National Sorry Day is held on 26 May every year. It is a day of remembrance, reflection and learning that recognises the Stolen Generations and the continuing impacts of past government policies on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and communities.
National Sorry Day is held on 26 May every year. National Sorry Day 2026 falls on Tuesday 26 May 2026.
National Sorry Day commemorates the Stolen Generations: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families, communities, culture and Country.
No. National Sorry Day is not a national public holiday in Australia. It is an important national observance, but it is not an official Australia-wide day off work or school.
National Sorry Day is fixed on 26 May every year. The day of the week changes, which matters for schools, workplaces, councils, libraries and community events.
| Year | National Sorry Day date | Day of week | Public holiday? | Planning note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 26 May 2026 | Tuesday | No national public holiday | Falls the day before National Reconciliation Week begins. |
| 2027 | 26 May 2027 | Wednesday | No national public holiday | Good for midweek school, workplace and community reflection. |
| 2028 | 26 May 2028 | Friday | No national public holiday | Useful for end-of-week events before National Reconciliation Week. |
| 2029 | 26 May 2029 | Saturday | No national public holiday | Schools and workplaces may hold activities on Friday 25 May. |
| 2030 | 26 May 2030 | Sunday | No national public holiday | Community events may be held on the weekend, with school/workplace events nearby. |
| 2031 | 26 May 2031 | Monday | No national public holiday | Start-of-week timing works well for linking into National Reconciliation Week. |
Simple answer: National Sorry Day is always on 26 May. It is followed by National Reconciliation Week, which runs from 27 May to 3 June.
National Sorry Day is a day to remember and acknowledge the grief, trauma and loss caused by the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. It is also a day to recognise the resilience of survivors, families and communities, and to support healing and truth-telling.
The day remembers the Stolen Generations and the children, parents, grandparents and communities affected by forced removal policies.
National Sorry Day is also connected to healing, truth-telling, recognition and support for Stolen Generations survivors and descendants.
The day asks Australians to learn the history, listen respectfully and consider what practical support and reconciliation require now.
The Stolen Generations refers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were removed from their families under past government policies. National Sorry Day acknowledges the harm caused by these policies and the continuing impacts experienced by survivors, families and communities.
Forced removals separated children from family, language, culture, Country and community, causing deep and ongoing harm.
National Sorry Day is connected to the Bringing Them Home report, which documented the history and impact of the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
The 2008 National Apology to the Stolen Generations is a related milestone, but National Sorry Day remains an annual day of remembrance and reflection.
Respectful note: This is a sensitive topic. School, workplace and community activities should be led by accurate resources, appropriate cultural guidance and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices.
National Sorry Day should be approached with care. Activities should centre remembrance, truth-telling, listening, learning and respect, not token gestures.
Planning tip: National Sorry Day is the day before National Reconciliation Week starts. It should be treated as a moment of remembrance and reflection before broader reconciliation activities begin.
These dates sit together as part of a broader Australian calendar of First Nations remembrance, reconciliation, recognition and celebration.
| Date or period | What it marks | Public holiday? | Related page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May | National Sorry Day, recognising the Stolen Generations and the impacts of past government policies | No, not a national public holiday | National Sorry Day |
| 27 May to 3 June | National Reconciliation Week, marking the 1967 referendum anniversary and the Mabo decision anniversary | No, not a national public holiday | National Reconciliation Week |
| 3 June | Mabo Day, marking the anniversary of the High Court Mabo decision | No national public holiday | Mabo Day |
| First full week of July | NAIDOC Week, celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and achievements | No, not a national public holiday | NAIDOC Week |
Content cluster note: Link National Sorry Day strongly with National Reconciliation Week, Mabo Day and NAIDOC Week. These pages should support each other as a First Nations dates and observances cluster.
This site mainly covers Australian public holidays, but National Sorry Day belongs in the events and observances calendar because Australians search for its date, meaning, history, school resources and workplace guidance.
Held on 26 May every year. It is not a national public holiday, but it is an important national observance.
The ACT has a separate Reconciliation Day public holiday. This is different from National Sorry Day.
For meaning and observance, use this page. For official days off work, use the relevant state or territory public holiday calendar.
National Sorry Day is closely connected to National Reconciliation Week, but they are not the same event.
| Event or holiday | Fixed or changing date? | Public holiday in Australia? | Why people search it |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Sorry Day | Fixed: 26 May | No, not a national public holiday | Stolen Generations, remembrance, learning, reflection and school/workplace resources. |
| National Reconciliation Week | Fixed: 27 May to 3 June | No, not a national public holiday | Reconciliation dates, 1967 referendum, Mabo decision and action planning. |
| Mabo Day | Fixed: 3 June | No national public holiday | Mabo decision, native title history and First Nations recognition. |
| NAIDOC Week | First full week of July | No, not a national public holiday | Dates, theme, events, school activities and First Nations cultural learning. |
Site structure recommendation: Keep this page as a top-level event page at /national-sorry-day/. Do not make it a child page of public holidays, because National Sorry Day is not a national public holiday. Link it from the /events/ hub and related First Nations observance pages.
Use these pages to plan around Australian events, observances, public holidays and long weekends.
National Sorry Day is held on 26 May every year.
National Sorry Day 2026 is Tuesday 26 May 2026.
National Sorry Day commemorates the Stolen Generations and the impact of past government policies on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and communities.
No. National Sorry Day is not a national public holiday in Australia.
No. National Sorry Day is on 26 May. National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June.
National Sorry Day remembers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families, and acknowledges the continuing impact on survivors, descendants and communities.
National Sorry Day is observed annually on 26 May. The National Apology to the Stolen Generations was delivered in 2008 and is a related but separate milestone.
Schools should approach National Sorry Day respectfully, using age-appropriate resources, accurate history, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and careful discussion of the Stolen Generations.
Workplaces should use National Sorry Day for respectful learning, reflection and action, rather than token gestures. Activities should not place extra burden on First Nations staff.
No. National Sorry Day should be a top-level event page at /national-sorry-day/ because it has direct search demand and is not a child of a public holiday. It should be linked from the /events/ hub.