ANZAC Day 2026

When Is ANZAC Day in 2026?

In 2026, ANZAC Day falls on April 25. The observance lasts 1 day. ANZAC Day is observed on a fixed date each year. A national public holiday in both Australia and New Zealand, observed on April 25 regardless of the weekday (no Monday-ification). Dawn services are held at sunrise, so the local service time varies with latitude and longitude. New Zealand and Australia hold services on the same calendar date. ANZAC Day is observed on the same date each year: April 25. Here are the dates for the next five years: Year Date 2026 April 25 2027 April 25 2028 April 25 2029 April 25 2030 April 25

What Time Does ANZAC Day Start in Your Time Zone?

ANZAC Day is fixed on April 25 — the date of the Gallipoli landing in 1915. As a public holiday in Australia and New Zealand, it is observed on the same date nationwide, regardless of time zone. In 2026, April 25 falls on a Saturday, so the holiday is observed on Saturday April 25 itself, though some states may observe a Monday holiday as well. Because Australia and New Zealand are close to the International Date Line, they are among the first countries to greet each new day. ANZAC Day dawn services in New Zealand occur before those in Australia — Auckland's dawn service begins at 6 AM local time (April 24, 6 PM UTC), while Sydney's dawn service begins at 5:30 AM local time (April 24, 7:30 PM UTC). The New Zealand services thus occur about 1.5 hours before the Australian ones, even though they're both on the morning of April 25 local time. ANZAC Day is also observed at the ANZAC Cove site in Gallipoli, Turkey, where a dawn service draws thousands of Australian and New Zealand pilgrims each year. The table below shows the observance date for ANZAC Day in major time zones around the world: Location Observance Date Time Zone New York, USA April 25 EST/EDT (UTC-5/-4) London, UK April 25 GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) New Delhi, India April 25 IST (UTC+5:30) Sydney, Australia April 25 AEST/AEDT (UTC+10/+11) Dubai, UAE April 25 GST (UTC+4)

The Story Behind ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day — observed on April 25 — is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorating the soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought and died at Gallipoli (in modern-day Turkey) during World War I. The day has since expanded to honor all Australians and New Zealanders who have served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. ANZAC Day is one of the most solemn and most deeply felt national days in both countries. The Gallipoli campaign began on April 25, 1915, when ANZAC troops landed at a small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula (later named ANZAC Cove) as part of an Allied attempt to capture the Dardanelles strait and open a sea route to Russia. The campaign was a disaster: the terrain was brutal, the Ottoman defenders (commanded by Mustafa Kemal, later Ataturk) were tenacious, and the Allied forces suffered enormous casualties. After eight months of stalemate, the Allies withdrew in December 1915. Over 8,000 Australians and 2,700 New Zealanders died at Gallipoli, with many more wounded. Despite the military failure, Gallipoli became a foundational moment in the national identities of both Australia and New Zealand. For Australia, which had only become a federation in 1901, Gallipoli was the first major military engagement as an independent nation — a moment when Australians proved their courage and mateship on the world stage. For New Zealand, Gallipoli marked a similar assertion of nationhood within the British Empire. The first ANZAC Day was observed on April 25, 1916, with ceremonies in Australia, New Zealand, and London, and the date has been observed every year since. The name "ANZAC" was trademarked by the Australian government in 1916, and the day was made a public holiday in all Australian states by 1927.

