an additional Monday public holiday when 25 April falls on a weekend.
The answer depends on the year and the state or territory. NSW, ACT and WA list an additional Monday in 2026 when Anzac Day falls on a Saturday. In 2027, NSW, QLD, WA, ACT and NT list Monday 26 April as a public holiday or additional public holiday.
Victoria generally observes Anzac Day on 25 April itself and does not provide a standard replacement Monday when Anzac Day falls on a weekend.
Queensland lists the Anzac Day public holiday on the following Monday when 25 April falls on a Sunday. When Anzac Day falls on a Saturday, Queensland generally observes the holiday on 25 April only.
Western Australia provides the following Monday when Anzac Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
Anzac Day honours the original Anzacs who landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 and recognises the service and sacrifice of Australians and New Zealanders in war, conflict and peacekeeping.
Use this page for general planning and quick date checks. Businesses should check official public holiday sources before finalising rosters, payroll, penalty rates, trading hours or closure notices.
Check your state or territory public holiday page, especially if Anzac Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday and you need to know whether an additional Monday public holiday applies.