How ANZAC Day Is Celebrated

ANZAC Day begins with dawn services, held at war memorials across both countries. The dawn service recalls the dawn landing at Gallipoli in 1915 — the pre-dawn hours when the ANZAC troops approached the shore. The services are solemn, typically including the playing of the Last Post (a bugle call traditionally played at military funerals), a period of silence, the playing of the Reveille, the recitation of the Ode of Remembrance (a stanza from Laurence Binyon's poem "For the Fallen"), and the laying of wreaths. The largest dawn service is at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, drawing over 30,000 attendees, but dawn services are held in towns and cities across both countries. Later in the morning, ANZAC Day marches are held in cities and towns. The marches feature veterans (from World War II, the Vietnam War, and more recent conflicts), current service members, and (in a tradition that has grown in recent years) descendants of deceased veterans marching in their ancestors' memory. The marches are typically led by veterans on foot, with current service members and community groups following. The largest march is in Sydney, along George Street, drawing tens of thousands of spectators. After the march, veterans often gather at Returned and Services League (RSL) clubs for the traditional ANZAC Day gunfire breakfast — coffee with rum added, recalling the breakfast given to soldiers before battle. Two traditions make ANZAC Day unique. The first is the game of two-up — a gambling game in which coins are tossed in the air and bets are placed on whether they will land heads-up, tails-up, or one of each. Two-up was played by Australian soldiers during World War I, and ANZAC Day is the one day of the year when it is legal to play in most Australian states (outside of licensed casinos). RSL clubs and pubs host two-up games on ANZAC Day afternoon. The second tradition is the baking and eating of ANZAC biscuits — oat-based cookies originally made by Australian and New Zealand women to send to soldiers serving overseas. The biscuits, made with rolled oats, flour, coconut, sugar, butter, golden syrup, and baking soda, were designed to survive the long sea voyage to Europe and the Middle East without spoiling.

ANZAC Day on the Calendar

ANZAC Day is fixed on April 25, the date of the Gallipoli landing in 1915. The date never changes. When April 25 falls on a weekend, the holiday is observed on the same day in Australia (with some states adding a Monday holiday for workers), and on the same day in New Zealand (with the day being "Mondayised" if it falls on a weekend, meaning workers get the following Monday off). The fixed date is part of what gives ANZAC Day its solemnity — it is always observed on the historical anniversary, regardless of the day of the week.

Fixed on April 25 (anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, 1915)

Traveling for ANZAC Day? Where to Go

ANZAC Day draws Australian and New Zealand pilgrims to Gallipoli in Turkey, where the dawn service at ANZAC Cove is the most meaningful ANZAC Day observance for many. The Turkish government hosts the service, which is attended by thousands of Australian and New Zealanders — many of them young backpackers on a pilgrimage of national identity. Hotels in the nearby town of Canakkale book out months in advance. Within Australia and New Zealand, ANZAC Day travel centers on attending dawn services — many people travel to Canberra for the national service at the Australian War Memorial, or to specific war memorials associated with family history. Top destinations for this holiday: Gallipoli (Turkey): — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Canberra: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Wellington: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Sydney: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. Auckland: — A popular destination with significant celebrations and cultural events. If you're planning to travel for anzac day, compare hotel rates and book early — accommodations in Gallipoli (Turkey) fill up weeks before the festival. [Search hotels for ANZAC Day travel →]

Did You Know? ANZAC Day Facts & Trivia

ANZAC Day commemorates the soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought and died at Gallipoli during World War I. The day has since expanded to honor all Australians and New Zealanders who have served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The Gallipoli campaign began on April 25, 1915, when ANZAC troops landed at a small cove on the Gallipoli peninsula (later named ANZAC Cove). The campaign was a disaster: the terrain was brutal, the Ottoman defenders were tenacious, and the Allied forces suffered enormous casualties. Over 8,000 Australians and 2,700 New Zealanders died at Gallipoli. ANZAC Day begins with dawn services, held at war memorials across both countries. The dawn service recalls the dawn landing at Gallipoli. The services include the playing of the Last Post, a period of silence, the playing of the Reveille, and the recitation of the Ode of Remembrance — a stanza from Laurence Binyon's poem "For the Fallen." Two-up — a gambling game in which coins are tossed in the air and bets are placed on whether they will land heads-up, tails-up, or one of each — was played by Australian soldiers during World War I. ANZAC Day is the one day of the year when it is legal to play two-up in most Australian states (outside of licensed casinos).